The King’s Gambit | John Shaw

John Shaw's The King’s Gambit is a deep dive into one of chess's most romantic and aggressive openings, celebrated for its historical significance and daring tactics. 

The King's Gambit was once the go-to choice for attacking players, especially during the golden age of chess in the 19th century when legends like Paul Morphy made it famous.
 
While its popularity waned as players became more cautious and sceptical of its aggressive nature, Shaw highlights how contemporary Grandmasters like Nigel Short and Hikaru Nakamura have successfully employed this opening.

• This book is ideal for more advanced players rated from 1200 Elo. It's not recommended for players below 800 Elo.
• Filled with illustrative games that showcase the key ideas and strategies behind the King’s Gambit
• Learn to master not just the moves but also the underlying principles of the King’s Gambit.
• An excellent learning source whether you are looking to expand your repertoire or simply enjoy learning about this classic opening
• Equip yourself with strategies to handle typical positions from the King’s Gambit.
• Based on deep research, computer testing and lengthy discussions with Grandmaster colleagues
• With excellent insights into the rich history of chess openings

Reader’s reviews:

I purchased this book 10 years ago and used it extensively back then. Recently, I picked it up again and was once more impressed by how effortless it is to read through the variations without needing a board. The author includes plenty of diagrams, and the variations are organized in a way that makes them easy to follow. The writing is clear, and Shaw's analysis reminds me of John Watson’s—except even easier to digest (though Watson's work on the French is excellent, it does require more effort to follow).

The publishing quality is also impressive. The formatting is visually appealing, the spine is flexible yet durable, and the paper feels high-quality. Like a novel, I’ve enjoyed reading it leisurely while relaxing on the couch. Out of my collection of 200 chess books, this one easily ranks in the top 5, maybe even the top 3. Right now, I’m enjoying it so much it’s sitting at #1, which prompted me to write this review – ChessCore

Simply a fantastic book! Far and away the greatest King's Gambit book ever, and perhaps the most remarkable book ever written on a single opening. It is 680 pages long (653 + indexes)! But I'm sure Grandmaster Shaw could easily have gotten to 1000 pages. Believe it or not, he had to exercise considerable editorial discretion to keep it down to ONLY 680. 

For example, fans of the Bishop's Gambit and Muzio won't be happy: he explains why they're inferior (3...Nc6! with advantage in all lines in the former, 9...Qf5! in the latter) and moves on. Ditto for the Allgaier and the Keres Gambit (3.Nc3). And there are a lot of sidelines where he basically says, "Yes, this is playable," and goes on to more theoretically critical lines. 

To my surprise, he is NOT a big fan of the Kieseritzky, which I had thought was close to obligatory for White (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5). He says it's perfectly playable, but 5...d6! and 5...Nc6! Both lead to boring equality. He prefers the Quaade Gambit, 4.Nc3!, intending to undermine Black's pawns with g3. After a simul last year, Grandmaster Larry Christiansen told us that 4.Nc3! is the move, so I find Shaw's claim less surprising/eccentric than I otherwise would. The book is an actual labor of love. As a prior reviewer noted, Shaw spent five years on this book, and it shows.

Indeed, any King's Gambit or potential fan should buy this book instantly. I'd also get it if I were a 1.e4 e5 player. Even if one doesn't play either side of the opening, it might be worth getting the book just for the games. Shaw has included many unique, entertaining, and instructive games, which are enjoyable even if the King's Gambit isn't your cup of tea - Krill D

About the Author:

John K. Shaw (born 16 October 1968) is a Scottish chess player and author with the FIDE title  Grandmaster. He won the Scottish Championship in 1995 (tied), 1998, and 2000 (tied).

Shaw is an uncommon example of significant progress in an adult chess player. In 1988, at age 19, his rating was 1745, which is the strength of an above-average club player. He received the title of FIDE Master (FM) in 1994, International Master (IM) in 1999, and Grandmaster (GM) in 2006. To qualify for the GM title, he gained three norms at Gibraltar 2003, Calvia Olympiad 2004, and 4NCL Season 2005/6. 
Shaw is a chess book writer and the Chief Editor of the publishing house Quality Chess.

Other details:

Paperback
Pages: 680
Dimensions: 17.2 x 1.5 x 24.1cm
ISBN-13: 9781906552718