CHESSBOOK REVIEWS

Latest book reviews of 1 October  2026

Wilhelminalaan 33 

7261 BP RUURLO 

The Netherlands.
           John Elburg

                                                                                                     Chess Books

Understanding Chess 960 by Johannes Carow
http://www.gambitbooks.com
E-mail info@gambitbooks.com 
192 pages
€ 27,50
ISBN (13 digits):
978-1-805042167

The book Understanding Chess960 by International Master Johannes Carow is a definitive guide to Fischer Random Chess (commonly known as Chess960), a fascinating variant where the pieces on the back rank are randomized according to specific symmetry rules, yielding 960 possible starting positions.Carow, an International Master and Chess960 specialist, leverages his practical mastery and teaching experience to deconstruct how players can transition away from heavily memorized opening theory and instead rely on deep, foundational strategic principles.
The core thesis of Carow's work is that Chess960 acts as a mirror for standard chess illuminating why traditional maxims exist and when it is correct to break conventional rules.In standard chess, players often spend years studying deep opening repertoires, masterclasses, and tactical sequences. In contrast, Chess960 forces players to think independently right from move one.Carow demonstrates that good strategic principles remain paramount, but the chaotic, unfamiliar starting setups create unique tactical opportunities—such as immediate pawn advances that can stymie enemy minor piece development as early as move two.
The book is structured to guide readers through practical methods of analysing unfamiliar starting positions. Carow teaches how to evaluate piece safety, king protection, and central control dynamically without the crutch of database memorization.By examining games from recent practice, the author provides valuable insights into how to bring each piece into the action effectively when the traditional king-rook castling setups or fianchetto structures are altered or unavailable. Ultimately, the publication successfully bridges the gap between raw tactical calculation and profound structural understanding, making it an indispensable resource for both tournament players and casual enthusiasts looking to enhance their overall chess knowledge.
Material is divided into the following chapters: Analysing the Well-Known: The First Moves in Regular Chess
Discovering the Unknown: The First Moves in Chess960,Advancing Your Pawns: Two Sides of the Coin,How to Analyse Your Chess960 Games and exercises to test your 960 skills.
The unfamiliar starting positions sometimes allow for early tactics, especially if pawns are unprotected. The author also recommends studying these positions on a physical chess board.
Conclusion: This is an definitive guide to Chess 960!
                                                                                                                 Chess DVD's

ChessBase Magazine issue 233
September  2026
ChessBase
 http://www.chessbase.com
E-Mail info@chessbase.com
ISSN 1432-8992
Euro 21,90
System requirements:
Minimum: Pentium III 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, Windows Vista, XP (Service Pack 3), DirectX9 graphic card with 256 MB RAM, DVD-ROM drive, Windows Media Player 9, ChessBase 12/Fritz 13 or included Reader and internet connection for program activation. Recommended: PC Intel Core i7, 2.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, DirectX10 graphic card (or compatible) with 512 MB RAM or better, 10