Raymond Keene

This book recounts the third of the five chapters in the half-decade long rivalry which erupted between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In the eyes of many this conflict symbolised the clash between the Brezhnev-inspired forces of reaction in the old USSR and the new Gorbachev/Yeltsin-driven imperatives of perestroika and glasnost which ultimately led to the collapse of the creaking Soviet empire.

This book recounts the fourth and penultimate chapter in the half-decade long rivalry which erupted between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. In the eyes of many this conflict symbolised the clash between the Brezhnev-inspired forces of reaction in the old USSR and the new Gorbachev/Yeltsin-driven imperatives which ultimately led to the collapse of the creaking Soviet empire.

The Nimzo-Indian Defence is one of Black's most dynamic ways of countering 1 d4. From the outset of the game Black seeks to create pawn weaknesses in his opponent's position to be exploited in the middlegame. Usually this involves renouncing the bishop pair, typically leading to positions in which both sides have clear strategic objectives, where the outcome is decided by the skills of the two players in executing these plans.

Moscow, in the autumn of 1984, was the setting for a clash between two of the all-time greats of chess: defending champion Anatoly Karpov, the most deadly tournament player in the history of the game, and Gary Kasparov, the 21 year old from Baku who would become the youngest ever World Champion were he to overthrow his rival. This gruelling test of contrasting character, style and sheer physical reserves roused a wave of media interest and thrust chess into the forefront of public attention.

Leonid Stein?s brilliant chess career, cut tragically short in 1973, included overwhelming victories against the world?s leading grandmasters, Stein not only stormed to an incredible total of 3 first prizes (out of 4 attempts) in the USSR Championships, but also won what were arguably the two strongest tournaments of all time, (Moscow 1967 and Moscow 1971)

The Nimsowitsch/Larsen attack ( 1 b3) is one of the most interesting and most flexible opening systems in which the theory has not yet fully crystallised. It is, therefore, an ideal choice for the player wishing to avoid sharp theoretical duels in the opening and preferring to throw his opponent on his own resources at an early stage.

Ray Keene selects and annotates his most interesting games against such giants as Anatoly Karpov, Mikhail Botvinik, Mikhail Tal, Jan Timman, John Nunn, Tony Miles and Svetozar Gligoric. Originally published as a private limited edition.