Synopsis
The Best Move: Fischer by Lyudmil Tsvetkov is a chess book designed to immerse readers in the brilliance of Bobby Fischer, widely regarded as one of the greatest chess world champions of all time. Published in 2017, the book is the first in a planned series called Chess Legends, which focuses on the games of world champions to offer readers a blend of tactical and positional challenges. This volume contains 225 puzzles drawn from approximately one-third of Fischer’s games, carefully selected to highlight his exceptional skill in both tactical combinations and strategic positional play. The puzzles are evenly divided into two suites—113 tactical and 112 positional—reflecting Fischer’s ability to excel in both domains. The book’s primary aim is to challenge readers to identify the best move Fischer played in each position, encouraging them to think like the grandmaster while providing clear, concise explanations to aid learning when the correct move is not found.
The book emphasizes Fischer’s unique approach to chess, characterized by his relentless pursuit of the objectively best move in any given position, whether it leads to a decisive victory or a subtle advantage. Tsvetkov, a Bulgarian diplomat and candidate master who has contributed to the development of the Stockfish chess engine, underscores Fischer’s superiority even over modern engines like Stockfish, particularly in positional understanding. The tactical puzzles have been vetted with Stockfish to ensure accuracy, but Tsvetkov notes that the engine often fails to fully grasp the depth of Fischer’s positional decisions, which adds a layer of intrigue to the study of his games. The puzzles are presented with high-quality diagrams and brief explanations, making them accessible yet challenging for serious chess players. The book avoids overly verbose commentary, allowing readers to focus on the positions themselves, and it does not separate solutions onto different pages, a design choice intended to streamline the learning process but criticized by some for risking accidental exposure to answers.
Tsvetkov’s selection of puzzles showcases Fischer’s elegance and precision, with positions that range from clear-cut tactical strikes to nuanced strategic maneuvers that are harder to spot. The book encourages readers to engage deeply with Fischer’s games, suggesting methods like the CJS Purdy technique of setting up positions on a physical board to simulate over-the-board play and using a chess engine to analyze moves in greater depth. While the book is praised for its educational value and the beauty of Fischer’s play, some readers have noted minor flaws, such as a typo in one puzzle that renders it ineffective, and others have expressed discomfort with Fischer’s controversial legacy outside chess, particularly his post-9/11 remarks. Nevertheless, the focus remains firmly on his chess mastery, making the book a valuable resource for players seeking to improve their tactical and positional skills by studying one of the game’s legends.