The Flame of Attack (Aptekar)

The Art of Chess volume 2

The Wisdom of Strategy
by Lev Aptekar
ISBN: 978-1-927179-03-1

US $9.99

The Art of Chess is a three-volume series, covering Tactics (volume 1), Strategy (volume 2), and Attack (volume 3). In all three volumes, the presentation of the material is rather like an art gallery, with some of the finest creative ideas on display. For each topic, positions from games by top players have been selected. Playing through these game fragments will give the student a feel for those ideas, and fix them in memory so they can be used in his or her own games. The e+Books edition has the moves hidden, so you can treat them as puzzle books and try to work out the game continuation - or just play through the moves and enjoy some spectacular chess.

Volume 2, The Wisdom of Strategy, has 13 chapters on themes such as weak squares, penetration, restriction, Zugzwang, blockade, breakthrough, undermining, pawn wedge and pawn storm, and the exchange sacrifice. The 14th chapter contains 43 mate-in-two compositions - excellent analysis practice.

 

Lev Aptekar, an education graduate and professional chess coach for 15 years in his native Kiev, became New Zealand Chess co-champion in 1976. In 1980 he represented New Zealand at the Chess Olympiad in Malta. As National Chess Coach in 1988 and 1990 he was official manager of the New Zealand Olympiad teams in Thessaloniki and Novi Sad.

About the book

This book was previously published under the same title by L&L Aptekar, ISBN 978-0-473-13629-1. The original paperback has 141 pages. It is part of a set of three volumes; see also The Art of Chess volume 1 and The Art of Chess volume 3. The premise behind these volumes is that the chess student learns by example. Themes are introduced, and positions from expert play are presented. In the e+Books edition, we have hidden the moves so that you can think about the position before tapping Reveal to see how the game continued - so you can treat the whole book as an exercise, or simply enjoy the spectacular chess. At the end are some puzzles for you to solve (tap on Solution to check the correct answer).