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Chessville
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Chess Endgame Quiz By Larry Evans
Reviewed by Andy Howie Cardoza Publishing (Simon & Schuster) 224 Pages, Softcover ISBN: 1580420745
GM Larry Evans is a former 5-time US Chess Champion and also a prolific writer. Looking at his Bibliography there are over 50 books either written or co-written by Evans. Some readers may be familiar with his long-running column in Chess Life magazine, and his internet column at the World Chess Network. He also served as Bobby Fischer's training partner in preparation for his 1972 match with Boris Spassky. I was sent this book by the Editor, as he was tired of hearing my constant moaning about getting into good positions only to throw them away with my poor endgame technique. Thus, my mission was to learn if the writings of Larry Evans in this book could help me with my endgame dilemma, or would it be a dogma instead of a dilemma? The book contains 200 puzzles, laid out one to a page. Each position offers the reader three options, two are wrong and one right. The answers (explained fully) are tucked away right at the back of the book, to discourage cheating. Not that I would stoop so low! Here is an example of the puzzles and in particular, my favorite one:
Should White play (a) Qg8, (b) Qe8, or (c) Qf8? The layout of the book is as follows:
After working my way through the 200 puzzles I can honestly say that it has not helped my endgame (I am currently studying Basic Chess Endings by Reuben Fine to help me there). I enjoyed the puzzles, but I do not feel I learned from them as there was no pattern to them. If one considers a book on endings, it is structured in a way that the previous problem relates to the current one. Here the problems were loosely categorised into what type ending (e.g. R+P, Q, etc.) but other than that, they bore no relationship to the previous puzzle. My other main area of criticism is in the Introduction. The author tries to explain all the methodology for endgames, but in the limited space (10 pages) it is merely a gloss over and not something that a beginner can use as a basis of serious study. This book would work well in tandem with a more serious study of endgames (an example would be Reuben Fine’s Basic Chess Endings) where a chapter can be studied and then the relevant puzzles solved. This then would reinforce the principles that are being taught. For the beginner, I would recommend reading Winning Chess Endgames by Yasser Seirawan and then, after they are comfortable with the material, having a go at this puzzle book to hone in the skills. I would recommend using this book that way, I know it is the way I am using it at the moment.
The correct answer is A 1.Qg8 Qa2 2.Qe8 Qa4 3.Qe5+ Ka8 4.Qh8 threatening Ke7 mate!
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