My 60 Memorable Games

Fischer avoids the traps that diminish so many other games collections. For a start, he includes a handful of losses (the book's called My 60 Memorable Games, not My 60 Greatest Games). He describes not only his thinking during (and sometimes after) the game, but also the mist of emotions that swirled about him as the game unfolded. He gives fair due to his opponents' good play and is critical of his own mistakes, even in those games where he won convincingly. It's this mix of hard analysis and honest reporting that make this book my most prized chess possession. That and the sheer quality of the games. My only caveat: if you're new to chess, be careful about modelling your play on the games in this book. Fischer walked a knife edge - so often, his convincing wins were only one false move away from becoming crushing losses. It's an exciting but demanding path to follow.

My edition is Faber paperbacks 1972 and covers the period 1957-1967. I always tell people that it is the best (money) that I've ever spent! IM Larry Evans introduces all of the 60 games with titles like "Slaying the dragon", "Peekaboo strategy" and "Meat and potatoes". Although, of course, it is the annotations given by Fischer that make the book - highly recommended.

Readers should be aware that there have been several editions of this book. In its original form, in descriptive notation and with Fischer's own annotations, it was very well received indeed, earning high praise from many top players and chess writers. It was also voted the best chess book in any category by the readers of the British Chess Magazine, and I'm sure by others. Unfortunately, when it was later re-edited and issued in an algebraic edition, something happened to Fischer's original annotations. The editors apparently 'revised' them, and the effect was - as Fischer vehemently complained in a recent radio interview - to make him look like "a patzer." He claims that the new annotations are riddled with errors and could never have come from his hand.Since 'My 60 Memorable Games' is as about important to students of chess as Shakespeare's plays are to students of literature, it would be nice to be able to tell readers to avoid the mutilated algebraic edition and to make sure they get a reprint of the earlier and untampered-with edition of the book. Unhappily neither edition appears to be available. Both have been allowed to go out of print and remain out of print.One is left wondering just who is keeping this masterpiece off the market. And why...?

No offense to the previous reviewer who badmouthed this book, but you really mised the boat on this one. This is one the greatest chess books ever. Fischer's annotations are hard-hitting and incisive. He zeroes in on precisely which variations are important and does not try to blow you away with how smart he is. It is hard to explain this book, how wonderful it is. It grips you and allows you into the world of chess, as exemplified in one of its greatest players ever. From Larry Evans beautiful summaries preceding each game which provide you wtih guideposts to look for, to the excellent layout and production, this book has a magical quality to it. I have a Faber & Faber softocver, which is far superior to the Simon and Schuster copies I have sometimes boughta nd re-sold. The Faber version's paper is whiter and better, and the book has that strong but floppy character of the best paperbacks. This quality is superior to the American editions I have owned. I highly recommend the Faber edition. You don't get the picture of Fischer on the cover, but you get a better book. Get this book and keep it forever!

This is a tremendous book.Fischer's games and analysis are great,as one would expect,and the introductions by Larry Evans are superb.This is a treasure to last a lifetime.