Samurai Chess

Samurai Chess
Author: Michael Gelb
Publisher: Walker
Total Pages: 256
Release: 1997
Genre: Games
ISBN: 9780802713377

Suggests ways of using martial arts principle and strategies, including attack, follow-through, impenetrable defense, timing, distance, surprise and deception, and artful surrender, to improve chess skills

Samurai Chess

Samurai Chess
Author: Michael Gelb
Publisher:
Total Pages: 210
Release: 1997
Genre: Chess
ISBN: 9781854104687

A handbook which provides a step-by-step guide to the game of chess, and explains ways to improve strategic thinking and using it in business matters in an increasingly complex, rapidly changing world.

Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan

Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan
Author: Yasushi Inoue
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2011-12-20
Genre: Literary Collections
ISBN: 1462902731

The Samurai Banner of Furin Kazan presents an accurate portrait of this era in Japanese history. Originally published in Japanese in 1959, this classic novel by Yasushi Inoue takes place during the Japanese Warring Era (1467-1573)--a time when a fractured Japan was ruled by three powerful young warlords: Takeda Shingen, Iwagawa Yoshimoto and Hojo Ujiyasu. The story focuses on Takeda Shingen and his one-eyed, crippled strategist, Yamamoto Kansuke. The brilliant strategies of Kansuke, inspired by his passion for war and his admiration for his enemies' war tactics, are beautifully expressed throughout this book. Takeda Shingen--a proud and confident warlord--wants to expand his territory. When he retains the ambitious and mysterious Yamamoto Kansuke--a masterless, unheralded samurai--as his war strategist, he discovers a bold and cunning collaborator. Kansuke's talents at diplomacy and his prescient understanding of war strategy leads Shingen's clan to great success, a path which leads the pair to Princess Yuu. When Kansuke discovers her among the ruins of a castle he has just captured, she is about to commit ritual suicide, jigaki. Kansuke falls under her spell--and convinces her to live to carry on her family's lineage. The conflicting ambitions of Shingen, Kansuke, and Princess Yuu are at the heart of this complex and intensely dramatic story. Each of the three needs the others in order to attain their goals. In the end, the lines between who is using whom are blurred beyond understanding. Though there's some doubt as to whether Kansuke really existed, the historical narrative and depictions of daily life present a unique and engaging look at the end of the feudal era in Japan.

Players and Pawns

Players and Pawns
Author: Gary Alan Fine
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2015-08-06
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 022626498X

A chess match seems about as solitary an endeavor as there is in sports: two minds, on their own, in fierce opposition. But is this the case? Inevitably these two minds are in dialogue, and perhaps might be better understood as partners in play. And surrounding that one-on-one contest is a community life that can be as dramatic and intense as the across-the-board confrontation. Gary Alan Fine has spent years immersed in several communities of amateur and professional chess players--children and adults--and in Players and Pawns he takes readers deep inside these worlds, revealing a complex, brilliant, feisty world of commitment and conflict. Opening with a close look at a routine, yet financially troubled, tournament in Atlantic City, Fine carries us from planning and setup through the climactic final day's match-ups between the weekend's top players, introducing us along the way to countless players and their relationships to the game. At tournaments like that one, as well as in locales as diverse as collegiate matches and cash games in Manhattan's Washington Square Park, players find themselves part of what Fine terms a soft community, an open, welcoming space built on their shared commitment to the game. Within that community, chess players find both support and challenges, all amid a shared interest in and love of the long-standing traditions of the game, traditions that help chess players build a communal identity.

Chess Words of Wisdom

Chess Words of Wisdom
Author: Mike Henebry
Publisher: SCB Distributors
Total Pages: 728
Release: 2011-10-10
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 1936490331

Chess Words of Wisdom is made up of the crucial information mined from over 400 chess books (plus hundreds of magazine articles, vides, DVDs, web sites and various other sources) all condensed into this one remarkably complete and "one-of-a-kind " chess book. Chess Words of Wisdom quotes, paraphrases and summarizes the teachings of hundreds of experts, masters, IMs, GMs and eve a few scientists, scholars and generals. Essentially, all of the wisdom from these important sources is in this one book! Chess Words of Wisdom is a digest of hundreds of years of chess knowledge from the greatest chess minds in history. This is the must-know information for the well-schooled chessplayer at all levels, from beginner to master. Chess Words of Wisdom is unique in that it is all text. There are no diagrams or analysis at all in the book. There is not a single game in the entire book! Instead, the book is jam-packed with essential chess knowledge... in plain English! If you want to learn, if you want to thoroughly understand chess, Chess Words of Wisdom is for you. Chess Words of Wisdom is about "understanding" chess. There are no frills, cartoons or nonsense of any kind in it... just intense, cover-to-cover, concentrated chess instruction in the form of verbal explanation. This is an ideal textbook for chess teachers, coaches, trainers and all serious students of the game. It is for players of all strengths who are enthusiastic about understanding and mastering the game of chess. A 534-page one-of-a-kind chess book, it belongs in every serious chessplayer's library. It contains all of the useful, practical, information from over 400 chess books (plus many other sources). As a result, it contains more helpful information than certainly any other chess book in history. This is one-volume treatise covers nearly all of the essential concepts in chess. "All you need to know about everything that matters!" (New In Chess Magazine) "Kudos! Just glanced through your book which displays an enormous amount of research and chess erudition. Looking forward to some enjoyable reading..." (the late Larry Evans, U.S. grandmaster, author, journalist, and five-time U.S. Chess Champion) "...it's definitely unique in its verbal approach, which is particularly useful especially to adults learning the game." (Jennifer Shahade, author, journalist, two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion and FIDE Woman Grandmaster)

Brain Power

Brain Power
Author: Michael J. Gelb
Publisher: New World Library
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2011-12-26
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1608680746

Virtually everyone fears mental deterioration as they age. But in the past thirty years neuroscientists have discovered that the brain is actually designed to improve throughout life. How can you encourage this improvement?Brain Power shares practical, state-of-the-evidence answers in this inspiring, fun-to-read plan for action. The authors have interviewed physicians, gerontologists, and neuroscientists; studied the habits of men and women who epitomize healthy aging; and applied what they describe in their own lives. The resulting guidance; along with the accompanying downloadable Brain Sync audio program; can help you activate unused brain areas, tone mental muscles, and enliven every faculty.

A Disreputable Opening Repertoire

A Disreputable Opening Repertoire
Author: Jonathan Tait
Publisher: Everyman Chess
Total Pages: 962
Release:
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 1781946078

A highly adventurous repertoire designed to meet 1 e4 with 1...e5 and take the initiative! The main problem Black faces in answering 1 e4 with 1...e5 is the plethora of opening systems available to White: the Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Piano, Scotch, Ponziani, King’s Gambit, Vienna, Bishop’s Opening and so on. Each is likely to be White’s pet line, which usually means conducting the chess battle on the opponent’s turf. One solution is to study the main lines of all these openings and hope to remember what to do if they appear on the board. Another, more enterprising approach is to turn the tables and make White fight on your territory. Adopting the latter course, CC-SIM Jonathan Tait shares their investigations into a myriad of disregarded, “disreputable” responses, which can set White thinking as early as move three. These lines are greatly under-estimated by contemporary theory and include weird and wonderful variations such as the Calabrese Counter-Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 Bc4 f5), the Wagenbach Defence to the King’s Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 Nf3 h5), the Romanishin Three Knights (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Bc5), the Two Knights Ulvestad Variation (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 b5) and ultra-sharp lines of the Jaenisch Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 f5). The theory of the variations in this book is generally poorly understood. This has made them successful at all forms of play, including against online computer-assisted assault.

The Art of Connection

The Art of Connection
Author: Michael J. Gelb
Publisher: New World Library
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2017-08-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1608684504

These days, it’s often easier to avoid face-to-face contact in favor of technological shortcuts. But as Michael Gelb argues in this compelling, entertaining book, the meaningful relationships that come from real interaction are the key to creating innovative ideas and solving our most intractable problems. In The Art of Connection, Gelb offers readers seven methods of developing this essential rapport in their professional and personal lives. Each chapter covers specific techniques and illustrates them with memorable stories, relevant scientific research, and hands-on exercises that allow readers to apply their new skills. Most important, Gelb reminds us that developing rapport with others is not just a business tool to enhance productivity but a valuable end in itself. He guides us to cultivate the skills we all need to deepen our relationships, broaden our humanity, and transform our lives.

Tony Miles: It's Only Me

Tony Miles: It's Only Me
Author: Mike Fox
Publisher: Batsford Books
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2014-11-12
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 1849942064

The charismatic Tony Miles has been much missed since his tragic and premature death in 2001. Regarded as one of England's greatest ever chess players and analysts, he was also one of the wittiest writers on the game. By sheer force of example and ebullient peronality, he inspired the 'English chess explosion' after becoming the first UK grandmaster in the mid 70s. This Fascinating collection of over a hundred games and articles, covering Tony's entire chess career, includes his most celebrated wins, a few losses, and in addition to the famous game against Karpov with the bizarre St George's opening 1 e4 a6 - a less well known victory over the then world champion from a television tournament. All the games are annotated by Tony himself - in his own inimitable style. This fitting tribute is rounded off with a review of Tony's original opening repertoire as well as personal appreciations by his Birmingham clubmates and friends Mike Fox, Malcolm Hunt and Geoff Lawton.