The book is structured to teach you how to think like a Champion. It is heavily illustrated with examples from practical play by top grandmasters, including many from Karpov's own illustrious career. 1. Evaluating a Position
No instructional book is without its critics, and Karpov's work is no exception. A review on Chess.com notes that while the book does an excellent job presenting a scheme for evaluating a position, it is less detailed in transforming that evaluation into a concrete plan. Some readers have found the analysis somewhat basic or the layout reminiscent of an older generation of chess books.
: Before looking at Karpov's move, cover the page. Spend 10 minutes finding the right plan for both sides. anatoly karpov find the right planpdf
To understand the book, you must understand the man. Anatoly Karpov, the 12th World Chess Champion (1975-1985), is widely regarded as one of the greatest strategists and positional players in history. He was nicknamed the "Python" for his legendary ability to slowly, patiently tighten his grip on an opponent, constricting their space and suffocating their options until they had no good moves left.
This is the essence of “finding the right plan” – not the most aggressive, but the most enduring . The book is structured to teach you how
The most important step is applying what you've learned in your own games. For your next ten games, consciously go through Karpov's planning process. After each game, review whether your plan was appropriate and how you could have improved it.
: It features training sections like "Club-12" and "A Golden Dozen of Studies" to help readers apply these strategic principles in real-game scenarios. Barnes & Noble Anatoly Karpov | Top Chess Players Evaluating a Position No instructional book is without
Do this for 20 games, and you will have internalized the PDF that never existed—the blueprint of a world champion’s strategic mind.
By guiding the player through a systematic evaluation of lines, pawn structures, and piece activity, Karpov achieves his ultimate goal: demystifying the art of planning. The next time you sit down at the board, facing a position you don't understand, you can recall the lessons from this book. You will no longer be a slave to random moves; you will have a plan. And as Emanuel Lasker is quoted in the book’s opening pages, "it's better to play according to a flawed plan than with no plan at all".
