Tal-Botvinnik, 1960 by mikhail tal

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Tal's writing is truly remarkable and his games are equally outstanding, both of which deserve a full five stars.

However, this English edition unfortunately has a significant drawback. The typesetting is quite poor, which really detracts from the overall quality of the publication.

This is especially noticeable when it comes to the diagrams. They are not presented clearly or in an aesthetically pleasing way, making it difficult for the reader to fully understand and appreciate the content related to them.

It's a shame that such great writing and interesting games are let down by this aspect of the production. With better typesetting, this edition could have been even more of a pleasure to read and study.

Hopefully, future editions will address this issue and do justice to Tal's work.

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Zecrome

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is a good book that offers a quick and easy read.

However, books that focus solely on one set of people and one match can sometimes become tiresome rather quickly.

In this particular case, the history of the individuals and their lives seems to take a back seat to the details of the chess game itself.

While this might not be entirely to my personal taste, if there is someone out there who has a great passion for chess, then I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to them.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5.

It has its merits, especially for those who are deeply interested in the world of chess, but it may not appeal to a wider audience looking for a more comprehensive exploration of the characters and their lives.

Nevertheless, it is still a worthy read for those who enjoy this specific genre.

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FatedScribe

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The annotations are, to put it mildly, a bit above my level. However, many of the games are truly quite fun to play through.

Tal's comments on the psychology and emotions of the match are indeed worth the price of admission.

His insights add an extra layer of depth and understanding to the gameplay experience.

It's fascinating to hear his perspectives on how the players' mental states can influence the outcome of the game.

Even if the annotations may seem a bit challenging at times, they offer valuable lessons and perspectives that can enhance one's appreciation of the games.

Overall, despite the initial difficulty with the annotations, the combination of enjoyable gameplay and Tal's engaging comments makes it a worthwhile experience.

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FideliusXIII

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Tal writes with characteristic enthusiasm about his besting of the machine like Mikhail Botvinnik.

His account is filled with details and insights that make the game come alive. The game analysis is a bit more manageable than Kasparov's Great Predecessors, perhaps because Tal's style is more direct and his explanations are easier to follow.

He describes his thought process during the game, the decisions he made, and the strategies he employed. It is fascinating to see how he outwitted the machine and emerged victorious.

Tal's enthusiasm is contagious, and his love for the game shines through in every word. Reading his account is not only a great way to learn about the game of chess, but also an inspiring reminder of the power of passion and determination.

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rinn4

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I actually read an earlier edition of this book, the original translation from the Russian by Hanon W. Russell.

Back when I used to play chess more or less compulsively, it had a profound impact on me.

Except for occasional social encounters, I gave up the game in the late 1970s.

This is one of two books (along with Bobby Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games") that truly captivated me.

It wasn't just the quality of the play or the depth of analysis that enthralled me, but rather the insightful, personalized glimpses it provided into the nature of competition.

It also offered a fascinating look into the actual thought processes that lead to the creation of brilliant games.

The book allowed me to understand the intricacies of the game on a whole new level and inspired me to strive for greater excellence in my own play.

Even though I no longer play chess as frequently as I once did, the lessons and insights I gained from this book have stayed with me and continue to influence my approach to various aspects of life.

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StickyTar

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

“Tal - Botvinnik 1960”

is truly a gem in the vast realm of chess literature. Authored by the renowned “Magician From Riga”, Mikhail Tal, this book delves deep into his momentous match against the iconic Mikhail Botvinnik for the highly coveted World Champion title.

Tal,无疑是有史以来最具魅力的棋手之一，他是疯狂弃子的大师——有些弃子是合理的……有些则不然！他的棋局总是让人饶有兴致地去研究，因为你永远不知道接下来会发生什么。幸运的是，他的思维过程在这本书中得以汇集，我们得以窥探到他在整个比赛过程中的所思所想。令我非常惊讶的是，他在击败博特vinnik这位有史以来的伟大棋手时，看起来竟是如此轻松。

这本书包含了许多精彩的棋局，并有出色的注释和背景故事，均出自国际象棋历史上最受喜爱和最具魅力的棋手之一。

它被认为是有史以来最重要的国际象棋书籍之一……很难对此提出异议！

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LampHead

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

You don't really "read" a chess book, especially one like this, and especially if you are an amateur chess player like me.

You need to work through the games and analysis more than once to truly absorb what is happening on the chessboard, as some of the ideas are extremely profound.

Tal is an excellent writer and is great at explaining the main ideas behind his moves, which is truly beneficial for an amateur like me.

I read this book with the Forward Chess e-reader, which enables you to play through the games and variations on the e-chess board that follows along with the text.

It is a lot smoother than setting up a physical board and playing through variations, and sometimes getting lost in the process, which I believe is probably a common issue among amateurs.

The app also includes a chess program, which is helpful when you miss a simple combination that is not shown until the very last move.

It is great to read about how much psychological "tactics" were considered by Tal in this match, which he won to become the youngest world chess champion at the time.

What is truly remarkable about this detailed account of the games is that Tal discusses strategies and ideas, as well as practical decisions about making moves that were sometimes not the most precise but were the best in terms of making decisions more difficult for his opponent, Botvinnik, the founder of the Soviet chess School.

Also interesting is that Tal notes that when he discussed moves with Botvinnik, Botvinnik would describe general strategies and how he needed to set up his pieces.

So, it seems that move first and think later might not be the only approach to playing great chess at the highest level.

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Apricck

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

How exactly do grandmasters think?

Mikhail Tal's account of his struggle for the world championship title nearly a half-century ago is not just an analysis of 21 thrilling games. It offers an intimate look into the chessboard fantasies of a supreme tactical genius.

Tal was pitted against Mikhail Botvinnik, the world's leading "scientific" player, the defending title-holder, and the dean of the Soviet school of chess. In the resulting clash of styles, Tal emerged victorious by a convincing margin.

His victory was a validation of unrestricted imagination and a demonstration that chess can be scientific only in the same way that Soviet socialism was scientific, which means not at all.

It shows that in the world of chess, sometimes, the power of creativity and boldness can overcome the so-called scientific approach. Tal's win was a remarkable achievement that left a lasting impact on the chess community and continues to inspire players today.

His unique playing style and strategic thinking set him apart from others and made him a legend in the game of chess.

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Tal-Botvinnik, 1960

mikhail tal hanon w. russell

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