Book Recap #15 : Discussing Secrets of Practical Chess and Attacking the Strongpoint

After a one month hiatus, Chess Books Recaptured is back to discuss two chess books, Grandmaster Igor Zaitsev’s Attacking the Strongpoint, and GM John Nunn’s Secrets of Practical Chess. The guest co-host this month is a regular visitor of the show, cognitive scientist and USCF Master Christopher Chabris. As we discuss, these books tackle chess study from opposite perspectives, as GM Zaitsev’s book has a very philosophical tone, while GM Nunn’s classic lives up to its promise of giving lots of practical advice for chess competitors. Of course, there is much to be learned from both books, and it is always a pleasure to talk chess with Dr. Chabris. Please read on for more details and timestamps.

Click here to download the Episode

Episode 95 with Christopher Chabris

Episode 187 with Christopher Chabris

Book Recap: Think Like a Grandmaster by Kotov

Attacking the Strongpoint: The Philosophy of Chess by GM Igor Zaitsev

Secrets of Practical Chess by GM John Nunn

0:00- How did we choose these two books?

Mentioned: GM Anatoly Karpov, IM Mark Dvoretsky, GM Jacob Aagaard

08:00- We break down Attacking the Strongpoint including its title origins, highlights and weaknesses.

16:00 -Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. They are having a big sale this week, to check out what's available, you can go here:

Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

17:00- Sample quotes from the book

Mentioned: Steinitz-von Bardeleben 1895, Capablanca-Tartakower 1924, GM Genna Sosonko

30:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com

31:00- What can we learn from Secrets of Practical Chess?

Mentioned: Secrets of Grandmaster Chess, Understanding Chess Move by Move, Beating the Siclian, Alexander Kotov’s Think Like a Grandmaster , Episode 8 with GM Sam Shankland , Andersson-Mestel 1982

IM John Watson’s The Week in Chess review of Secrets of Practical Chess is here:

https://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/three-improvement-books

Dr. Patzer’s Review of Secrets of Practical Chess:

https://patzersreview.blogspot.com/2020/01/nunns-secrets.html

Book Recap Podcast of Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement with Neal Bruce:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-recap-woodpecker-method-rapid-chess-improvement/id1185023674?i=1000471766064

Nikolaos Ntirlis (Quality Chess Author)

1:13:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com!

Check out Chessmood’s blog here:

https://chessmood.com/blog and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessMood

1:13:45- We summarize our thoughts on Secrets of Practical Chess and get a quick update on Christopher and his son’s latest chess studies.

Mentioned: Chess Middlegames by Laszlo Polgar, GM Jan Markos, GM Michael Adams

1:26:00- Thanks as always to Christopher Chabris for helping out. You can check out his website here: chabris.com

This month’s donation will go to Washington International Chess Tournament, more info here:

https://www.mdchess.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=49

1:27:00-

Blindfold puzzle #1-

d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5 4. a4 c6 5. axb5 cxb5

What move did Greco play to make his opponent resign?

(Answer shown in game link)

Blindfold puzzle #2-

d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Nf3 d6 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. g3??

Black to play and win material

(Answer shown in game link)

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Release date

Lydbog: 19. marts 2021