Chess-players understand that it is vital to play logically, but often lack the methods needed to do so. In this book, renowned trainer Erik Kislik presents a wide range of specific concepts that will help them succeed. These include positional techniques, thinking methods, and modes of play to adopt when either better or worse.
Just the list of chapter titles shows how original Kislik’s presentation is. They include:
Throughout, the discussion is illustrated by a mass of examples from both recent elite chess and the play of Kislik and his students, showing how his themes cut across all levels of chess. After the book’s two main sections – Thinking Concepts and Positional Concepts – comes a section of exercises, again with a strikingly original theme: our task is simply to assess each position.
Erik Kislik is an International Master originally from California who lives in Budapest. He is an expert in computer chess and one of the most in-demand chess trainers on ICC. He has coached many grandmasters and assisted a number of elite players with their opening preparation. His previous book for Gambit, Applying Logic in Chess, has been widely praised.
Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.
Watch a YouTube video in which GM John Nunn presents a sample from this book.
“There are many eccentric figures in the chess world. International Master Erik Kislik from the United States is certainly one of them. He lost interest in the game when he was fifteen, and then took it seriously again when he was twenty. And not without success: within four years he was able to write the IM title next to his name. That was after he decided to leave his native California for an offer from a Spanish club to play, including housing. Not much later he left for Budapest, known for its ‘First Saturday’ tournaments, where chess players can compete for a master standard every first Saturday of the month without any prize money at stake. Kislik, who still lives in the Hungarian capital, has decided to focus mainly on training, and with this he has gained considerable fame. Masters and grandmasters join him, known as he is for his expertise in the field of computer chess. And of course for its method: using logic to systematically eradicate prejudice. Kislik writes a nice manual that focuses on refining biases based on a large number of examples and themes” – Daniël Zevenhuizen, schaaksite.nl
“A FIDE finalist to the award ‘Book of The Year’ and a must read for any chess player” – Miguel Ararat, FLORIDA CHESS
“In spite of my reservations, I’m sure that a player of, say, 2000+ strength prepared to work hard will get a lot out of this book. Kislik’s theories are thought provoking and his examples fascinating. Slightly lower rated players will, as I did, get a lot of pleasure out of reading this book and enjoying some excellent chess” – Richard James, BRITISH CHESS NEWS
“Reading Kislik’s explanations of moves and plans is usually enlightening. If your New Year’s Resolution calls for pushing yourself in chess, this book would be a great choice” – Alexey Root, sparkchess.com
“Included are some interesting exercises covering unusual pawn structures and strange material imbalances... one of those super instructive reads!” – John Elburg, chessbooks.nl
“International Master Erik Kislik is an inspiration to late comers and late developers to chess who dream of one day earning a FIDE title. According to the U.S. Chess Federation website Kislik didn’t start playing in tournaments until he was 15. When he left North America for Europe in 2008, he was not yet a Master but by much hard work he became an International Master in 2012, achieving his peak rating of 2415 FIDE the same year. This late development is far from a common occurrence and Kislik discussed some of the original methods he used to improve in his first book Applying Logic in Chess (Gambit 2018). Here he continues where he left off” – IM John Donaldson
Also by Erik Kislik: Applying Logic in Chess.