by Jonathan Rowson, 208pp. (Gambit 2000)

Everyone loses chess games occasionally, but all too often we lose a game due to moves that, deep down, we knew were flawed. Why do we commit these chess-board sins? Are they the result of general misconceptions about chess and how it should be played? And how can we recognize the warning signs better? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, Jonathan Rowson investigates, in his inimitable style, the main reasons why chess-players sometimes go horribly astray, focusing on the underlying psychological pitfalls: thinking (unnecessary or erroneous); blinking (missing opportunities; lack of resolution); wanting (too much concern with the result of the game); materialism (lack of attention to non-material factors); egoism (insufficient awareness of the opponent and his ideas); perfectionism (running short of time, trying too hard); looseness ("losing the plot", drifting, poor concentration).

Jonathan Rowson became Scotland's third grandmaster in late 1999, within months of graduating from Oxford University. He was runner-up in the 1997 European Junior Championship, Scottish Champion in 1999, 2001 and 2004, winner of the Canadian Open in 2000, winner of the Hastings Premier 2003/2004, and British Champion in 2004.

"Jonathan Rowson is to be congratulated on producing a book of such intellectual depth... I have now identified my sins and hopefully I will now become a better player." - Alan Sutton, EN PASSANT

"He has broken ranks by writing about playing chess as it actually is rather than it ought to be and should be greatly commended for this. This is a book which, in contrast to the vast majority of its brethren, I will continue to visit and revisit" - Jon Speelman, THE INDEPENDENT

"Jonathan Rowson's psychological and philosophical musings called "The Seven Deadly Chess Sins" makes splendid reading and certainly helps those chessplayers who think too much during the games, or miss opportunities, or are too greedy, or don't pay attention to material, or refuse to see another human across the chessboard, or try to be too perfect or drift while concentrating. Or all of the above" - Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

"...easily the leading book on chess psychology, by far the most useful one, very possibly a classic..." - John Watson, TWIC