- Nouveau
"I decided to divide the book into four parts. In the first and the most difficult and time-consuming part of the book you will find my memorable games. I emphasize that these are my most memorable games, not my best games so out of 25 games given here there are a few draws and one loss. If I had decided to collect my best games the selection would have been quite different. It should therefore come as no surprise that as many as seven games with world champions found their way into the book."
Pushing Horizons – The Chess Legacy of GM Vladimir Akopian – Vladimir Akopian
The book is divided into four parts:
Part 1: Memorable Games
Contains the author’s 25 most memorable games.
Emphasis is on memorable, not necessarily best — includes some draws and one loss.
Had the focus been on best games, the selection would have been different.
Includes seven games against world champions.
This was the most difficult and time-consuming section to compile.
Time span: 1991–2010.
Part 2: Memorable Fragments
Features 50 carefully selected fragments — both instructive and curious.
Strict selection process applied here as well.
Covers a broader time span: 1982–2016.
Includes early-career material, with some never published in databases.
Part 3: Studies
Presents 75 studies, of which:
50 require White to draw,
25 require White to win.
Excludes most difficult and interesting rook studies (with a few exceptions).
Notes that composing studies is far harder than composing problems — described as “a hell of a job”.
Part 4: Chess Problems
Contains 150 of the author’s best chess problems — the author’s favorite part of the book.
The first problem was composed at age 12 and published by Alexander Sarychev, a renowned composer and study-maker.
Despite early success, the bulk of problem composition came later in life.
In total, the book contains 300 carefully selected items:
25 games
50 fragments
75 studies
150 problems
The author hopes that each of these 300 snippets offers something worthwhile and valuable to the reader.
Fiche technique