The Sorcerer's Apprentice

This book consists of four major sections. The first is forty of Bronstein's greatest combinations. These forty games have one diagram of the position before the decisive combination. The rest of the page has Bronstein's comment on the combination. The next section is a collection of fifty of his games. Most have a medium amount of annotation, but a few have extensive annotations. Many of the games have cute annecdotes attached to them. These annecdotes are part of the charm of the book. From one of these annecdotes, one can bring proof to the theory that the Russians 'fixed' certain tounamant results. The next section is sixty games by diagram. Practically speaking, this means that there are about 5 diagrams per game. The last section is called seventy picturesque games. Unfortunately, no clue is given to what David Bronstein considers picturesque. The added bonus to the book is that between each section there is an interesting article about Bronstein. Overall this is a game collection/autobiography that is as good as Tal's, and this one has the advantage that it has a much larger percentage of Bronstein's chess career that Tal's book has.

First, the book itself:it is beautiful (really nice art work), clean (wide and clear letters and a lot of space for personal appoitments) and with a good number of diagrams (which means that is easy to follow the games without a chess board). Second, the contents: amazing, even a weak player like me can follow the games AND understand what is going on. Mr. Bronstein is a superb writer and can transmit his ideas in a very simple way. Third, the overall work: wide cover of openings, very interesting games anilized and the analizis themselves, very personal comments of the author that makes the book even more interesting. Final veredict: the kind of book you can really read on a cold sunday afternoon, next to the fire place, while seeping hot chocolate, and at same time have a LOT of fun. (where can I find more stars to place in the rate stuff??!!)

Whether you play over the games at a chessboard or simply settle back in an armchair and open this book at random you will find it enormously entertaining and instructive. Bronstein has written a book that leaves the reader not only impressed by his imaginative combinational talents but also touched by his warm personality. He could have titled it "My life as a grandmaster...."

David Bronstein is an artist. He is well known as one of the most creative and innovative players to ever play for the world championship. I never really understood why until I saw the games in this book. There really are 222 interesting games here. I would not omit a single one. What will be a surprise to many modern players is the variety of openings he used. He once honored his good friend, Paul Keres, by playing a whole tounament using only openings that Keres favored. Bronstein also gives us autobioraphical notes and background to many of the games. If you want to know what chess is about, and not just what the best ninth move is for White in the Yugoslav attack of the Dragon variation, get this book.

Read the words, play the games, solve the combinations, go through the book as slowly as you can, savouring everything: this is a banquet!Then, after you read it all and play over all the 222 games, go back to page one and repeat everything. George Orwell said of War and Peace that its only fault was that it had an end and the same is true for this book.Bronstein's views on chess are those of an artist, he is after beauty in chess, not only results. That he has got some VERY GOOD results (World co-Champion, many times Moscow Champion) is a a proof that his views are right. Even the gossip is first rate, believe me! What seems wrong to me is that I have not seen any review of this book up to now and a better player (there must be millions of them) would do this book justice. Try this book, dear reader and your chessplaying will never be the same! Gustavo Rocha da Silva