How to Crush Your Chess Opponents by Simon Williams

An inspiring guide for the modern attacker
Each diagram links to an interactive analysis board!
"Beginners should buy this book for the lucid explanations as to how to form an attack." - Mark Donlan, Chess Horizons

30 modern attacking masterpieces, explained step-by-step

Simon Williams, one of Britain’s most dynamic and aggressive chess-players, has selected his favourite attacking games from the modern era, and annotated them with an infectious zeal that will inspire and instruct.

He takes us inside the decision-making process, explaining how each stage in an attacking concept is formed, and shows how top players spot the signs that indicate it is time to stake everything on an all-out assault. We also get insights into the role of intuition and calculation in both attack and defence.

The players featured in this entertaining collection include:

• Judit Polgar
• Alexei Shirov
• Veselin Topalov
• Viswanathan Anand
• Vasily Ivanchuk
• Peter Svidler
• Alexander Grishchuk
• Magnus Carlsen

Simon Williams is a grandmaster from England who has gained a reputation for playing uninhibited attacking chess. He represented England in World and European Championships in various age groups, and has been a regular in the British Championship since his early teens, an event in which he was runner-up in 2004. This is his third book for Gambit.

"The author ... is well known for his attacking prowess and ability to get games over with quickly, so he knows all about this form of chess, and you get a revealing insight into his approach via his refreshing and breezy notes. Very enjoyable." - John Saunders, British Chess Magazine

"This is a very nice selection of attacking games, with the emphasis on fun rather than deep analysis and totally correct play." - Sean Marsh, MarshTowers

"an impressive collection of tactical slug-fests. Nearly all of the games feature the kind of kitchen-sink attacks that end with spectators crowded around the board. Surprisingly, however, the book has a lot to say about defensive play as well. After all, a defensive inaccuracy is the seed of every tactical firework. ... the collection is unified around a strong central theme: walloping your opponent. ... that's a theme all chess players find appealing." - Josh Specht, ChessVideosTV

"Strong players should buy it just for pure enjoyment, and for the fact that the diagrams are plentiful enough so as to barely need a board and pieces." - Mark Donlan, Chess Horizons

"How to Crush Your Chess Opponents is a slim volume, but somehow it doesn't seem to be. The pages are fairly large and the thirty games are so packed with informative and entertaining chess, this feels like a much heftier book. Enough diagrams are included that you may not even need a board or computer screen to follow the games. Gambit books have a history of top-notch production and first-rate instruction. How to Crush Your Chess Opponents continues this fine tradition." - Steve Goldberg, ChessCafe