Chess Tests : Mark Dvoretsky

From the rear cover :

“Mark Dvoretsky (1947-2016) is considered one of the greatest chess instructors in the modern era. He left behind a great legacy of many books and publications. At the time of his passing, there were two unpublished manuscripts he had finished (and one other co-authored with study composer Oleg Pervakov).”

And from the Foreword by Artur Yusupov :

“Chess Tests offers chess players material of very high quality for working on various themes, from training combinative vision to techniques of realizing advantages. I recommend using those materials for in-depth work in the directions mentioned in the book. If you follow this advice, then this volume will become a valuable addition to your chess studies and will help you reinforce skills and knowledge you have already obtained. “And here is probably the most important point. Dvoretsky wanted to write a book that would not only teach some intricacies of chess, but would also be simply a pleasure to read for aficionados of the game, so he tried to amass the ‘tastiest’ of examples here. I hope that this last book by him is going to achieve this, presenting its readers with many chess discoveries and joy of communication with the great coach and author.”

This book (also available as an eBook) is divided into seven chapters as follows :

Training Combinational Vision, 32 tests Candidate Moves, 38 tests Calculating Variations, 18 tests Attack and Defense, 28 tests Positional Play, 52 tests Realizing an Advantage, 24 tests Endgame Tests, 35 tests

and each of these is further sub-divided. Above we have indicated a number of tests for each chapter. Each of these tests comprises a position diagram with a whose move it is indicator.

Unusually, the tests sections comprise the first 62 pages and pages 63 – 206 are the solutions. So, this book is a little unusual for a standard “tactics” book in that the bulk of the text is in form of solutions and explanations.

So, this is much, much more than a routine tactics book. As you might expect from Dvoretsky the bonuses come from the solutions. It is clear that Dvoretsky had gone to great lengths to collect the test positions, and, as we found (in the BCN office), they were an absolute delight to work on. To whet your appetite here is a pleasing example from “Tasty Tactics #2 :

6k1/2b2p2/3q2pp/r4n2/8/2P4R/6PP/1Q2R2K b KQkq - 0 1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.

And here is the solution that you may wish to cover up for now :

6. Stern-Sanakoev, corr wch 1994-99

51…Ra5-a1!!

A fine queen deflection that prepares a mating attack.

52.Qb1xa1 Qd6xh2+1 53.Rh3xh2 Nf5-g3+ 54.Kh1-g1 Bc7-b6+ 55.Re1-e3 Bb6xe3#

52.Qe4 does not help..

2b3kr/ppbppp2/3q2pp/5n2/4Q3/2P4R/6PP/r3R2K w KQkq - 0 1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.

The same combination leads to a won endgame : 52…Qxh2+ 53.Rxh2 Ng3+ 54. Kg1 Bb6+ 55.Qd4 Bxd4+ 56.cd Rxe1+ 57.Kf2 Nf1 (57…Re3!?;57…Rh1!?), but a quicker way to finish the game is 52…Qf4! (there is a threat of both 53…Qxe4 and 53…Qf1+) 53.Qe8+ Kg7 54.Rxa1 Qxh2+! 55.Rxh2 Ng3+ 56.Kg1 Bb6+.

and here is a beautiful example from Tasty Tactics #4 :

8/6kp/Q2p4/3P4/8/6qP/3pBrP1/6RK b KQkq - 0 1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.

but we won’t give the solution here : you will either have to solve this yourself or buy the book or both !

The general standard of these tests is high : even the tests labelled as “not very difficult” are challenging to say the least. Particularly instructive was the “Realizing an Advantage” section which includes subsections labelled “Technique”. Here is an example :

rr4k1/4ppb1/1pp3p1/2p5/8/3PB1PP/PPR1P1K1/R7 b KQkq - 0 1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.

and here is a particularly tricky example :

8/6pp/1K6/5P2/8/8/1kp3R1/8 w KQkq - 1 0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.

In summary, this is a wonderful book and a great testament to the legend that is Mark Dvoretsky. We cannot recommend this book highly enough and claim that is it one of the best chess books of 2019. Please get it and enjoy it !

John Upham, Cove, Hampshire 24th February 2020

Book Details :

Softcover : 208 pages

208 pages Publisher: Russell Enterprises (15 Nov. 2019)

Russell Enterprises (15 Nov. 2019) Language: English

English ISBN-10: 1949859061

1949859061 ISBN-13: 978-1949859065

978-1949859065 Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 0.6 x 22.9 cm

Official web site of Russell Enterprises