Bobby Fischer: His Approach to Chess - Cadogan Chess Book | Learn Chess Strategies & Techniques | Perfect for Beginners & Advanced Players | Home, Club & Tournament Use

For Fischerologist out there this is a 'must have'. The only other book which I can think of that comes close is David Levy's, 'How Fischer Plays Chess (published 1975, 160 pages) yet this is puny by comparison. ( Levy makes a decent attempt to overview Fischer's development and career but his book is no where near as detailed ).'Fischer: His Approach to Chess',(261 pages) is a labour of love: some 568 diagrammed game positions superbly annotated and analysed in depth along with a Foreword by Gary Kasparov and Introduction by Agur himself. The author goes to great pains to explore and explain the workings of the American Grandmaster's chess thinking, his appraisal of positions and his subsequent choice of move(s) and strategy. The book's 47 chapters each deal with some aspect of decision making and include such topics as: pawn structure; timing; seizing the initiative; active defence & counter attack... plus dozens of other stratagems. There are even chapters on,' Misplaying Won Positions,' and,'Typical Blunders and Oversights'!Agur's prose is excellent and his observations on the nuances of Fischer's play, his sensitivity to such things as pawn structure, piece co-ordination... are fascinating. Especially interesting are the comments of contemporary Grandmasters and chess journalists of the time which the author uses to highlight his own observations concerning what is unfolding on the board and Fischer's decisions to determine the course of the battle in his favour. 'Style is the man', wrote Bufon and no where is this more evident than with Fischer, a player of strict classical profile. Agur's awareness of this point when discussing Fischer's preference in selecting a move(s) is one of the book's most enlightening and enjoyable features.The book's layout appears compact when compared to other publications but is mainly prose rather than dense columns of variations. Still, game analysis is quite detailed when Agur feels it necessary and is certainly worth playing through in order to appreciate Fischer's intent. In common with most modern chess books the notation is figurine algebraic with adequate diagrammed positions and easily recognizable sub-text. There's a player index at rear with diagram position number for quick reference. I should add that the games themselves are not given in full, the format being critical diagrammed moments along with comments and enough analysis to make clear the point being discussed.Even if you are not searching for Bobby Fischer but still want to understand the chess genius' mind and marvel at how this process translated onto the chess board, I wholeheartedly recommend that you buy this book.