Jouer aux échecs n'est pas plus difficile que de jouer au bridge, ou aux tarots. Mais jouer aux échecs convenablement et caresser raisonnablement l'espoir d'atteindre un jour la maîtrise est maintenant un rêve réalisable grâce à la méthode du maître américain Edward Lasker. Utilisant les méthodes pédagogiques les plus modernes -- celles des questions à réponses multiples -- cet ouvrage permet à l'élève d'abandonner rapidement le statut du débutant pour atteindre celui d'un joueur de compétition. Au cours de conversations simulées entre le maître et l'étudiant, les progrès de ce dernier sont vérifiés par des interrogations pertinentes et, si la réponse n'est pas satisfaisant, le lecteur doit "redoubler" comme un véritable élève.

Readers of his earlier books will know that the Russian grandmaster has always put great emphasis on understanding, planning and training. Success in chess, as in any sport, depends on hard work as well as talent. In this new book Kotov looks at the ways in which grandmasters prepare for different aspects of the game and shows how current Soviet training methods can help the club or tournament player of whatever strength. As in his earlier books, Kotov tackles the great problems and challenges of chess head on, and succeeds in producing a thoroughly practical book, pithily written.

Alexander Kotov, one of the most robust attacking players of the twentieth century, came second in his first appearance in the Soviet Championship in 1939 and shared the first place with Bronstein in 1948. In his international debut in Holland in 1946, he beat both Botvinnik and Euwe. His greatest success was his overwhelming victory in the 1952 Interzonal. Recentlyy he has devoted this time to chess organisation and writing.