Contents:

5 Symbols
6 Introduction

7 1 The Opening
7 Advantage in Development
9 Bits and Pieces

11 2 The Middlegame
11 The Greek Gift
12 Attack and Defence

15 3 The Endgame
15 Pawn Endings
17 Opposite-Coloured Bishops
19 Rook Endings
20 How Good is Your Technique

22 4 Solutions for Chapters 1-3
22 The Opening
29 The Middlegame
40 The Endgame
56 Score Tables

58 5 How Good is Your Chess?
61 Game 1: Shapovalov-Sanakoev, corr. 1963-5
68 Game 2: Tal-Flesch, Lvov 1981
74 Game 3: Karpov-Sax, Linares 1983
80 Game 4: Korchnoi-Spassky, Clermont-Ferrand 1989
88 Game 5: Jasnikowski-S.Pedersen, Assens 1990
94 Game 6: Isaev-Timoshenko, corr. 1989-91
101 Game 7: Topalov-Kramnik, Belgrade 1995
107 Game 8: Karpov-Cu.Hansen, Groningen 1995
119 Game 9: Lautier-Karrpov, Biel 1997
123 Game 10: Illescas-Arizmendi Marrtinez, Pamplona 1997/8
127 Game 11: Khenkin-Shabalov, Koszalin 1999
131 Game 12: Gligoric-Nevednichy, Novi Sad tt 1999
139 Game 13: S.B.Hansen-Cu.Hansen, Helsingor 1999
144 Game 14: Hracek-Yusupov, Bundesliga 1999/00
148 Game 15: Illescas-Short, Pamplona 1999/00
152 Game 16: P.Nikolic-Leko, Wijk aan Zee 2000

159 Index of Players
160 Index of Composers
160 Index of Openings  

Catalogue text:

This book offers a variety of entertaining and thought-provoking exercises in fundamental chess skills.
The first half of the book tests the reader´s ability in each part of the game. Opening Exercises test the reader´s ability to develop harmoniously and to find creative solutions in the first part of the game.
The middlegame section assesses the reader´s proficiency at making decisions relating to attack and defence, prophylactic thinking and finding the correct plan.
The endgame challenges focus on the basic essential knowledge that often decides real-life games. The second half of the book is comprised of "How Good is Your Chess" exercises, where the reader is asked to follow one side through a complete game, trying to guess each move as if playing a real game. Points are awarded according to the accuracy of the reader´s decisions. Full, detailed solutions are given to all exercises.
This book will help players of all standards to identify their strengths and to pinpoint areas of their play that need more attention. It contains a variety of exercises in formats that are known to be popular with chessplaysers. These exercises touch upon all the main aspects of practical chess.