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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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！

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.

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.

One of my Dream Books

Finally, I found it! ✌️

For a long time, I had been searching for this particular book. It was like a precious gem that I渴望 to拥有. I had visited numerous bookstores, scoured the shelves, and even searched online. But it seemed to be elusive.

Then, one day, while I was exploring a small, dusty bookstore in a corner of the city, I saw it. There it was, sitting on a shelf, almost hidden among the other books. My heart skipped a beat as I reached out and picked it up.

Opening the cover, I was immediately drawn into its pages. The words seemed to dance before my eyes, telling a story that was both captivating and enchanting. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

Holding this dream book in my hands, I felt a sense of joy and fulfillment. It was as if a part of my soul had been completed. I knew that this book would become a cherished companion, one that I would return to again and again.

Finally, my search was over. I had found one of my dream books, and it was a moment that I would never forget.

I really wanted to give this a higher rating.

However, huge parts of the analysis are missing. Along with that, some key moves are also absent, which makes it extremely hard to follow the games. It's not just about following the games, but also understanding the variations.

The talk does have a nice writing style, which is a plus. But unfortunately, the bad copy that I have has completely ruined the experience for me.

I hope that in the future, the analysis will be more comprehensive and the key moves will be included so that it becomes easier for the readers to follow and understand the games and their variations.

Overall, despite the nice writing style, the current state of the analysis and the missing key moves have really affected my perception of this piece.

This book holds a mythic reputation within the chess community.

The level of details it contains, both personal and humorous, along with the blend of truths and lies in the notes to the games from this historic match, is truly unparalleled in the realm of chess writing.

Composed by Tal himself during what proved to be not the most ideal year for preparing a rematch. I simply can't fathom being the world champion in one's country's national game at the tender age of 23. The parties associated with such a feat must have been of epic proportions.

What he left us by winning the world championship playing "his way", and this book that describes his thoughts, what wouldn't work and what might have been, cannot be lauded enough.

I was among those low-rated tournament chess players who believed Tal was truly beyond comprehension. I didn't know how to sacrifice pieces unless it was a forced checkmate and couldn't really provide a good definition of "compensation".

To my great delight, this book is not inundated with insane sacrifices (although there are some really insane moves and even crazier variations), but generally, the whole thing makes sense and there is more "simple and strong" chess here than I would have expected.

I was assisted in my study by Jesse Kraai. He rekindled my interest in this book by including references and, to the surprise of all other David Foster Wallace fans, footnotes that give moves from some of the games in his own book, Lisa: A Chess Novel.

If you are a chess player and haven't made time for Jesse's book, you really should.

Then, the instigator became the instructor when I discovered that GM Kraai had produced a set of video lectures that viewed the games from the perspective of a modern Grandmaster 50 years later. The videos can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/50-Years-Tal-B....

I found the experience of playing through all the games and listening to and watching the ideas of a modern player who has a thorough understanding of the Tal book to be extremely enjoyable and instructional. Tal's notes are excellent, and GM Kraai's remarks like "I don't think I really believe Tal here, he's probably playing a joke on us" made me feel like I was part of the joke.

I would highly recommend this book over all the other world championship books I have ever come across (and many other chess books in general). And, as an added bonus, if you are seeking inspiration and/or instruction, it is readily available for you.

Received this book as a pimply faced freshman in high school at my 2nd chess tournament whilst playing blitz against a master.

It was a moment I'll never forget. The tournament was intense, and I was nervous playing against such a skilled opponent. As we played, the master noticed my interest in chess and handed me this book.

He thought it would improve my game, and little did I know how right he was. I took the book home and devoured it. It was filled with valuable strategies and techniques that I immediately started implementing in my own games.

Thanks to this book, my chess skills improved exponentially. I went on to win many more tournaments and became a much stronger player. I'm forever grateful to that master for introducing me to this amazing resource.

It just goes to show that sometimes, a small gesture like giving a book can have a huge impact on someone's life.