Pawn Sacrifice!: Winning at chess the adventurous way Paperback – July 17, 2008

A nice book from a smart chess writer

We all like our Chess books to be accurate and that is why computer analysis is helpful. But the subject of this book is deciding whether to make a pawn sacrifice or not, and also the various types of pawn sacrifices. For the Club player, we cannot really calculate out 10-15 moves and decide for certain if the sacrifice is sound. This book provides common sense, easy to implement rules to judge the situation. It is well written and easy to understand. The average player can incorporate these rules into his/her game and make a significant improvement in their game.

This book has good features such as showing full games instead of fragments and encouraging players to use their own judgment instead of blindly following a computer evaluation as the ultimate truth in chess.However, the book advertises "In this pioneering work, Timothy Taylor carries out an in depth study of this major subject using an abundance of instructive examples." In my opinion, when referring to an in depth study of subject matter, you prove you know it well by including old and relevant references as well as up to date references and having the ability to integrate them together. To me it appears the author has had this material for a long time, then decided to put it together as a book, but excluded modern games. Modern games are important because when you study chess you need to keep a balance between classic and modern games in order to apply what you learn from a book and create in your own games.Furthermore, the author's idea that enjoying playing an endgame does not mix with playing pawn sacrifices in the middle game. For example, let's say you sac a pawn in the middle game and failed to obtain compensation. In this case, the only way to score ½ point is by correct endgame play and the endgame is your last chance to save the game (unless you think that after sacrificing a pawn you must win or lose (in the adventurous way!)"There you have it: if you are salivating over that endgame grind in the second diagram, then you might want to put this book down right now before you are converted to adventurous chess!" page.7Finally, the index of openings is not accurate. It mentions the Budapest defense -84 and the game is not there...Ultimately I was expecting more from this book as part of the EVERYMAN CHESS series.

Bravo I.M. Timothy Taylor. This work proves he is both a consumate chess author and teacher. Not only does the book fulfill the basics with full game score examples, index of players and openings, and bibliography, he demonstrates both the courage and creativity to challenge the mind set of those (including world class players) ever so increasingly dependent on the anayltical work of Fritz et al.Taylor admittedly builds upon the the Rudolf Spielmann's classic, THE ART OF SACRIFICE IN CHESS,in two ways. First, Taylor focuses upon the pawn sacrifice only and second he expands the classification of such sacrifices. The 67 complete games (with full game scores) are thoroughly analysed not only by Taylor but with audacity he allows the comments of Fritz 9 and tells us why the latters's opinion can be deprioritized. Taylor's narrative is not only audacious, insightful, and in many instances very humorous. He is also a master of the psychological for chess play.With a world (including that of chess) that is increasingly besotted by brain snatching silicon oracles, Taylor shows no fear in demonstrating why one does NOT have to think like chess software. "In every game in this book, at some point one of the players said to himself, 'I'm going to sacrifice this pawn - I don't see when or how I'm getting it back, but I like my position." (page 8)This book clearly demonstrates what it means to be a "human" chess player and to play with the stones we are born with.

Son was a bit disappointed at how confusing this book is but he loves chess so he's trying to wage through it.

something i was playing with-- and here it is in print-- thanks for saving me the time!!!!!super old text, but still good to go through.I win lotsa games--- i am sure this has helped.....

There are all sorts of ways to conduct the chess struggle. Most amateur players restrict their chess horizon by almost automatically excluding options which involves any kind of material loss. Instead, the question should be put differently,namely to evaluate if a material cost may be a worthwhile investment due to other advantages gained (e.g. a concentration offorces on the kingside, which may result in a decisive attack). These kinds of real sacrifices (as opposed to so called sham sacrifices - sacrifices which are a part of a tactical operation which may be precisely calculated) is the topic of this book, and the focus is on the important type involving the sacrifice of a pawn for positional gains.Beside some interesting examples taken from the author's own games, a number of well chosen examples from games of such grandmasters as Tal and Stein are included.The explanations are very pedagogical including a careful consideration of the "favourable omens" which form the prerequisites for a successful sacrifice.A very instructive and at the same time enjoyable book, which forms a good, modern complement to Rudolf Spielmann's Classic work "The Art of Sacrifice in Chess". The danish grandmaster Bent Larsen once wrote: "Whoever is prepared to sacrifice a pawn, will have no opening problems".Recommended.