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Art of Attack in Chess
One of the finest chess books ever written, the Art of Attack has been transcribed into algebraic notation for the first time. In this revised edition of the great classic, the author expounds both the basic principles and the most complex forms of attack on the king. A study of this masterpiece will add power and brilliance to any chess enthusiast's play. (5 3/4' X 8 1/4', 352 pages, illustrations, index)
- GenresChessNonfictionGames
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 25, 2015
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessc...
I put this collection from the book on Chessgames site. You should still read the book. 8)
There is alot of fun stuff for an aggressive player with info as to when is it valid to start an attack. I think this is for 1400 player up.
One of my favorite chess books.
I put this collection from the book on Chessgames site. You should still read the book. 8)
There is alot of fun stuff for an aggressive player with info as to when is it valid to start an attack. I think this is for 1400 player up.
One of my favorite chess books.
September 26, 2014
Review deleted on the basis of being rubbish.
December 25, 2017
Indispensable for learning the basic attacking strategies and tactics against castled and uncastled kings. Great chapter on the f7 and h7 bishop sacrifice attacks.
August 19, 2012
A classic finally available in Algebraic notation! This is THE treatise on attacking in chess. However, defensive specialists should also study it, so that they know how their opponent is going to attempt to attack and how to prevent those attacks. Weak squares, sacrifices, castled position... it's all here.
February 5, 2008
This is a great guide to the offensive, no matter what the state or stage of the game. The best follow-up i can think of to josh waitzkin's "attacking chess".
August 26, 2020
I have basically annihilated people on lichess in under 20 moves because they are completely caught off guard by sacking my rook or my bishop or knight or whatever it takes to mate my opponent. After going through many of these exercises and reading the excerpts via Chessable, I play completely differently now.
December 13, 2013
Even as a beginner I think I got alot out of this book, probably will continue to do so for a long time. Re-reading every so often as you improve you get more insight into attacking chess detailed in this book. Excellent and highly recommended.
July 27, 2018
Thorough and enlightening
March 18, 2015
It was a good book it showed me different variations of attacking in the game of chess, its very mindful that you study the tactics in the book so you can use them in real life. I took my time to study the books variations and applyed it to my real life chess games and was able to out play 2 of my algebra teachers other then that it was a really good book for someone who is looking for aggressive play in chess I look forward to reading more of Vladimir Vukovics chess books to improve for the scholastic chess tournament over the spring break.
January 10, 2022
An excellent must have for chess players, there is no attacking book like it. With that being said, make sure you get the John Nunn edition; he makes several important corrections to Vukovic's work.
May 9, 2024
I have spent many hours with this book and it has taken me a long time to appreciate its value. When I first read it I was not very good at chess tactics and needed something more basic in order to improve my tactical vision. I read about half of it, skipping the analysis that I couldn't follow.
I tried tackling it again some years later but put it aside, concluding that it was too wordy and still too complex. I have read hundred of chess books so I know that, much as I love reading them, I make no improvement whatsoever from reading words. It is only by studying hundreds and hundreds of positions and solving them like puzzles that I have made any progress at all.
I'm not sure when I started reading this for the third time. Maybe two or three years ago.
In the meantime I'd watched one of Daniel King's Chessbase videos where he borrows heavily from material in this book. What struck me about King's analysis was how tentative it was. He did not look at the position and immediately know if it was winning. This gave me some encouragement as I was finding these positions really hard. Sometimes the attack peters out or becomes mired in complications that you can't possibly calculate to a clear-cut conclusion.
What finally convinced me that this book was worth reading again was the presentation of it by Simon Williams on Chessable.
Simon Williams is dyslexic so in his video coverage of it he doesn't read out the text. In fact he can barely read the names of the players. But he summarises in his own words what the author wants you to learn and what to look out for in each position. He has also picked out, with the help of the Chessable team, many of the most exciting and clear-cut tactical puzzles that are hidden within this book.
The book is an attempt to make a thorough analysis of when the conditions on the chessboard are ripe for an attack and how to launch that attack successfully. It is a very difficult subject. Many writers have made similar attempts since but they over-simplify and their range is less ambitious. They choose positions where the attacking moves are obvious. This book, on the other hand, goes into detail about positions where the attack seems to come out of nowhere. It analyses complete games. It shows where the attacker can go wrong or where the defender has crumbled too quickly by not making the most precise defensive moves. As such, it is very demanding.
The fact that some of the author's original analysis has proved to be imperfect is not a weakness. Vukovic did not have the benefit of computers to help him. That's precisely what makes his analysis so invaluable. He is thinking like a chess player, not a computer. John Nunn, one of the best modern grandmasters who is unrivalled at problem solving, corrected some of his analysis for the Everyman algebraic edition. Kamil Plichta made further corrections for Chessable with the help of the latest computers. But don't let that put you off.
The point is, these are not easy positions. By studying them and trying to work out for yourself whether the attack will succeed or fail, you will learn the most valuable skills in chess -- how to calculate and how to attack. After you have done the analysis, the author's words help fix the basic principles in your mind: what patterns to look for, defensive resources you must not overlook, how to exploit a weakness, and how to adapt to changing conditions when your opponent surprises you with unexpected complications. Importantly, the book also spends some time showing how to defend when your own position comes under attack. There are not enough books written on this important topic. The art of defence does not excite most players and, as with attacking or positional ideas, you need to study many examples if you are to improve.
So, that is why this book is one of the all-time classics of chess literature. Though relatively short at only 352 pages, it's a gigantic book. It's not a book to be skimmed or dipped into lightly. Do not expect any sudden revelations that will instantly improve your game. But it repays conscientious study. It will seep into your subconscious and transform you into one of those enviable players who can keep the smouldering spark of an attack alive throughout the game and make it burst into flame at the right moment.
I tried tackling it again some years later but put it aside, concluding that it was too wordy and still too complex. I have read hundred of chess books so I know that, much as I love reading them, I make no improvement whatsoever from reading words. It is only by studying hundreds and hundreds of positions and solving them like puzzles that I have made any progress at all.
I'm not sure when I started reading this for the third time. Maybe two or three years ago.
In the meantime I'd watched one of Daniel King's Chessbase videos where he borrows heavily from material in this book. What struck me about King's analysis was how tentative it was. He did not look at the position and immediately know if it was winning. This gave me some encouragement as I was finding these positions really hard. Sometimes the attack peters out or becomes mired in complications that you can't possibly calculate to a clear-cut conclusion.
What finally convinced me that this book was worth reading again was the presentation of it by Simon Williams on Chessable.
Simon Williams is dyslexic so in his video coverage of it he doesn't read out the text. In fact he can barely read the names of the players. But he summarises in his own words what the author wants you to learn and what to look out for in each position. He has also picked out, with the help of the Chessable team, many of the most exciting and clear-cut tactical puzzles that are hidden within this book.
The book is an attempt to make a thorough analysis of when the conditions on the chessboard are ripe for an attack and how to launch that attack successfully. It is a very difficult subject. Many writers have made similar attempts since but they over-simplify and their range is less ambitious. They choose positions where the attacking moves are obvious. This book, on the other hand, goes into detail about positions where the attack seems to come out of nowhere. It analyses complete games. It shows where the attacker can go wrong or where the defender has crumbled too quickly by not making the most precise defensive moves. As such, it is very demanding.
The fact that some of the author's original analysis has proved to be imperfect is not a weakness. Vukovic did not have the benefit of computers to help him. That's precisely what makes his analysis so invaluable. He is thinking like a chess player, not a computer. John Nunn, one of the best modern grandmasters who is unrivalled at problem solving, corrected some of his analysis for the Everyman algebraic edition. Kamil Plichta made further corrections for Chessable with the help of the latest computers. But don't let that put you off.
The point is, these are not easy positions. By studying them and trying to work out for yourself whether the attack will succeed or fail, you will learn the most valuable skills in chess -- how to calculate and how to attack. After you have done the analysis, the author's words help fix the basic principles in your mind: what patterns to look for, defensive resources you must not overlook, how to exploit a weakness, and how to adapt to changing conditions when your opponent surprises you with unexpected complications. Importantly, the book also spends some time showing how to defend when your own position comes under attack. There are not enough books written on this important topic. The art of defence does not excite most players and, as with attacking or positional ideas, you need to study many examples if you are to improve.
So, that is why this book is one of the all-time classics of chess literature. Though relatively short at only 352 pages, it's a gigantic book. It's not a book to be skimmed or dipped into lightly. Do not expect any sudden revelations that will instantly improve your game. But it repays conscientious study. It will seep into your subconscious and transform you into one of those enviable players who can keep the smouldering spark of an attack alive throughout the game and make it burst into flame at the right moment.
May 17, 2024
The book Art of Attack in Chess is a classic work of Chess Scholarship. My version is updated into Algebraic Notation and has commentary on the moves. It comes with a preface by John Nunn. The original author is a man named Vladimir Vuković. Vuković focuses on attacking the King.
I used to play chess more often than I do now. I was in a Club, and I was in tournaments. However, I wasn't very good at the game. If I put more effort into it, I could have been pretty good, but I am not Grandmaster material. I tend to overlook moves and pieces.
I can't keep track of games in my head, so I appreciate the images included in the book. Vuković made a few mistakes in his analysis. It is amusing when this happens. Whoever edited the book leaves comments about the most egregious errors.
We can cut Vuković some slack, though. He wrote the book in the 1960s when Chess Analysis was by hand. Chess computers were in their infancy.
Finally, Vuković is a fan of Chess Grandmasters Alekhine and Capablanca. Maybe I'll find something written by Alekhine next. I heard he wrote something about his system.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
I used to play chess more often than I do now. I was in a Club, and I was in tournaments. However, I wasn't very good at the game. If I put more effort into it, I could have been pretty good, but I am not Grandmaster material. I tend to overlook moves and pieces.
I can't keep track of games in my head, so I appreciate the images included in the book. Vuković made a few mistakes in his analysis. It is amusing when this happens. Whoever edited the book leaves comments about the most egregious errors.
We can cut Vuković some slack, though. He wrote the book in the 1960s when Chess Analysis was by hand. Chess computers were in their infancy.
Finally, Vuković is a fan of Chess Grandmasters Alekhine and Capablanca. Maybe I'll find something written by Alekhine next. I heard he wrote something about his system.
I enjoyed the book. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
December 4, 2023
Despite the praise for this book, I was disappointed by it. It should really be called "Examples of attack in chess" because that's what the book mainly is - a series of games where one side launched an attack. The problem is there's very little analysis of the games.
95% of the book is just game moves with brief notes every 5 moves or so. There's very little explanation of why the moves are being made or the thought process behind them - there's just a series of potential lines listed off. Quite often pieces are sacrificed without a word of explanation. I struggled to learn much as there's little discussion of the principles or ideas behind launching an attack or when you should or should not do so.
In many cases the author's analysis is wrong and is corrected by footnotes and Stockfish. There are several cases where the author says a position is winning but it is actually losing according to engine analysis.
95% of the book is just game moves with brief notes every 5 moves or so. There's very little explanation of why the moves are being made or the thought process behind them - there's just a series of potential lines listed off. Quite often pieces are sacrificed without a word of explanation. I struggled to learn much as there's little discussion of the principles or ideas behind launching an attack or when you should or should not do so.
In many cases the author's analysis is wrong and is corrected by footnotes and Stockfish. There are several cases where the author says a position is winning but it is actually losing according to engine analysis.
January 28, 2021
I think this book is really exceptional, as it achieves in many forms on what it promises. Obviously, the complex topic of 'attacking the king' cannot be definitely expressed in a set number of rules. There will always be exceptions. However, the treatment in this book achieves in delivering certain intuitiveness based on numerous interesting examples and tips. It certainly felt highly instructive to me. It is a little outdated, therefore 4 stars IMO.
December 6, 2023
This book is often referred to as a classic. Having done a light read of it, I can see why. It is a very systematic explanation of how to attack the King wherever it is. It takes into account the various pawn formations that are around the king.
This book will require a lot of work and the copy I have is in descriptive, not algebraic notation.
This book will require a lot of work and the copy I have is in descriptive, not algebraic notation.
May 9, 2019
Best book ever
January 22, 2020
Шедевр шахматной мысли. Однозначно, ещё не раз перечитаю и проработаю.
July 3, 2020
this is the most recommended book in my circle of Chess friends.
And i am still trying to fine it in an affordable edition.
And i am still trying to fine it in an affordable edition.
July 12, 2020
Every serious chess player should read this classic.
September 30, 2022
Garbage. It doesn't teach anything, just dumb speculations.
November 12, 2022
Just great book, I read it in its old version and an old way like kt-Qb3 nd Q-kkt4 however it's still great and has a good illustration
July 31, 2013
Another "must have" for any chess player.
This was a game changer for me. My games were always too defensive and passive. This book really helped me break out of this counter-productive mindset.
The part about attacking the uncastled King was especially instructive and I really think I have won many games based on the less I picked up here.
My only complaint is that I wish there were more graphics/chess boards. Otherwise though it is probably my single most favorite chess book out there.
If you don't have it, definitely get it!
This was a game changer for me. My games were always too defensive and passive. This book really helped me break out of this counter-productive mindset.
The part about attacking the uncastled King was especially instructive and I really think I have won many games based on the less I picked up here.
My only complaint is that I wish there were more graphics/chess boards. Otherwise though it is probably my single most favorite chess book out there.
If you don't have it, definitely get it!
August 28, 2011
أخذت بقرائته وقت طويل حتى انهيته....اعتقد انه من روائع كتب الشطرنج لكن يحتاج للعودة له اكثر من مرة....
اعتقد اني سأعود له في اقرب فرصة ان شاءالله
اعتقد اني سأعود له في اقرب فرصة ان شاءالله
April 3, 2014
I credit this book for helping me create some of my favorite loses - after reading this book I have been all about attacks and sacrifices. Some of them have even worked!
February 19, 2014
gimana sih cara bacanya
October 25, 2016
Read first 32 pages and chapter on mating patterns. Found the combinations too speculative for my level.
July 1, 2015
Too high up for me right now I think (I'm ~1600 USCF). I'll come back to it later and re-read it.
May 20, 2014
A classic. Slog through it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews