Kosikov, Elements of Chess Strategy

A concise guide to goal-oriented chess thinking
Forming a plan is the most improtant goal of logical chess thought. Without a good plan, we are reduced to tactical opportunism, rather than harnessing the power of our pieces to achive specific tasks and make methodical progress towards victory.
However a fex chess players - even those fortunate enough to have a trainer - develop a disciplined approach to planning. In this book, one  of the world's leading chess teachers provides step-by-step guidelines for identifying the features of a position onto which our strategy should be latched. He adopts a thoroughly modern approach, recognizing that the opponent will have his own plans and wil be attempting to disrupt ours. The effectiveness of Kosikov's methods - in particular the STEPS algorithm - is shown by his pupils' over-the-board profiency.
Having presented the basics of orderly strategic thinking, Kosikov shows them at work in a variety of middlegame and endgame situations, especially the strategic minefield of minor-piece play. Examples are taken from both classic games and modern grandmaster play, together with instructive moments from games by the author's pupils.
159 S., kart., 2010
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Preface
Symbols
Introduction
1   Devising a Plan in a Game of Chess
Elements of Chess Strategy
Prophylactic thinking and Anticipation of Events
Manoeuvring
The Principle of the 'Worst' Piece
Answers to Execises for Chapter 1
2   'STOPS' - A System of Self-Discipline in Chess
Answer to Exercises for Chapter 2
3   The Advantage of the Bishop-Pair
Bishop of Knight?
Bishop Stronger than Knight
Knight Stronger than Bishop
Two Bishops in the Middlegame
Two Bishops in the Middlegame: Associated Factors
The 'Advantage of the Knight Pair'
The Problem of Exchanging
Two Bishops in the Endgame
Two Bishops against Two Knights in the Endgame
Methods of Combating the Two Bishops in the Endgame
Transformation of the Advantage
The Passes Pawn
The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame - How Much is it Worth?
The 'Best Odds' Principle
Answers to Exercises for Chapter 3
4   Warning - Trap Ahead!
Answers to Exercises for Chapter 4
5   Opposite Bishops in the Middlegame
Bishop Power
The Initiative
Attacking the King
Attacking the King with Minimal Material
Open FIle and Passed Pawn
Prophylaxis
Piece Coordination
Defence
The Pawn-Structure
Answers to Exercises for Chapter 5
Index of Players