Tal – Botvinnik 1960 by Michail Tal

This seventh edition is supplemented by German Grandmaster Karsten Müller's new Foreword and a moving essay by former USCF Executive Director Al Lawrence.

The book Tal – Botvinnik 1960 by Mikhail Tal is a classic chess work that provides an intimate and personal narrative of one of history's most iconic World Chess Championship matches. 

In 1960, the young and dynamic Mikhail Tal challenged the reigning World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, in a clash of vastly different playing styles. Tal, known for his creative and attacking chess, faced against Botvinnik, a player recognized for his solid, positional, and strategic approach.

• This book is ideal for players with an intermediate to advanced level looking to understand high-level tactics and strategy
• Tal sets the stage and explains every one of the 21 games in this titanic clash of styles and thought
• This is one of the masterpieces of the golden age of annotation
• Regarded as one of the finest books on a World Championship match, written by one of the contestants
• A rich narrative that brings the drama and excitement of a World Championship to life
• An essential read for chess enthusiasts

Reader’s Review:

I found this book absolutely amazing.  It is so good that this is the first review I have ever written regarding a purchase, so I will note the main reasons why I think this book deserves 5 stars. 

1) The language and explanations in the book are very clear and concise. I never went away wondering why he didn't play this variation, or I don't understand why he said this move order was a loss. 

2) You get a natural feel of what it's like to play a world championship match, the mental pressures, and the tactics behind the game plans; I often imagined the feelings and emotions he felt at the time by these explanations.

 3) Not only do you get commentary on the games by one of the world's greatest attackers, but it is written in a very conversational language, allowing you to understand the moves and the thought process that came to the conclusion. Allowing yourself to reassess how you look at positions. 

4) Although I do not play any of the opening variations in the book, I already feel like I have taken away many of the tactical motives, as Tal would often explain some of the plans that he had and why they don't work in this situation, also some fantastic ideas that can be put to good use in many games. All in all, it is worth the price you pay, and I am sure you will often find it hard to put down. It made the book easy to read, and I feel I got a lot out of it - B.Cray.

About the Author:

Mikhail Nekhemyevich Tal (9 November 1936 – 28 June 1992) was a Soviet and Latvian chess player and the eighth World Chess Champion. He is considered a creative genius and is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in chess history. Tal played in an attacking and daring combinatorial style. His play was known, above all,  for improvisation and unpredictability. Vladislav Zubok said of him, "Every game for him was as inimitable and invaluable as a poem".

His nickname was "Misha", a diminutive for Mikhail, and he earned the nickname "The Magician from Riga". Both The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games and Modern Chess Brilliancies include more games by Tal than any other player. He also held the record for the longest unbeaten streak in competitive chess history with 95 games (46 wins, 49 draws) between 23 October 1973 and 16 October 1974,

Other Details:

Paperback
Dimensions: 15.24cm × 2.54cm × 22.86cm
ISBN-13:  9781941270424