Secrets of spectacular chess - 2nd Edition

In the modern classic, Secrets of Spectacular Chess, Jonathan Levitt and David Friedgood shared their joy and appreciation of chess beauty, engulfing readers with a wealth of amazing and magnificent examples from the aesthetic side of the game. More than this, they showed how this fascinating subject could actually be analysed, and how this could help players improve the practical side of their game.

Now the authors have produced a much awaited and largely expanded second edition, in which they present further thoughts, provide many new mesmerizing examples of games, studies and problems, and revisit previous material to explain how the theory has developed.

This book captures the imagination; read it and become hypnotized by the power and beauty of chess!
*A new expanded edition, with 50% new material
*An enthralling guide to the artistry of chess
*Ideal for players of all levels

CONTENTS
7 Preface to the Second Edition
11 Preface to the First Edition
12 Symbols
13 Notation
15 Foreword by John Nunn

21 Black Part One: Background and Context
23 - 1 Introduction
23 The Importance of Chess Aesthetics
25 Fantasy and Motivation
29 A Brief History of Beautiful Chess Ideas
34 Previous Work in the Field
36 Review of recent Literature
44 Philosophical Perspective: Art, Analogies and Taste
47 Our Four Elements and why we have introduced them
49 Limitations of our Method

52 Part Two: The Elements of Chess Beauty
54 - 2 Paradox
56 The Paradox of Material
67 Breaking the Rules
73 The Paradox of Set Play
75 - 3 Depth
75 Depth, Length and Breadth
79 Small Change
82 Negative Depth
83 Further Aspects of Depth
89 - 4 Geometry
91 Graphic Effects
99 Optical Logic
114 The Extended Meaning of Chess Geometry
119 - 5 Flow
119 Smooth and Turbulent Flow
126 Flow and Technique

135 Part Three: Sampling the Spectacular
136 - 6 The Poetry of War: The Aesthetics of Practical Play
138 Beauty in the Opening
142 Beauty in the Middlegame
145 Beauty in the Endgame
146 Selected Games
170 - 7 Tactical Fantasies: The Charm of Studies
172 Practical Player or Composer
175 Domination and the Paradox of Positional Draw
180 Beauty, Truth and the Computer
185 Assorted Brilliance
198 Tightness and Overall Effect
200 Complete Studies
204 Exercises
206 - 8 Art for Art`s Sake: The Delights of Chess Problems
207 Bohemian Problems
209 The Logical School
225 The Strategic School
222 Longer Strategic Problems
229 Exercises
231 - 9 The Weird and the Wonderful: Unorthodox Problems
231 Helpmates
237 Selfmates
241 Series-movers
243 A Step Backwards: Retrograde Analysis
246 Exercises
248 - 10 Further considerations on Chess Aesthetics
248 Feedback on The Theory
250 Power and Personal Preference
252 Beauty and Difficulty
253 Light or Heavy?
256 Help from the Other Side
262 Even Weirder, even more Wonderful...
270 - 11 Solutions to Exercises
276 Bibliography
279 Index of Players and Composers
285 Index of Openings, Themes and Definitions

• Casa editrice Everyman Chess
• Codice 3366
• Anno 2008
• Pagine p. 288