This is a book in Descriptive Notation about one of the most important and strongest tournaments in chess history, which is still being discussed today. This is the tournament where the 15-year-old Bobby Fischer earned the grandmaster title and first became a contender for the World Chess Championship. It is also the tournament where Mikhail Tal finally got his first chance to compete in a grandmaster tournament outside of the Soviet Union and where Tal started one of the longest non-losing streaks in chess history on his march to the World Chess Championship. It is also one of the turning points in chess history. All of the strongest players in the world competed, with the sole exceptions of World Chess Champion Botvinnik, recent World Champion Vasily Smyslov and top contender Paul Keres. It also represented a changing of the guard. In 1956, the ten strongest players in the world had assembled for the World Championship Candidates Tournament in Amsterdam. The tournament had been won by Smyslov with Keres second. Most of the remaining 8 players qualified for this successor tournament. Exceptions were Boris Spassky, Efim Geller and Herman Pilnick. This time around, only one of the five who qualified for the Candidates Tournament last time made it back in this time. Their places were taken by 15-year-old Bobby Fischer, 20-year-old Mikhail Tal and 23-year-old Fridrik Olafsson, plus Pal Benko and Gligoric.

A crucial decision spared chess Grandmaster David Bronstein almost certain death at the hands of the Nazis--one fateful move cost him the world championship. Russian champion Mark Taimanov was a touted as a hero of the Soviet state until his loss to Bobby Fischer all but ruined his life. Yefim Geller's dream of becoming world champion was crushed by a bad move against Fischer, his hated rival. Yuri Averbakh had no explanation how he became the world's oldest grandmaster, other than the quixotic nature of fate. Vasily Smyslov, the only one of the five to become world champion, would reign for just one year--fortune, he said, gave him pneumonia at the worst possible time. This book explores how fate played a capricious role in the lives of five of the greatest players in chess history.

From world-renowned chess teacher Bruce Pandolfini comes a collection of the 50 best games from his popular "Solitaire Chess" column in "Chess Life Magazine." Use "Solitaire Chess" to -test yourself -understand the strategies and tactics of serious chess, including development, king safety, the center, the opening, and more -read explanations about the moves of great players in famous games -have fun!

This comprehensive chronological reference work lists the results of men's chess competitions all over the world--individual and team matches, 1956 through 1960. Entries record location and, when available, the group that sponsored the event. First and last names of players are included whenever possible and are standardized for easy reference. Compiled from contemporary sources such as newspapers, periodicals, tournament records and match books, this work contains 1,390 tournament crosstables and 142 match scores. It is indexed by events and by players.

One of the world’s top chess journalists in the world explores why, after 1,500 years of existence, chess has never been more relevant than now. Chess is not just one of the greatest games ever devised. It has inspired writers, painters, and filmmakers, and was a secret mover behind technical revolutions like artificial intelligence that are transforming society. In this fascinating pop culture history of the game and its impact, acclaimed Chess.com journalist Peter Doggers (also their news and events director), reveals how computers and the Internet have further strengthened the timeless magic of chess in the digital era, leading to a new peak in popularity and cultural relevance. Doggers explores chess as a cultural phenomenon from its earliest beginnings in ancient India to its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AI. The book is illustrated with approximately 40 photographs and artworks.

No other chess tournament has such a long and rich history as the annual gathering 'in between the years' at the English seaside resort of Hastings. Countless chess players, professionals, and amateurs alike have celebrated Christmas and welcomed the New Year in Hastings while battling it out on the chessboard. German FM Jürgen Brustkern has been making the annual pilgrimage to Hasting ever since 1977. Together with his compatriot Norbert Wallet, he describes the tournament's fascinating history and portrays forty of the most colourful participants. The stories begin in 1895 when the young American Harry Pillsbury shocked the European chess elite with his victory, and they span 125 years. In this book, you will meet the strongest female players of all time, Vera Menchik, Nona Gaprindashvili, and Judit Polgar. You will get to know the mysterious Sultan Khan and the unorthodox Michael Basman and enjoy anecdotes about Mikhail Tal, Viktor Kortchnoi, and his rival Anatoly Karpov. How many World Champions came to Hastings? How expensive was the Golden Knight trophy that Lajos Portisch won? What was the effect of the British Chess Explosion? This collection of games and stories is enjoyed best in the dark days between Christmas and New Year's Eve, after a stroll on the beach, immersed in the spirit of Hastings. 'Should I trade my Romantic style for the modern way and only hunt for points?', Nicolas Rossolimo is quoted as asking himself. 'No, I won't. I will fight for chess as an art form.'