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Alexander Kotov's Think Like a Grandmaster

Reviewed by Leopold Lacrimosa

6/9/02

Think Like A Grandmaster, by Alexander Kotov. Bernard Cafferty, trans. Dr. John Nunn, ed. (Batsford, algebraic ed., reprinted 2001). Algebraic edition, 187 pp.

I choose an older book for my first review because I felt it has much to offer the reader and practitioner of the Royal game of chess who is looking to improve his or her game.

This book is related to his companion book “Play Like a Grand Master”, but offers a different insight into the game of chess. Here Kotov takes the reader through a journey of several of the greatest chess minds in order for us to learn how to develop our chess thinking through analysis, selection of candidate moves, positional judgment, general formulae and concrete analysis, developing a plan of attack or defense as well as a look at the endings and the selection of an opening repertoire.

In each chapter he uses games from the likes of Botvinnik, Tal, Smyslov, Petrosian, Keres, Bronstein and himself to help the reader understand the way a grand master will collect his thoughts throughout a game.

In the opening chapters of the book he teaches us about analysis of a game and how to create an analysis tree. Moving on he teaches us how the selection of moves will have an effect on the position and what is important in the selection through the voices of the former World Champions.

Further along in the book, he has us looking at games from a positional point of view, taking us through open lines, pawn structures and weak squares. The position of pieces, the control of both space and the center of the board.

He then teaches us about developing a plan and the need to be flexible. Last he finishes the book with informing the player as to what one needs in the way of chess knowledge in order to strive to be better players.

Though I don’t recommend this book for the beginning player, I believe it is a must have for the 1500-1900 rated player if they are serious in wanting to improve their game. Rating: * * * * (4 out of 5 stars).

Leopold Lacrimosa
Chess Coach
Scottsdale, Arizona

For another view of this book, see this Review by Jude Acres

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