Russia boasts a long and rich tradition in chess education, and Russian chess teachers and trainers are simply the best in the world.
The Complete Manual of Positional Chess , probably the most thorough grounding in the history of teaching chess, was recently created for chess teachers at the DYSS, the special sports school for young talents in Russia.
Konstantin Sakaev and Konstantin Landa present a complete set of instructions and tips for trainers and self-improvers. You will learn not only how to enhance your fundamental knowledge and technical skills, but also how to work on your physical and psychological conditioning.
You are handed basic and advanced tools to improve in a wide array of areas:
Konstantin Sakaev is a Grandmaster and a former Russian Champion. He won Olympiad gold in 1998 and 2000 with the Russian team and has assisted World Champion Vladimir Kramnik as his second. Konstantin Landa is a Russian Grandmaster and a FIDE Senior Trainer.
Content
007 Introduction
017 Part I - The Opening
018 Chapter 1: An advantage in development
025 Chapter 2: The centre and its significance
037 Chapter 3: Do not make unnecessary pawn moves if you have not completed your development
043 Chapter 4: Do not develop the queen too early
051 Chapter 5: Do not move the same piece twice
055 Chapter 6: Do not leave the king in the centre
062 Chapter 7: An unprepared attack
069 Part II - The Middlegame
070 Chapter 8: Calculation of variations and methods of taking decisions
076 Chapter 9: The piece and pawn centre and the fight against it
088 Chapter 10: Coordination and piece activity
099 Chapter 11: Developing the initiative
112 Chapter 12: Prophylactic thinking. Fighting against the opponent’s ideas
122 Chapter 13: Limiting the opponent’s counterplay and piece manoeuvrability
133 Chapter 14: Prophylaxis, strengthening one’s own position
143 Chapter 15: Schematic thinking. Regrouping one’s forces, transferring pieces to more favourable positions
162 Chapter 16: A space advantage
173 Chapter 17: The problem of exchanges. Simplifying positions
191 Chapter 18: Weak squares. Control of key central squares or a complex thereof
213 Chapter 19: Open and half-open files
226 Chapter 20: The advantage of two bishops
238 Chapter 21: ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ bishops
248 Chapter 22: Knight or bishop?
257 Chapter 23: Opposite-coloured bishops
261 Chapter 24: Secure points, outposts
268 Chapter 25: A knight on the edge of the board stands badly/well
272 Chapter 26: Play on the wing. Do not attack on the wing if the centre is insecure!
284 Chapter 27: Transferring the king from flank to flank
292 Chapter 28: ‘Superfluous’ pieces
296 Chapter 29: Paying attention to the opponent’s possibilities. Loss of concentration
302 Chapter 30: Methods of defence
315 Index of Games
The Complete Manual of Positional Chess , probably the most thorough grounding in the history of teaching chess, was recently created for chess teachers at the DYSS, the special sports school for young talents in Russia.
Konstantin Sakaev and Konstantin Landa present a complete set of instructions and tips for trainers and self-improvers. You will learn not only how to enhance your fundamental knowledge and technical skills, but also how to work on your physical and psychological conditioning.
You are handed basic and advanced tools to improve in a wide array of areas:
- quick development and fighting for the centre in the opening
- clean calculation and decision-making in the middlegame
- tackling your fear of disturbing the material balance, and, last but not least:
- how to restrict the role the chess computer plays in your life.
Konstantin Sakaev is a Grandmaster and a former Russian Champion. He won Olympiad gold in 1998 and 2000 with the Russian team and has assisted World Champion Vladimir Kramnik as his second. Konstantin Landa is a Russian Grandmaster and a FIDE Senior Trainer.
Content
007 Introduction
017 Part I - The Opening
018 Chapter 1: An advantage in development
025 Chapter 2: The centre and its significance
037 Chapter 3: Do not make unnecessary pawn moves if you have not completed your development
043 Chapter 4: Do not develop the queen too early
051 Chapter 5: Do not move the same piece twice
055 Chapter 6: Do not leave the king in the centre
062 Chapter 7: An unprepared attack
069 Part II - The Middlegame
070 Chapter 8: Calculation of variations and methods of taking decisions
076 Chapter 9: The piece and pawn centre and the fight against it
088 Chapter 10: Coordination and piece activity
099 Chapter 11: Developing the initiative
112 Chapter 12: Prophylactic thinking. Fighting against the opponent’s ideas
122 Chapter 13: Limiting the opponent’s counterplay and piece manoeuvrability
133 Chapter 14: Prophylaxis, strengthening one’s own position
143 Chapter 15: Schematic thinking. Regrouping one’s forces, transferring pieces to more favourable positions
162 Chapter 16: A space advantage
173 Chapter 17: The problem of exchanges. Simplifying positions
191 Chapter 18: Weak squares. Control of key central squares or a complex thereof
213 Chapter 19: Open and half-open files
226 Chapter 20: The advantage of two bishops
238 Chapter 21: ‘Good’ and ‘bad’ bishops
248 Chapter 22: Knight or bishop?
257 Chapter 23: Opposite-coloured bishops
261 Chapter 24: Secure points, outposts
268 Chapter 25: A knight on the edge of the board stands badly/well
272 Chapter 26: Play on the wing. Do not attack on the wing if the centre is insecure!
284 Chapter 27: Transferring the king from flank to flank
292 Chapter 28: ‘Superfluous’ pieces
296 Chapter 29: Paying attention to the opponent’s possibilities. Loss of concentration
302 Chapter 30: Methods of defence
315 Index of Games