Practical Lessons of a Junior World Champion
by Daniel Naroditsky, 240pp. (New In Chess, 2010)

Read an excerpt here

“If you want to excel at chess, you have to delve deeper, and appreciate not only visually pleasing combinations, but much more subtle positional ideas as well”, writes Daniel Naroditsky (1995) in this book.

Daniel is a unique talent. He became World Junior Chess Champion in 2007, and now, at the age of 14, he is also the youngest published chess author in history.

Mastering Positional Chess is a serious, but entertaining chess instruction book. Daniel started writing it when he realized that his lack of positional understanding was causing him to lose many games.

Despite his young age, Daniel’s mature style and systematic method of working stand out. He gives crystal-clear, verbal explanations on the essence of positional chess, thus showing himself to be a born writer and instructor.

This refreshingly original book contains six chapters on the important positional aspects of chess, with many attractive games and fragments from Daniel’s own games, but also from games by top players like Kasparov, Karpov, Topalov and Petrosian.

Naroditsky's course covers the following subjects:

• Prophyaxis
• Defense in worse positions
• Building and breaking fortresses
• Positional sacrifice
• Paralysis in the middlegame
• Maneuvering.

There are many exercises and summaries throughout the book.

In a special preface Daniel’s parents tell the story behind this book, which teaches chess skills every club player needs in order to win more games.

IM John Donaldson: "In some ways, a book from earlier times in that it offers the reader a significant amount of explanatory prose. Yes, analysis is given, but only what is needed, not more. The author repeatedly reinforces the points he wishes to make not only through the illustrative games he offers, but also in the summaries and the exerices."

John Saunders, British Chess Magazine: "You would never guess that he was so young when he wrote it as it is imbued with a great deal of understanding of the game and expressed in good, plain English."

 

GM Simen Agdestein: "The book is quite excellent. It is easy to understand and contains a good collection of illustrative examples of how you can improve your positional understanding."

Gary Lane, Australasian Chess Magazine: "A first class work to help improving players move up to the next level."

Steve Goldberg, ChessCafe: "An easy-to-read text (..) Each game is carefully annotated, with more prose than variations (..) Especially important points are set aside in bold print, and chapter or sub-chapter summaries are structured in bold print within a gray box, for easy review of lessons just presented (..) This text should be helpful to virtually all class players."