WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

 

Welcome to my Chess Book Reviews blog. 

I hope you enjoy it and that it proves useful if you are deciding to buy chess books.

It has been said that books are the most loyal and trusted friends that you can ever have and in this world of iPads, kindles and other electronic formats I still want to be one of the people giving a 'shout-out' for hard copy chess books. In this technological age it has never been easier to access chess online, at the click of a mouse, and this has affected book consumption.  

Chess books are an important aspect of a chess players lives. They serve as an educational and developmental tool, as well as illustrating history and culture. Some people own one or several books, whereas others have large collections assembled over a lifetime. 

Truly then, I believe in the value of hard copy chess books. Unlike electronic books, they don't lose their charge, they can be read in the sunshine, they don't hurt your eyes from watching screens and even better - they can be autographed to add to their value as a treasured keepsake. 

I want to be clear about my objective for this blog site.

I am blogging simply as an amateur chess player. I am a club and county player, former County Chess Champion (Shropshire) and I have proudly represented and indeed been Captain of my country (UK) in the NATO Chess Championships, but I remain like many of us, just an ordinary player with a lifelong passion for the game.

My reviews are written for the people who are most likely to purchase chess books. That is to say beginners, intermediate and strong players up to county level, but I am sure that even stronger players might enjoy or in some way benefit from digesting my reviews. This is a not for profit blog but reviewing chess books is something that I enjoy.

Reviewing a chess book isn't as easy as one may think. It requires a certain skill-set and I am learning all the time. One has to be impartial and objective but also not be afraid to have a personal opinion and I will not shirk from criticizing if I feel it is warranted. There should be a standard process for the task of reviewing and it can take me a while - but that is because I will actually read the book. Too many people merely flick through and I have seen some truly woeful reviews consisting literally of a couple of lines. I want to try to get into the head of the author. I want to do the best I can to explain to the reader of this blog what each book is really about and the impact it had on me personally, so that they can make up their own mind about owning a copy. 

It is as subjective as art or music, but I hope my reviews are a good starting point for people. Naturally, individuals will have their own views and opinions about the same books. I am sanguine about that...but these views are mine and mine alone. Sometimes I may use humour to make a point (how dare I?) which is not everyone's style but there we are, that's life. It is not in the scope of this blog site to enter into debates. Feel free to make your own mind up. 

For the record I have several of my own favourite chess books from the past including 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' by David Bronstein and Tom Fürstenberg. If you can still find it, then snap it up immediately. My most prized book is a signed copy of Anatoly Karpov's memoirs which he autographed when I played him in Chartres, France in a simul in 2019. 

As I say, you cannot autograph an iPad!

Without further ado then, let's put one foot forward and see where the journey takes us. Thanks for stopping by.

Carl

Carl Portman (Author: Chess Behind Bars and Chess Crusader)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 60 Memorable Games - Bobby Fischer

 

Book review

Carl S. Portman MBE

MY 6O MEMORABLE GAMES

The Collector’s Edition

 BOBBY FISCHER

 

Bobby Fischer

Pages: 392

Published by: Batsford Chess  

2026 Hardcover

ISBN: 9781849948494

 

The Blurb

 

A must-have collectors' edition of one of the most inspirational and influential chess books ever written.

 

First published in 1969, My 60 Memorable Games offers a rare window into the mind of American chess icon Bobby Fischer. It contains Fischer’s objective, honest and self-critical annotations to games he had won, drawn and even lost in the period from 1957 to 1967 – but from which he also learned valuable lessons.

 

Reading Fischer’s intensely personal commentaries is like going back in time and watching live coverage of his over-the-board battles with the leading players of the day. Soon he would become the greatest of them all. Released in a luxurious new edition for collectors, with foiled cloth binding and an eight-page plate section, this remarkable book is a true insight into one of the most gifted, troubled and controversial minds of the 20th century.

 

My thoughts

 

To my own astonishment after over 50 years of playing chess, I have never fully read this classic. Sure, I have flipped through and played the occasional game, as many chess players have but shamefully I have never given it my undivided attention. With this new publication from Batsford (a royal name in chess books if ever there was one) I knew it was time to embrace the moment and actually read it.

 

First to the look and feel of the book. I much prefer actual hard copy books to any digital offering so this is a delight with a classy looking blue cover embossed with gold lettering and delightful figurines. The font and diagrams are easy to read with plenty of space on the pages. It is reprinted exactly the same as Fischer wrote it but with one significant difference. This luxury edition contains six pages of photographs in the centre, one of which is a real favourite of mine – you can choose your own of course. This one below is not in it, so I won't spoil your fun.

 

Bobby Fischer in Manila 1976 – Wikimedia Commons

 

Andy Soltis, himself a most excellent chess author provides a lucid introduction to the book reminding us that everyone still knows who Bobby Fischer was and that he was responsible not only for scintillating chess games but improving playing conditions and prize money for generations to come. He stood up to the sponsors, and the players today can be thankful for that. It was rare at the time for a grandmaster to write about his own games and it stands amongst the great chess books, a must-have for every fan of the game.

 

Fischer is arguably (very arguably) the greatest player of all time and his assertion that the move 1.e4 is ‘best by test’ is immediately placed under the microscope in the very first game as he takes on Sherwin in New Jersey in 1957 when Fischer was only 14 years of age. In this position (below) Bobby played 18.Nxh7!

 

 

What a stunner. He said that tactics flow from superior positions and who could argue with that? These are the sort of tactics that we should all be looking for in games.

 

The thing that strikes me about these games when playing though them is not only the directness – Fischer was a committed pugilist – but the simplicity of his development and opening play. With White playing against Sicilians he often said just play sac, sac and mate and you could see him playing for this during well-chosen h4 thrusts against the castled king.

 

Fischer did not trust many people so it must have been a proud moment for Larry Evans when Bobby agreed to let him write the brief introductions to each game. These condensed of his passages lead us nicely into each battle.

 

Unsurprisingly there are some tremendously instructive games. I found the following position with Fischer as black against Walther in Zurich 1959 to be hugely enjoyable to study. Two pawns down Fischer drew this game – but he knew how to do it, that’s the key.

 

 

Walther played a natural looking move here in 54.a4 and Fischer gave it an immediate ‘?’ saying that Walther had thrown away the win. He should have essayed 54.b4 and by such slim margins games are won and lost. Set this position up in any school classroom and watch the kids go crazy trying to win it as white and defend it as black. Marvellous stuff.

 

Fischer was magnanimous enough to include three losses in this book. Certainly he had an ego but he was also always in search of the truth at the chessboard and if the truth meant showing a loss to the world and exposing his human side (he was not a chess robot after all) to illustrate certain features of a game then so be it. How many players today would do that?

 

I cannot let this review end without mentioning his win against Robert Byrne at the US Championship in 1963-64. Fischer was black and they reached this position after Byrne had played 15. Qc2

 

 

 

 

Fischer now played 15…Nxf2!! Even now in 2026 the chess engine gives the text move as best. Fischer rarely missed an opportunity, pouncing like a voracious tiger once the prey was vulnerable. No wonder that this game won a brilliancy prize. Fischer had already beaten Byrne in a sparkling game in 1956 by offering a stunning queen sacrifice. Byrne must have been sick of him.

 

There are so many games against the like of Tal – who also glittered, all too briefly on the chess stage, and Najdorf and Larsen to name a few.

I love some of the one line comments too such as 'a nettlesome maneuver' or '4...exd5 leads to the kind of wood pushing that always bored me.'

 

Before I knew it I was at the end of game 60 where Fischer beat Stein in a flourish. I felt at this point that I ‘knew’ Fischer a little better through his chess and I have endeavoured to copy his open style in online games with some success! I was not a 1.e4 player before but I am a disciple at the moment after reading this. If I could liquidize this book and inject it into my system, taking all the information with it I would.

 

There were two sides to Bobby Fischer. His chess and his politics. This book celebrates the former and the world was – and is – much richer for having it. It is more than a book, it is part of his legacy. The big picture here is that in my view chess players need to know the classics. The classic players, the classic games and the classic books. This is one of them and we should thank Batsford for sprinkling their magic dust into the chess arena and making this gorgeous special edition hardback copy available.

 

I was only introduced to chess when Karpov was World Champion after the mercurial American had refused to defend his crown which he had torn from the head of Boris Spassky in 1972 so I missed all of the hysteria and brilliance of the man. I never followed the change from chess god to wayward son, if not madman, and in a way I am glad. I want to remember him for his chess.

 

This book has always given me – and everyone else – the opportunity to witness this mesmerizing comet through its pages. Of course many people will already have a copy of this chess bible but you won’t have this copy – it is a lovely book to have. I can only suggest that you get yours quick whilst you can – it can only add value to your collection and indeed your game if like me you read it properly for the first time.

Fischer was notoriously protective of this book and there have been many documented articles about his displeasure with reprints and intellectual property rights. The bottom line is this: if Bobby Fischer were here today would he approve of it?

No one could ever second guess such a genius but you know, I think he would.

 

Who is the author?

Bobby Fischer (1943–2008) became famous as a teenager as he took on the Soviet chess machine almost single-handedly. In 1972, at the height of the Cold War, he won the world title from the Russian Boris Spassky in a gripping match in Reykjavik, Iceland that generated worldwide media interest. Fischer not only played brilliant chess but raised the game to new levels of professionalism and his influence is still felt strongly today.

 

The stories, games and intrigues of Capablanca & Alekhine

 

BOOK REVIEW by Carl Portman

The stories, games and intrigues of

CAPABLANCA & ALEKHINE  

by LUIS FERNÁNDEZ SILES

 

Luis Fernández Siles

Pages: 440

Independently Published   

2025 Hardcover

ISBN-13  979-8263686710

 

What is this book about?

It details the rivalry between José Raúl Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine. It also introduces the people and events around these giants of chess history and is a historical book of great relevance. It runs as follows:

·         Foreword by Manuel Azuaga

·         Introduction

·         16 Chapters

·         Epilogue

·         Index of games

·         Index of names

·         Bibliography

 

My thoughts and comments

I am going to begin at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have no hesitation in recommending it to everyone! I read it in three sittings to the exclusion of everything else. Firstly, how does this self-published tome look and feel? The (hardback) cover design is superb with the protagonists sitting at the chessboard oblivious of the background depicting the carnage and horror of war. They lived after all through WWII. Capablanca is studying the board whilst Alekhine looks away, seemingly lost in thought as well as (perhaps) the game. It is a brilliant idea, and credit to the designer Esther Alcedo Fuentes. The pages are of superior quality, with the font and diagrams being second to none.

 

I liked the look and feel of the book, and appreciate chess still being published in this format. It is liberally sprinkled with photographs that add value and meaning to the chapters. These include not only well-known images such as the sad depiction of Alekhine dead at the board in his hotel room in Estoril, Portugal (there’s a conspiracy piece about that in the chapter) but group photographs of other players in important competitions such as Pasadena 1932 and Wiesbaden 1929. I also love the group shot at Nottingham 1936. The reader will see and learn who Arthur John Mackenzie was, too.   

 

We are told that initially Capablanca and Alekhine got on very well, but after the latter had wrested the World Title from Capablanca in 1927 he refused to give him a rematch, making any number of excuses. I was reminded of Staunton and Morphy in the same vein. The author skillfully builds the story of their relationship over the years, culminating in the fact that at one point they refused even to be seen in the same room. I felt drawn into this, as if I were back in time witnessing these events. Reading about these two giants of chess, with all the background details was a delight for me, and I did learn some new things about both players.   

 

In one way I wanted to ‘take sides’ yet the fact is I am able to enjoy both players and their chess, regardless of their antics off the board. Capablanca did not like study and he was the more natural player whereas Alekhine was obsessed with study, analysis and improvement. Capa was supposed to be the endgame expert (and he was) showing depth and understanding in that aspect of the game whereas Alekhine was the one with flashes of brilliance and dashing attacks. Yet both were capable of either. José liked his women, and partying, Alexander had a penchant for alcohol. Both were chess gods in the world of 64 squares and both left legacies for us all, forever.  

 

There is so much more in this book including Alekhine’s joke, blindfold chess in prison, early examples of The London System instructive draws, Capa’s worst ever game, Lasker’s double bishop sac, Lilienthal’s famed queen sacrifice against Capablanca, Botvinnik’s legendary 30.Ba3!! against Capa, what Crapuloso means and much more. It’s a treasure trove of information with games and anecdotes to support the whole period. The Second World War greatly affected Alekhine in particular and chess in general. Was he an antisemite? After reading what the author provides, we must draw our own conclusions. For the Cuban his motivation seemed to (understandably) revolve around securing that rematch for the World Championship. It must have driven him crazy not being able so to do.

 

Game choice

There are 85 games. They are as instructive and interesting as one would expect from not only the two lead characters but also their opponents, including Lasker, Bogoljubow, Euwe, Nimzowitsch and Marshall to name a few. What really makes this book for me – and it is the most important point I can make – are the tremendous annotations from the author. Rarely have I read such an appealing style which players of all levels can understand. In a world where annotations can be very lazy, merely repeating what the engine says, Siles will go on to explain why he thinks the evaluations are so. He has a very clear way of explaining things and for me it was a true joy to follow, from beginning to end. He is one of the best I have read and that is a big compliment!

 

Here is a position from Alekhine-Capablanca, St Petersburg 1913

Capa’s queen is attacked. He now played the astonishing 33…Qc2!! Which Alekhine had never considered. There are many ‘wow’ factor positions like this, which is why we are so grateful for the games these superstars left us – who cares about computers?

 

Now, this is not a criticism but an observation based only on my preference. I would like to have had game numbers and the name of the Opening at the beginning of each game. Sometimes I flip through a book seeking only a specific opening. If these were included (and indexed) that would make life easier. But this does not detract in any way from the quality of the publication.

 

Conclusion

I said at the beginning of this review that I recommend this publication. I shall go a little further. Some of the books in my own collection are indispensable. Many are the classics such as My System, Lasker’s Manual of Chess. And My 60 Memorable Games. Well, The stories, games and intrigues of Capablanca & Alekhine can be added to that esteemed company. It is not only an instructive reference book, but an excellent work of chess history. The author says in his foreword that ‘this book takes a risk: most books about chess history don’t pay much attention to instructive commentary on the games, whilst most games collections don’t go deeply enough into historical context - I hope I have not been overly ambitious.’

 

Well the author can be justly proud of his book. That ’risk’ he took deserves to pay off handsomely. I only hope that he writes more – I am already having withdrawal symptoms. Christmas is fast approaching – and I will be recommending this to one and all.

 

Who is the author?

Luis Fernández Siles is a chess content creator, prevalent on YouTube, Twitch and Chessable with many interesting posts and articles. He has a deep love for chess, and lives in Granada, Spain.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW by Carl Portman

REVEAL YOUR CHESS STYLE  

by Andrew Soltis

 

Andrew Soltis

Pages: 232

Published by: Batsford   

2025 Softcover

 

What is this book about? (The blurb)

Are you a Kasparov, a Carlsen or a Fischer? Use this book to identify your own unique chess style and discover how it aligns with the tactics of the game’s greatest players. Then explore tips and tricks that help you avoid pitfalls, improve your strengths and become the best player you can be.

 

Every chess player has a naturally individual style of playing, based on the moves they like to play. Some people choose the kind of moves world champion Magnus Carlsen regularly uses, while others prefer a strategy favoured by the legendary Bobby Fischer. And some even find themselves emulating the way a chess computer works. But very few players are aware of how these moves fit together to create a consistent, personal chess style.

 

Reveal Your Chess Style contains 100 diagrams, each with a multiple choice of possible moves for the reader to choose from. Analysing the answers will explain how the reader’s choices reveal their hidden style, and which famous player they most identify with on the chessboard.

 

A host of advice is also included, on developing the player’s style further to avoid regular errors, increase skill and win more games – or they may want to adopt traits from other styles instead! This truly original book, from an International Grandmaster and venerable chess author, is a must-have for anyone who wants to improve their game and really get to know themselves as a chess player.

 

Contents

 

·         Chapter One – What is style?

·         Chapter Two – What kind of Game?

·         Chapter Three – Attack

·         Chapter Four – Defense

·         Chapter Five – Imbalanced Material

·         Chapter Six – Pawns

·         Chapter Seven – Risk

·         Chapter Eight – Exchanging

·         Chapter Nine – Positional Play

·         Chapter Ten - Technique

 

My thoughts and comments

 

In very simple terms, there are 100 diagrams with one question/theme and multiple choice answers below each diagram on separate pages. The reader should circle the answer they choose and then check it out at the end of the chapter under the ‘decoding’ heading. It’s that easy!

 

You cannot be ‘wrong’ at all. It isn’t an exam, and there are no points to tally up at the end of the book to illustrate how good/bad you are at chess. Each of the options has a comment with a named player (or players) attached to it so you will definitely be able to put a player’s name by your answer, which for that diagram reflects your style of play.

 

It struck me that as a chess coach I could use many examples for my students. Kids in particular love multiple choice questions and they would also develop their knowledge of chess history learning about Masters not only from the present but the past. It was a joy for me to work through this book, and several psychological issues came to the fore. Before long I would look at a position and think ‘is this about what I would play or am I second guessing what the master actually played?’ In truth, both occurred so the reader should be disciplined and I would suggest they just opt for the move that they would play and let the rest follow. After 100 diagrams you will surely have improved your tactical and positional awareness, so it is much more than a multiple-choice question book.

 

I rarely offer bullet points in a review but on this occasion it is worth sharing some of the brief notes I made as I went through it. 

- One can do the puzzles on an actual board or in your head. This is extremely useful. 

- There are no ‘solutions’ as such, just choices.  

- It’s not about guessing what Tal or Fischer would do – it is about what you would do. At the end of the day it is about you, not them. 

- Multiple choice is great fun – especially with no ‘wrong’ answers. 

- Sometimes you get a choice between as few as three moves or as many as seven. 

- Occasionally I did not want to choose any of the options – which was  interesting. 

- The chess examples given are varied and very educational.

Game choice

The 100 selected diagrams originate from games played over many decades. There is a healthy choice ranging from Carlsbad 1923 to Wijk aan Zee in 2027 and many more. The likes of Carlsen, Fischer, Tal. Anand, Karpov, Kasparov, Petrosian, Korchnoi, Nakamura and Capablanca feature, plus so many more greats.

Example

This is a position from the game A.Vooremaa - Paul Keres, Tallin 1971 and it is Black (Keres) to play. It is in the section on positional play. Soltis asks what move you would select from the following choices.

(a) ...Bxd3

(b) ...Rf-c8

(c) ...Nb6

(d) ...b4

(e) ...c5

One might be thinking 'what did Keres play?' but of course the question is all about what you would play. There is a third option here around - what would today's chess engine play because I can tell you from using Fritz 20 for only five minutes the top move did correlate to the one played. Wow! 

I won't spoil it by giving the answer, but this is the format for the 100 diagrams and it was fun. Incidentally, Soltis adds supporting questions just before the options to help us think. In this case he says Which piece can Black improve the most by maneuver? Should he change the pawn structure with a push or allow White to change it with Bxf5?

Other points

I like the cover and layout of the book. The paper quality is not quite what it used to be at Batsford but the diagrams are better than they were in the past in my view – much clearer. I would like to have seen an index of games.

 

I would say one other thing, and this is meant to be more helpful than harmful. When it is Black to play, I would like to see the board inverted so that the black pieces are shown at the bottom of the diagram. Many amateur chess players read from the bottom ‘up’ the board. I think Andras Adjoran used to do this to great effect. None of these points are game changers, and one can enjoy the book just the same – they are merely my thoughts as a reviewer.

There was one other thought. Could there be a (barcode) link to download the positions in .pgn so the reader could try them on their computers?

 

Does the book achieve its aim?

The idea of the book is to reveal your chess style. This is still a very subjective topic and I take my hat off to Andrew Soltis for giving chess players the opportunity to think about what their style is and which players they might like to study more in order to develop that style further. If the reader adds up their player answers, at the end then there should be an emerging figure which was most often reflected. Clearly you are not that player and one does not have to paint oneself into a corner and say ‘right, that’s me then.’ I don’t think the author intended this at all – it is a start point to at least try to look inwardly and examine what style we might lean towards. It does not mean that we cannot change that style.

 

I see the book as a valuable pointer as to where we are ‘now’ in our chess journey based on the players’ moves and the thoughts (examples) that Andrew Soltis has provided from his own vast experience. The reader does not have to take any of the content or results to heart but just have some fun and enjoy the book. Keen chess players will enjoy the process. It claims to be a truly original book – and it is! I have not seen one quite like it in decades, so it is a groundbreaker for me.

 

The title asks ‘Are you a Kasparov, a Carlsen or a Fischer?’ Well in my case, none actually. I am ready for the big reveal. It transpires that from the answers I selected this time around that I play in the style of Alexander Alekhine, which is quite a pleasant surprise. Nimzowitsch was close, as was Tal, so there you go. Would that have been the case twenty years ago? Will it be the case in ten? Who knows? It says something about my decision making today and it is genuinely thought-provoking. Now I can interrogate more Alekhine games and see if I can find a bit of me in there. I hope that is what the author wanted for his readers.

 

As a kid I always used to read Batsford Chess books – they were the go-to publisher to get my fix. Much has happened in publishing since then with any number of competitors producing fine books for the chess player. For me this book shows that Batsford ‘have still got it’ and are still very relevant in chess publishing. Immerse yourself in the pages and find out your own chess style.

 

I unreservedly recommend it to chess players of all standards.

 

Who is the author?

Andrew Soltis is an International Grandmaster, a chess columnist for the New York Post and a highly popular chess writer. He is the author of many books including 500 Chess Questions Answered, The Chessmaster Checklist, How to Choose a Chess Move and How to Swindle in Chess. He lives in New York.