Play Like a GrandmasterPlay Like A Grandmaster ALEXANDER KOTOV Translated by Bernard Cafferty B T Batsford Ltd, LondonSymbols + Check ! Good move 1 Super move ? Doubtful move 2? Blunder W > White to move B_ Black to move First published 1978 © Alexander Kotov, 1978 ISBN 0 7134 1806 0 (cased) 0 7134 1807 9 (limp) Filmset by Willmer Brothers Limited, Birkenhead Printed in Great Britain by Billing & Sons Ltd, London, Guildford & Worcester for, the Publishers B. T, Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge St, London WIH OAH BATSFORD CHESS BOOKS. Editor: J. G. Nicholson Contents Preface PART ONE: POSITIONAL JUDGEMENT The Three Fishes of Chess Mastery A General Theory of the Middlegame The Basic Postulates of Positional Play Positional Assessment The Elements in Practice The Centre The Clash of Elements Learn From The World Champions The Mind of a Grandmaster How to Train Exercises PART IWO: PLA} Types of Plan One-Stage Plans Multi-Stage Plans Learn From The World Champions Practical Advice The Mind of a Grandmaster How to Train NING Exercises PART THREE: COMBINATIONAL VISION Training Combinational Vision Chessboard Drama The Theory of Combinations 24 122 124 132