Romanovsky, Soviet Middlegame Technique - kartoniert

Many of the classics of Soviet chess literature have struggled to see the light of day, but none more so than Soviet Middlegame Technique by Peter Romanovsky. The original version of this famous guide to the middlegame was published in 1929 when Romanovsky was Soviet Champion. Romanovsky later decided to update and improve his work. As he finished his work in 1942, World War II was underway and Romanovsky was trapped in the notorious siege of Leningrad. The author barely survived and his manuscript was lost.

Romanovsky was undeterred and finally recreated his improved book in 1960. His writing was later translated into English and published in two titles one on Planning and the other on Combinations. In this fresh translation we have included both works to create the ultimate version of a classic of Soviet chess literature.

GM Alexander Kotov on Romanovsky: One of the best books in the world s chess literature.


Contents


Foreword by the UK Publisher

Key to symbols used & Bibliography

PART ONE: PLANNING

Introduction

(A) General System

(i) Basic concepts
(ii) Concrete scheme
(iii) Dynamics
(iv) Harmony

(B) Squares

(i) Weak point
(ii) The permanent knight
(iii) Weak squares on the sixth (third) rank
(iv) A few conclusions

(C) Open Lines

1. Two Wins by Wilhelm Steinitz - Their Creative and Technical Substance
2. Stages in a Plan - Square and File as Targets of the Plan - The Preparatory Stage - The Stage of Concrete Action - Exploitation of Gains
3. Play on the a-File
4. The Centre - Its Strategic Significance - Knights on e5 and d5 (e4 and d4) - The Pawn Centre - Attacking with the Centre Pawns - Hanging Pawns
5. More about Active Pawn Play - The Pawn Wedge and How to React to It - The Nail Pawn - The Phalanx of e- and f-pawns - The Pawn Storm
6. Battle of the Major Pieces
7. Manoeuvring - The Initiative
8. The Two Bishops

PART TWO: COMBINATION

9. What is a Combination
10. The Elements of Combination - Motif and Theme
11. The Aesthetics of Combination: General Concepts
12. Idea and Technique of an Incarcerated King Combination
13. More about Aesthetics - Pseudo-Sacrifice - Queen Sacrifice
14. On the Theory of Combination - Typical Ideas
15. Modern History of Combinations - The Immortal Game - Masterpieces from the End of the 19th Century
16. Double Attack - Attacks on Pieces by Pawns
17. Positional Weakness as a Combinative Motif - Combinations Invited by Weaknesses in the Castled Position - Sacrifice of Bishop for Pawn on g3, h3, g6, h6
18. Combinative Attack with Two Bishops - Harmonious Action of Rooks on the Second and Seventh Ranks - Rook Sacrifice on g7
19. Harmonious Action of Rook and Bishop - The Theme of Trapping a Piece
20. The Interference Device in Various Combinative Schemes
21. How Players Think During the Game

Index of Names