Martyn Kravtsiv

A unique exercise book to improve your all-round chess thinking"I noticed that most of the students at the Lviv chess school] were pretty good at calculating variations and finding tactical ideas. But when I gave them a strategic exercise they became a little confused. ... I realized that few good books of a suitable level with strategic exercises have been published." - Martyn KravtsivSo he decided to write one After tackling his exercises, you will have a greater understanding of which piece needs to be exchanged, whether to advance a pawn or leave it where it is, along with a variety of other strategic questions involving outposts, open lines, structures and where to attack.But there remains the problem that strategic exercises often lack clear-cut solutions, with the right course a matter of taste or opinion. Martyn has solved this by often including a tactic in the solution, but the reason it works is based on the correct strategic decision having been made. Unlocking the strategic secrets of each position will lead you to this hidden treasure The most difficult exercises in this book will challenge even masters, so for the rest of us there is a helpful hint provided. Full and detailed solutions explain the strategic and tactical ideas in each position, and amount to a wide-ranging course in chess strategy.Martyn Kravtsiv is an experienced grandmaster and trainer from Lviv, Ukraine. His tournament results include tied first places at Cappelle in 2012 and the 2015 Ukrainian Championship, as well as being blitz champion of the 2008 World Mind Sports Games (at age 17). He represented his country at the 2017 World Team Championship and was a coach for the team that won silver medals at the 2016 Olympiad.

In this, the second book in his two-volume work, GM Martyn Kravtsiv shines the spotlight on the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4). Most chess players learn the basics of this opening as beginners, yet it contains enough depth and complexity to provide the world’s best players with a rich and ever-evolving battleground. Though written unmistakably from White’s perspective, this work takes a different approach from that of a typical repertoire book. Rather than filling valuable pages analysing rare, inferior and generally irrelevant options, the author delves deep into the most important main lines, explaining the key move-order details and providing White with a series of well-researched ideas which will force your opponents to solve difficult problems at the board. Join The Italian Renaissance and create your own masterpieces!

With the seemingly bulletproof Berlin Wall and Marshall Attack continuing to thwart White’s best efforts to find an advantage in the Ruy Lopez, many top chess players have incorporated the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) along with the related Bishop’s Opening (2.Bc4) into their repertoires. GM Martyn Kravtsiv shares his insights on The Italian Renaissance from White’s perspective. The first topic is the Bishop’s Opening, which can be used as an Anti-Petroff move order as well as a weapon in its own right. 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 may or may not transpose to the main Italian lines, and it is useful to have it in your arsenal in order to choose the most effective sequence against each opponent. Next is the more popular 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3. Before reaching the Italian, White must be ready to deal with the Petroff Defence (2...Nf6). Kravtsiv advocates the well-regarded 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 variation, offering an array of weapons to cause problems for Black, including a large number of untested yet dangerous ideas. Join The Italian Renaissance and create your own masterpieces!