Magnus Carlsen is the greatest chess player of the 21st century. His
tactical wizardry, strategic inventiveness, technical expertise and
legendary fighting spirit put him head and shoulders above all other
players. They also make his games tremendously instructive.
To extract the best lessons from this amazing source material, Gambit
has commissioned Martyn Kravtsiv, a Ukrainian grandmaster from the same
generation as Carlsen (in fact, they were born just a few days apart).
He has annotated these 42 games from a thoroughly modern perspective and
with an innate understanding of the impact Carlsen's play has had on
modern chess.
In each game Kravtsiv picks out a key point - the Magnus Moment -
where he demonstrates the special insight that sets him apart from other
players. Perhaps he clarifies a messy situation, confident in his
technical ability. Or sacrifices to gain practical chances in a game
that has not gone to plan. Throughout, the emphasis is on how Carlsen
makes life hard for his opponents in any way he can, whatever the
objective assessment of the position on the board.
Each game is a themed lesson on an important chess topic. The bulk of
the book addresses the fight for advantage and initiative in the
middlegame, but there are also chapters focusing on opening ideas,
endgame play and human factors.
