Winning Ugly in Chess: Playing Badly is No Excuse for Losing

by Cyrus Lakdawala

Overview

When was the last time you won a perfect game? A game that wasn’t tainted by inferior moves? Every chess player knows that smooth wins are the exception, that play is often chaotic and positions are frequently irrational. The road to victory is generally full of bumps and misadventures. Welcome to the world of imperfection! Chess books usually feature superbly played games, in Winning Ugly in Chess you will see games where weird moves are being rewarded. Cyrus Lakdawala knows that playing good chess is all very well, but that beating your opponent is better. He demonstrates the fine art of winning undeserved victories by miraculously surviving chaos, vile cheapos, refusing to resign in a lost position, lucky breaks, provoking unforced errors, improbable comebacks and other ways to land on your feet after a roller-coaster ride. Lakdawala shows how you can make sure that it is your opponent, not you, who makes the last blunder. If you’d rather win a bad game than lose a good one, then this your ideal guide. The next time ‘the wrong player’ wins, you will be that player!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789056918286
Publisher:	Continental Sales, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2019
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,074,886
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Cyrus Lakdawala is an International Master and a former American Open Champion. He has been teaching chess for four decades and is a prolific and widely read author. His Chess for Hawks won the Best Instructional Book Award of the Chess Journalists of America (CJA). Other much acclaimed books are How Ulf Beats Black and Clinch It! How to Convert an Advantage into a Win.

Editorial Reviews

"Accessible for a wide range of players. Lakdawala's tone of voice is unique in chess literature; he is like a friend you have known for a long time. Reading this book has thoroughly enjoyed this reviewer; he even feels he has learned a thing or two. Lakdawala's qualities as a trainer and an author reinforce each other. Unconditionally recommended."

Glarean Magazine - Thomas Binder

"Lakdawala reminds us that winning is the key goal in chess, not just good moves."

CHESS Magazine

"Lakdawala looks at topics such as boldness, grabbing material, rational and irrational decisions, traps and messing with the opponent's mind. His examples are often weird and wonderful, where backs are to the wall and miracles are born of desperation. There is a very nice chapter on the psychology of provocative opening play and its often disorienting effect on the 'victim'. In many ways, this is a fun book, but, as is often the case, the fun conceals serious points and learning opportunities. The bottom line is that winning is what maters, and a dip into this one could inspire you to score undeserved points or half points, and will remind you that, as the saying goes, it ain't over till it's over."

Chess Scotland - Ian Marks