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Five Hundred and One Opening Problems
By Richard Bozulich in collaboration with Rob van Zeijst
Reviewed by Mark
Lentczner, 10k
Unlike most problem books, this
one is more like a personal tutor than a drill sergeant. It uses the
problem format as a way to teach opening strategies, rather than to simply
hammer right and wrong into you.
Each page
presents four whole-board opening problems, with hints of suggested
strategies. Then, on the back of the page, the answers are given with
brief, but clear explanations of how the strategies are applied, including
follow up moves. These explanations are why the book shines: Each is
a well-written, concise little lesson on the
opening.
I also appreciated the layout of the
book. Because the answers are on the back of each problem page, there is
none of the flipping back and forth like most problem books. I only wish
they had printed the hints all at the bottom of the page so that you could
easily cover them while you first try to solve the four problems without the
hints, as the book suggests.
The problems seem
to be aimed squarely at kyu level. At 10kyu, I seem to get about 50%
right. This is a book I'm sure I'll return to again and again. I
recommend it for any kyu player's library.
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