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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
by Steffen Pedersen
Gambit; 160 pages;
£13.99
Pedersen
departs from the world of opening books to provide a self-test work which is
split into two parts: problems and then games in 'How Good is Your Chess' style.
In the latter readers have to work out the moves for one side for a whole game,
receiving so many points for each correct move, the total score being converted
into a rating.
Pedersen commences with 11 positions from the opening in which readers have to find the continuation; then come 12 middlegame positions, many based around Greek Gifts, and finally there are 18 endgame positions to solve. Few of these positions are well known, which ensures that they are all useful, even for well-read readers. However, they are generally quite difficult and the average club player will probably find them collectively very hard, whilst the solutions are very detailed.
Many of the 16 self-test games are very recent, whilst even the instructive slightly older examples are not too well known; here too all the tests will provide readers with a full challenge. Pedersen's style is sadly not quite as lively as Danny King's in his How Good is Your Chess? Book and CHESS column, but he does provide instructive and clear annotations. All readers may, however, consider that a few more test games could have been provided to make the book full value for money.
Self-test games are ideal for all those who usually struggle to motivate themselves to analyse annotated GM games, but they will be very hard if you rush and don't spend as long on each move as in a normal game. The average club player will find the second section very useful, but may find the puzzle section a little too hard, but strong club players should find the whole book useful and challenging.
Review by Richard Palliser