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Practical Chess Beauty

Yochanan Afek author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Quality Chess UK LLP

Published:28th Nov '18

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Practical Chess Beauty cover

Solving studies is well established as an effective method of chess improvement. In Practical Chess Beauty one of the world’s greatest study composers, Yochanan Afek, shares his finest creations.

Fire your imagination, gain a greater appreciation of chess geometry, and develop a finer feeling for the pieces’ potential by trying to find the ideas hidden in the hundreds of studies in this book. Or simply wonder at some of the most stunning chess moves ever conceived.

From the Foreword by GM Emil Sutovsky:
“The book you hold is full of energy; it is fresh and evidently written with a lot of love and passion for the game. Yochanan visibly enjoys sharing his knowledge and readily invites us into his magical world.”

"It is a lengthy work full of ideas and beauty." -- GM Jan Timman, New in Chess


"Chess training has advanced by leaps and bounds the past two decades and one of the biggest takeaways has been the need for active training that engages the student. Solving endgame studies is an excellent way to do this as it simultaneously improves one's endgame understanding, understanding of piece efficiency and calculating ability not to mention developing an appreciation for chess aesthetics.

Afek's latest book, Practical Chess Beauty, is the product of a life's work and promises months of absorbing study material." -- IM John Donaldson


"Afek has succeeded in his intention to show the beautiful artistic aspects of chess… And not only that: it also turns out to be an excellent training tool… I knew Afek could compose nice studies; he showed me regularly at tournaments. But I did not know that he had made so many, where each one is even more beautiful than the next." -- IM Herman Grooten


"This is one of these books that there should be many more of! The author LOVES chess, and that is clearly evident from nearly every page. Several times, I caught myself thinking: where does all this creativity come from? … The book is phenomenally entertaining, enlightening, mind-blowing and mind-boggling. ***** (5/5)" -- Carsten Hansen, American Chess Magazine


"This is, in my opinion, a must-have book, one of a kind." -- Frederic Friedel, ChessBase

ISBN: 9781784830755

Dimensions: 250mm x 180mm x 25mm

Weight: 1006g

464 pages