Book Recap #11 : Talking Winning Chess Strategies with Neal Bruce Perpetual Chess Podcast

This month on “Chess Books Recaptured” we discuss a book that is especially vital for club players, Winning Chess Strategies, by the beloved former top player, turned author and announcer, GM Yasser Seirawan. As the title might suggest, this is a book that focuses on the subtler, non tactical aspects of chess that are not always intuitive for adult improvers. I am joined again by popular guest co-host Neal Bruce. Neal has read many chess books focused on positional chess, and feels that this is the best one. In our recap, we discuss a few of the key concepts, and some of our favorite quotes and games, all of which Yasser explains in his inimitable style. Please read on for more details, timestamps and show notes. 





0:00- We begin by discussing why Winning Chess Strategies is a beloved and well-reviewed book, and discussing the various formats in which it’s available. 

 

April 2020- Book Recap: Talking Woodpecker Method Recap with Neal Bruce 

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-recap-woodpecker-method-rapid-chess-improvement/id1185023674?i=1000471766064

 

December 2019- Book Recap: Talking Reassess Your Chess with Todd Kennedy:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-recap-talking-silmans-reassess-your-chess-by-jeremy/id1185023674?i=1000460297334





Winning Chess Strategies is in print, and is available on Chessable among other formats:

https://www.chessable.com/winning-chess-strategies/course/30038/





8:30- What guests on Perpetual Chess Have recommended this book? 

Mentioned: GM Robert Hess, GM Lev Alburt, Stjepan Tomic

GM Maurice Ashley on the Tim Ferris show:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/449-grandmaster-maurice-ashley-on-magic-chess-art-trash/id863897795?i=1000486480639

 

10:30- Despite the oft repeated dictum that chess is “99% tactics” Neal and I both think books like this are important. Why? 

Mentioned: GM Avetik Grigoryan on why chess isn’t just tactics:

https://chessmood.com/blog/the-myth-about-chess-tactics-and-solving-chess-puzzles

 

14:00- For what level is this book appropriate? How difficult are the quiz questions? 

Neal thinks the 1200 to 2000 range.  I think more like 1000-1800 would benefit the most from it. 

Mentioned: GM Ben Finegold 

 

20:45- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com- check out Yasser’s Chessable offerings here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/yasser%20seirawan

 

21:30- We read a few key paragraphs from the book, and then discuss our favorite chapters. 

 

Mentioned: Wilhelm Steinitz, Akiba Rubinstein, GM Jose Raul Capablanca, Aron Nimzowitsch, Tigran Petrosian, GM Anatoly Karpov

 

30:00- We discuss a few of our favorite strategic concepts from the book. Mine include good, bad and active bishops, static vs. dynamic advantage and rules for when to attack. Neal highlighted the importance of a strong center, and “target consciousness” among a few other ideas.  

 

43:00- We discuss a few of our favorite games from the book. They are:

Alekhine-Nimzowitsch- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012683

Steinitz-Blackburne- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1028959 

Seirawan-Zarnicki- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1458901

Seirawan-Karpov- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1068297

Karpov-Spassky Game 9-  https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067812

 

Also mentioned: GM Maurice Ashley, Endgame Strategy by Mikhail Sherevsky 

 

50:00- Power rankings! Neal ranks his favorite chess strategy books for club players.  

Books discussed include: Simple Chess, Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, The Amateur’s Mind, How to Reassess Your Chess , Chess Strategy for Club Players, Find the Right Plan, and Modern Chess Strategy, Positional Chess Handbook by Israel Gelfer,Practical Chess Exercises, Blindfold Chess 

 

1:02:00- Thanks again to Neal for coming on and sharing his knowledge. You can keep up with all