Chess on the Edge by Harper and Seirawan
Chess On the Edge – 3 Vols – Bruce Harper & Yasser Seirawan (Chess ‘n’ Math 2008) with contributions from Gerard Welling. hbs. pp 990. fan. 17 b&w photos. 5.5″ x 9″. ISBN 978-1-895525-15-1. Separate indexes. www.suttlesbook.com. Introduction by Lawrence Day. Prefaces by Yasser Seirawan, Brian Harper.
It is impossible not to be impressed by this massive undertaking. Volume 1 has 100 games, thirteen chapters illustrating the Canadian’s style. Volume 2 has games in the English, 1.g3 and 1…g6, and Volume 3 has more conventional stuff like the Sicilian, Vienna and King’s Gambit.
Duncan Suttles played through the 60′s, 70′s and stopped playing in the eighties. Today he is still alive, but retired from competitions. He faced many top names such as Andersson, Botvinnik, Fischer, Timman, Geller, Miles, Gligoric, Polugaevsky, Spassky, Portsich and Tal.
If I had to criticise at all, I would mention the lack of a results section, but really the games are so priceless and the notes so straightforward that few will not be entertained and instructed.
I wish Duncan Suttles played today but retirement to the world of computers has meant he is better able to provide for his family. The cover blurb mentions the word ‘confusing’ more than once. Well, I’m not confused, just inspired. Especially if you play 1…g6 and/or enjoy Flank Openings, you should benefit from these wonderful volumes.
© The Chess Parrot #25 with thanks.
