by Jacob Aagaard, 298pp. (2006 Quality Chess)
 
Chess is developing faster now than ever before in history, and the appearance of strong chess computers has changed the way players think. In the past many positions would have been rejected on principle as impossible to defend, and even the best players would shy away from capturing material if it meant that they would have to face a difficult defence. This attitude has changed, and today’s top players are not afraid of walking a very fine line in defence. This book gives practical advice on various methods of defence, offering readers the chance to test and train with 200 challenging examples. While not for the faint-hearted, this book will help the reader greatly improve in this vital part of the game.
 
Jacob Aagaard is one of the most respected chess authors in the world, 33 years old, born in Denmark, but resident in Glasgow, Scotland. His best results are his three GM-norms, all attained in 2004. Jacob has written many highly regarded chess books. Especially close to his heart is the Excelling at Chess series of 5 books, from which the first, Excelling at Chess, (translated into numerous languages), won Book of the Year at ChessCafe.com, while the final two received even better reviews.