Chess Logic in Practice

by Erik Kislik

Overview

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:

• Painfully Slow Moves
• Focal Points
• Reciprocal Logic
• Fighting against Centralized Pieces
• When Playing a Bad Move Wins a Good Game
• A Chronically Weak King

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911465300
Publisher:	Gambit Publications, LTD
Publication date:	07/15/2019
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

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, was shortlisted for FIDE Book of the Year.

Table of Contents

Symbols 4

Material Values 4

Foreword GM Hjörvar Steinn Gretarsson 5

Introduction 6

Part 1 Thinking Concepts 7

1 Progressive Thinking 7

2 Reciprocal Logic 16

3 The Method of Elimination 24

4 Tenacity 30

5 Optical Biases 39

6 Only One Way to Lose 48

7 Only Idea to Play For 53

8 Simplification as a Tool for Equalization 59

9 Overpressing 64

10 When Playing a Bad Move Wins a Good Game 75

11 When You Have to Go for It 83

12 Taking Risks in Bad Positions 89

Part 2 Positional Concepts 92

1 Playing without Weaknesses 92

2 Fighting against Centralized Pieces 105

3 Incorrect Piece Exchanges 121

4 Focal Points 131

5 Provoking Pawn-Weaknesses 142

6 Sliding Moves 150

7 Flank Thrusts 155

8 A Chronically Weak King 163

9 Playing with a Bad Queen 175

10 The Defensive Power of the Queen 182

11 Unlikely Draws 184

12 Painfully Slow Moves 195

13 Manoeuvring in Closed Positions 202

14 Neutral Bad Bishops 213

Part 3 Exercises 216

Exercises 216

Solutions 222

Index of Players 236

Index of Openings 239

Editorial Reviews

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, USA Team Captain


“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


“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

From the Publisher