Kasparov London Book Signing Dec. 4

Just come from there, got Checkmate - Your first chess book and Fischer MGP signed. No question and answer session but well worth going. Sorry Mig no digital pics available yet.

Mig, does Garry know about this "Predecessors" book?

http://www.amazon.com/Kasparov-Predecess...6576&sr=8-1

oops. try this site...

http://www.amazon.com/Kasparov-Predecessors-Misled-About-Chess/dp/1906388261/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228406534&sr=8-1

I would like to ask Garry Kasparov to write a new book about chess tactics. Not about combinations. We have those books already. The book should be titled "Where to Put the Pieces." Before combinations arise, how do masters arrange their pieces to encourage positive tactical results later in the game? And how do they minimize the risk of combinations that favor their opponent? Other than Cecil Purdy, has anyone written on this subject?

Funny, RS. I didn't know about it and I doubt Garry does. I wonder what his publisher will think about the similarity in appearance to the real Predecessors books. It's a funny idea, though not original. There's already a "how to beat Garry Kasparov" book, modeled on the same thing done to Fischer.

The problem I see with those sorts of books, Peter, is that great tactics at the GM level almost always involve exceptions to general rules and patterns. This is part of the truth behind the old saw that knowing all the rules gets you to master but knowing how to break them is the only thing that gets you beyond that. For 99% of chess aficionados, a Reinfeld-style "1001 tactics" book is going to be far more useful than anything a GM could say about tactics. They operate on ultra-pragmatic case-by-case calculation, backed up by sheer talent and thousands of games played. Writing about tactics is like writing about dancing.

That's not to say Garry or another top GM might not have some insightful or even useful thoughts on tactics, but generally all that pseudo-philosophy isn't nearly as useful as practice practice practice for amateurs. It's just more interesting and fun to read about it instead of doing the work.

On a more practical note, good annotated game collections basically do what you are looking for much of the time. Seeing what led up to the combination with good notes on development is very useful, plus you learn more than tactics.

I went to this signing- it was not as packed out as previous ones,not so much pre publicity though- though I'd estimate GK signed about 100 peoples books , often multiple purchases.

Gary signed Vol 4 Fischer for me and the Test of Time hard back which is quite rare I think.

I mentioned to Kasparov that I'd been on a popular TV show in UK called Mastermind answering questions about Fischer and had used his Vol4 book as a reference. Gary was quite interested and asked me how I'd done and which question 'd got wrong.

See how you do
It was -"What piece did Fischer Sacrifice for several pawns in the 13th game vs Spassky"

Have a quick guess NOW.

Ok I and a UK GM I asked said a Rook, and Gary Kasparov said it was a very tricky question and he thought at first to answer a rook. But in fact the answer they wanted was a bishop- because although Spassky fights 5 pawns with his rook in the ending finally blndering with R-d1 ch instead of R-c3 ch, over on the Kingside Spassky's Bishop and pawn lock in Fischers Rook .

So it was really great to be able to talk to the greatest ever chess player about probably the most hard fought ever game in a World championship match.

I wish I lived in London!

Tell Garry to come to Melbourne, Australia one day :)

Seriously... he needs to get to chicago already!