What separates a Grandmaster from a club player? How do the thought processes of a world-class competitor differ from that of an amateur? What techniques can an enthusiastic chess player employ when striving to reach the next rung on the ladder? Jacob Aagaard provides the answers to these questions in this revolutionary and entertaining new book. He supplies numerous meticulously selected challenges to a group of chess players of a very wide range of ages and playing strengths. Once all the participants have attempted the tests, their discoveries, solving methods and difficulties with the exer­cises are evaluated and compared, and conclusions are drawn, while the players are also interviewed about their exercise techniques, ideas and opinions about chess in general. Inside the Chess Mind enters fresh territory in chess literature by providing a thought-provoking insight as to how the chess brains of the great, the good and the improver operate.

List of Content

5 Introduction

8 1 The Test Positions

13 2 The Participants

29 3 Test Position 1

39 4 Test Position 2

50 5 Test Position 3

60 6 Test Position 4

65 7 Test Position 5

75 8 Test Position 6

89 9 Test Position 7

98 10 Test Position 8

112 11 Test Position 9

123 12 Test Position 10

142 13 What can we learn from the Tests?