Very nice and comprehensive write up. From what I can tell this book will fit an audience that is missing books like this. As someone who did read the fisher teaches chess book when I first started, this looks to definitely challenge that for position on the shelves as well as offer information I’ve yet to learn...in fact type in fisher chess book in Amazon and Levy’s book pops up above it on the list order. Thanks for the write up
I think the concept of space hasn’t got to do just with pawns. If you have a Knight on e6, your opponent can never move a rook or queen to d8 or f8 no matter how many times it’s protected. This does actually cramp your opponent’s position and maneuverability. So while pawns do tend to control space best, I think the criterion is squares you control which are not accessible to your opponent
Right. I remember because it was very different to the way I've seen it traditionally. He calls it "The Space Count system". He splits the board in two halves and counts the squares that each side controls on the opposite side. So for a bishop on c1 you would count 2 (because it controls g5 and h6) and he would add all the squares to figure out who has more "space". He does not care about the space behind pawns.
You are well beyond the intended audience’s skill level. But this is a good choice if you have a levy fan under 1200 that you’re looking to buy a gift for!
Thanks for the review. I'll grab one as a Christmas gift!
Very nice and comprehensive write up. From what I can tell this book will fit an audience that is missing books like this. As someone who did read the fisher teaches chess book when I first started, this looks to definitely challenge that for position on the shelves as well as offer information I’ve yet to learn...in fact type in fisher chess book in Amazon and Levy’s book pops up above it on the list order. Thanks for the write up
I think the concept of space hasn’t got to do just with pawns. If you have a Knight on e6, your opponent can never move a rook or queen to d8 or f8 no matter how many times it’s protected. This does actually cramp your opponent’s position and maneuverability. So while pawns do tend to control space best, I think the criterion is squares you control which are not accessible to your opponent
I think I remember a similar definition for space from Seirawan in his Play Winning Chess book.
Similar to Levy’s where even pieces, not pawns, contribute to a space advantage?
Right. I remember because it was very different to the way I've seen it traditionally. He calls it "The Space Count system". He splits the board in two halves and counts the squares that each side controls on the opposite side. So for a bishop on c1 you would count 2 (because it controls g5 and h6) and he would add all the squares to figure out who has more "space". He does not care about the space behind pawns.
Interesting! I’ve never read play winning chess but perhaps this is where levy gets that idea? Hmm.
Fantastic write up. I am not a big GothamChess fan but your write up does make me curious to purchase the book and read it for myself. Well done.
You are well beyond the intended audience’s skill level. But this is a good choice if you have a levy fan under 1200 that you’re looking to buy a gift for!