Having referred to classic games collections in the previous article I give below brief details of six such works. Many of the best games collections have been written by the players themselves, but the following examples were all compiled by an independent author. The other criteria are that the book is written in English and is at least fifty years old.
Alekhine's Best Games of Chess 1938-1945, chosen and annotated by C. H. O'D. Alexander, London 1949.
A typically beautifully produced book by G. Bell and Sons in pink cloth hardback with dust jacket, this volume completed the trilogy of Alekhine's best games collections.
C. H. O'D. Alexander did not include a biographical account of Alekhine's life and career as this task had already been "admirably carried out by Mr. du Mont in the second volume of this series".
The book presents 42 main games and all are extensively analysed with instructive comments and clear diagrams.
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Published by Sir Isaac Pitman, this compact volume has attractive yellow cloth covers, a dust jacket and a fine portrait of Atkins as a frontispiece. The Biographical Note extends to eight pages and gives a detailed account of Atkins' life and curious chess career which was punctuated by long spells of inactivity.
Each of the fifty games, from 1893 to 1937, has a brief introduction and lucid commentary by Coles.
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The Immortal Games of Capablanca, Selected and Annotated by Fred Reinfeld, New York 1942.
Another well produced book, by Chess Review of New York, this comes with maroon cloth covers, pictorial dust jacket. and a portrait of Capablanca by E. Valderama.
Reinfeld's remarkable industry is epitomised by this work which provides a thirteen page biography of Capablanca, his Tournament and Match Record, and 113 games annotated in the author's clear and informative style.
The games are arranged into five stages of Capablanca's career; viz. The Boy Prodigy becomes a Master. 1902-1909, Grandmaster. 1910-1914, Challenger. 1914-1920, World Champion. 1921-1927, and Ex-Champion. 1927-1942. Each phase is preceded by an overview of Capablanca's style of play during the period, focusing on his choice of openings; and every single game has a brief introduction summarising the key points.
Another impressive early work by Fred Reinfeld.
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Emanuel Lasker, The Life of a Chess Master, by J. Hannak, London 1959.
Translated by Heinrich Fraenkel from the original German work: Emanuel Lasker, Biographie eines Schachweltmeisters, first published in Berlin-Frohnau in 1952. The English book, published by Andre Deutsch, has a red cloth hardback cover with dust jacket.
This book takes a different approach from the usual biography/playing record/games approach, and charts Lasker's entire life over 30 chapters, with relevant games at the end of each chapter. The annotations to the 100 plus games were taken from many different sources which are usually noted at the end of each game. Alas there is no portrait, index of games, or overall record of Lasker's tournament and match career.
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Frank J. Marshall; One Hundred Annotated Games Illustrated with 150 Diagrams, by P. Wenman, (Ex Scottish Champion) Leeds 1948.
This book is No. 1 in the series Great American Chess Players, and the only other book in the series was a lightly annotated collection of Pillsbury's games by P. Wenman, also published in 1948.
The Marshall collection includes a five page Biographical Note, Marshall's Record in Tournament and Matches, and 100 annotated games, clearly laid out with occasional diagrams.
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R.P. Michell. A Master of British Chess by J. du Mont, London 1947.
Another Sir Isaac Pitman publication in red cloth hardback with dust jacket and frontispiece portrait.
A seven page biography, which includes a magazine article written by Michell entitled The Uses of the "Books" is followed by 36 characteristic games from 1901 to 1936, each annotated, not with reams of analysis, but with helpful commentary on many of the key positions.
A further selection of six games collections will appear next time.
Reinfeld's remarkable industry is epitomised by this work which provides a thirteen page biography of Capablanca, his Tournament and Match Record, and 113 games annotated in the author's clear and informative style.
The games are arranged into five stages of Capablanca's career; viz. The Boy Prodigy becomes a Master. 1902-1909, Grandmaster. 1910-1914, Challenger. 1914-1920, World Champion. 1921-1927, and Ex-Champion. 1927-1942. Each phase is preceded by an overview of Capablanca's style of play during the period, focusing on his choice of openings; and every single game has a brief introduction summarising the key points.
Another impressive early work by Fred Reinfeld.
____________________________________________________________
Emanuel Lasker, The Life of a Chess Master, by J. Hannak, London 1959.
Translated by Heinrich Fraenkel from the original German work: Emanuel Lasker, Biographie eines Schachweltmeisters, first published in Berlin-Frohnau in 1952. The English book, published by Andre Deutsch, has a red cloth hardback cover with dust jacket.
This book takes a different approach from the usual biography/playing record/games approach, and charts Lasker's entire life over 30 chapters, with relevant games at the end of each chapter. The annotations to the 100 plus games were taken from many different sources which are usually noted at the end of each game. Alas there is no portrait, index of games, or overall record of Lasker's tournament and match career.
___________________________________________
Frank J. Marshall; One Hundred Annotated Games Illustrated with 150 Diagrams, by P. Wenman, (Ex Scottish Champion) Leeds 1948.
This book is No. 1 in the series Great American Chess Players, and the only other book in the series was a lightly annotated collection of Pillsbury's games by P. Wenman, also published in 1948.
The Marshall collection includes a five page Biographical Note, Marshall's Record in Tournament and Matches, and 100 annotated games, clearly laid out with occasional diagrams.
____________________________________________________________
R.P. Michell. A Master of British Chess by J. du Mont, London 1947.
Another Sir Isaac Pitman publication in red cloth hardback with dust jacket and frontispiece portrait.
A seven page biography, which includes a magazine article written by Michell entitled The Uses of the "Books" is followed by 36 characteristic games from 1901 to 1936, each annotated, not with reams of analysis, but with helpful commentary on many of the key positions.
A further selection of six games collections will appear next time.
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