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Dear Chess Friend,
At the end of this interesting chess year, we present you a selection of the best chess books of 2017. Firstly, three books which were honoured with five stars by our New In Chess magazine book reviewer GM Matthew Sadler (actually: one DVD and two books!). Secondly, we offer you two recent books out of a list that our New In Chess Yearbook book reviewer GM Glenn Flear named the best opening books of the last six years (as reviewed in Yearbooks 101-125 and highlighted in the Anniversary issue Yearbook 125). The selection is completed with two 'best book of the year' winners, respectively awarded by the English Chess Federation and the Chess Journalists of America (Best instructional book).
Happy Holidays,
Remmelt Otten
New In Chess Online Shop

FIVE STARS BY MATTHEW SADLER

*****
The Art of the Positional Exchange Sacrifice
FritzTrainer Strategy
By Sergey Tiviakov

'Tiviakov postulates some very astute ideas how you should play after sacrificing the exchange - A fantastic effort from Sergei!' (Matthew Sadler, New In Chess magazine)

*****
King's Indian Warfare
A Middlegame Guide Full of Attacking and Dynamic Chess
By Ilya Smirin

'Smirin's games have great instructive value - but this is also a book for pleasure and inspiration' (Matthew Sadler, New In Chess magazine).

*****
Gyula Breyer
The Chess Revolutionary
By Jimmy Adams

'I wrestled my way through a 876-page epic devoted to the great Hungarian player Gyula Breyer (893-1921). I say wrestled, it was an enormous pleasure!' (Matthew Sadler, New In Chess magazine)

BEST OPENING BOOKS OF THE LAST SIX YEARS

Playing 1.e4 e5
A Classical Repertoire
By Nikolaos Ntirlis

'A well thought out repertoire with a nice mix of classical thinking, modern computer research, and good, sound lines. Comprehensive, yet easy-going and a convenient size.' (Glenn Flear Yearbook 125)

A Chess Opening Repertoire for Blitz and Rapid
Sharp, Surprising and Forcing Lines for Black and White
By Evgeny Sveshnikov, Vladimir Sveshnikov

'A nice concept. All sorts of tricky weapons that may not always be 100% trustworthy, but are guaranteed to give a psychological edge in quicker time limits.' (Glenn Flear Yearbook 125)

BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

ECF Book of the Year Award
Timman’s Titans
My World Chess Champions
By Jan Timman

'What lifts this book is Timman’s affectionate, intimate descriptions of the personalities of the world champions. The book must be read to obtain the full flavour of Timman’s writing. It is by no means all reverential. Timman can be sharp (Fischer’s later life, Kasparov’s chess politics); but also compassionate, despairing of Tal’s bohemian life style (..) Timman’s Titans is the most informative, interesting and revealing book on the world champions covered, both as people and chess players.' (Judges’ Report of the ECF Book of the Year)

Best Instructional Book of the Year (Chess Journalists of America)
Chess for Hawks
Improve your Vision, Sharpen your Talons, Forget your Fear
By Cyrus Lakdawala

"A very good manual for those who feel they got stuck at a certain level and can’t quite find the way to break through to the next level." (Carsten Hansen, American Chess Magazine)