How Not to Play Chess has long been regarded as a classic of chess literature. It illustrates Eugene A. Znosko-Borovsky’s gift for explaining a difficult subject briefly and yet unhurriedly. Addressed to average players, it imparts valuable knowledge and gives them a glimpse into the delightfully complex problems of master chess.
But this unpretentious book does much more. By defining and illustrating typical chess mistakes, Znosko-Borovsky puts the student on the right road to chess improvement. Though Znosko-Borovsky never resorts to a false optimism, he does inspire the reader with confidence in his own ability.
The qualities that distinguish all his books are a clear style, logical reasoning, a contagious love of chess, and a systematic treatment of his subject.
In order to give the reader a chance to get the utmost from Znosko-Borovsky’s classic, a series of quiz positions have been added. By applying himself to these positions, the student can appraise each situation, examine the possibilities for both sides, prepare a general plan of procedure, and then try to find the concrete sequence that is called for.
He may not always find the best line of play; after all, these examples are from master games. Nevertheless, any reader who makes an honest effort to find the right moves will be richly rewarded when he finally turns to the solutions and sees how a great player met the same difficulties and solved them successfully.
A few words about Znosko-Borovsky’s playing career may be of interest. He was born at Alexandrovich (Russia) on August 16, 1884 and died on December 31, 1954. He made a name for himself as one of the outstanding Russian masters during the first decade of this century, but during the Revolution he emigrated to France and spent the remaining years of his life in that country.
As a player Znosko-Borovsky won some notable individual games from Capablanca, Rubinstein, Tarta-kover, Euwe, Bogolyubov and other noted masters. But his temperament inclined him more toward analysis than to playing; and it is on his masterly exposition of the game that his fame will securely rest.