by Zenon Franco, 238pp. (2009 Gambit)

Superb defensive technique is a hallmark of all great chess-players. With a few deft counterstrokes, they not only deflect what looked like an overwhelming offensive, but also expose the darker side of their opponent's build-up. Is this sheer black magic, or are these skills that ordinary players can develop?

While some of the key defensive skills follow well-established principles, modern players ally this with an appreciation of chess dynamics that is a good deal more subtle. Zenon Franco provides a wide-ranging course in how to handle difficult positions, seeking not only to hold them together but to go on the counteroffensive, exploiting to the full the commitments and concessions the opponent has made to launch his attack. The methods he advocates are varied: often a countersacrifice is the key, while simplification can also employed as a subtler, but equally deadly weapon.

Chapters include:

• Lasker, the Master of Defence and Counter-Attack
• Refuting Premature Attacks
• Fighting Blow by Blow
• Regrouping
• Prophylactic Thinking
• Simplification

Zenon Franco is a grandmaster from Paraguay who now lives in Spain. He is an experienced chess trainer, his most notable pupil being Paco Vallejo, now one of the world's top grandmasters, whom he taught from 1995 to 1999.

"An Impressive Book: Readers unfamiliar with the works of Zenon Franco have plenty of catching up to do. The grandmaster from Paraguay, who now lives in Spain, wrote three excellent books for Gambit Publications. After

Chess Self-Improvementand The Art of Attacking Chess, Franco recently came up with Grandmaster Secrets: Counterattack! His discussion of the delicate subject on how to bounce back from difficult positions is both enjoyable and instructive. One can still learn a lot from Emanuel Lasker's tenacity in defense and José Raul Capablanca's art of simplification, but examples of modern players, such as Kramnik and Carlsen, are also presented. Overall, it is a great book for tournament players." - GM Lubomir Kavalek, Washington Post

"...the author knows not only his historical but also his contemporary sources, and is able to introduce a topic (not only counterattack, but also psychology in chess) in a subtle but compelling way. ... the book consists of much more than just classic games. It's a guide to all possible ways of countering an attack, such as simplification and prophylaxis, logically ordered by theme, each followed by lots of good exercises. ... a truly interesting book not only for people who want to improve their game, but also for those who simply like classic games analysed by a contemporary grandmaster. ... depth and insightful explanations go hand in hand." - Arne Moll, www.chessvibes.com