Three brilliant books from Everyman Chess brought together in one
volume. The Masters: Alexander Alekhine, Master of Attack; The Masters:
Boris Spassky, Master of Initiative; The Masters: Mikhail Tal, Tactical
Genius By Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik. What separated
Alexander Alekhine from the rest of his contemporaries? Why did he
dominate the chess world for so long? The main reason was undoubtedly
his brilliant attacking style of play. Alekhine had a combinative gift
and thrilled the chess public and influenced every great chess player
since. Garry Kasparov once said I fell in love with the rich complexity
of his ideas at the chessboard. Alekhine's attacks came suddenly, like
destructive thunderstorms that erupted from a clear sky. Boris Spassky
is a true chess legend, a World Champion who, thanks to his monumental
battles with Bobby Fischer, raised the popularity of the game to a level
that had never been seen before. Although at the height of his powers
many saw Spassky as a complete and universal player, adept at outplaying
his opponents in any type of position, itis no secret that from an early
age he thrived on sharp, attacking play. He was a superb practical
player, and with the initiative at his hands he could conjure up
wonderful combinations and deadly attacks. Mikhail Tal was simply a
chess phenomenon. The magician from Riga stunned the chess world when he
became the youngest ever World Champion (at that time) in 1960, and he
won countless supporters for his scintillating tactical play and his
infectious enthusiasm for the game. Tal's dazzling tactical style would
often leave his hapless opponents in a state of shell shock. As former
World Champion Vassily Smyslov once noted Tal's appearance in chess had
the effect of an exploding bomb, since his style of play was
distinguished by extraordinary combinative brilliance.
