Galkin: 111 Middlegame Crimes and Punishments

Autor: Alexander Galkin; Anastasia Travkin
Verlag / Hersteller: Elk and Ruby
Erscheinungsjahr: 2020
Sprache: English
Buchumschlag: book
Seiten: 235

Learn from typical middlegame mistakes in grandmaster games

111 Middlegame Crimes and Punishments by Grandmaster Alexander Galkin and Woman International Master Anastasia Travkina is a middlegame textbook.

Most games are decided in this phase, so good results depend on playing it well. The book targets strong tournament players rated 1900–2300 Elo and fast-improving juniors.

Most tactics and positional books present a position and ask for the correct move. This book starts with the error instead. It explains which counterplay was underestimated and how the punishment follows, then shows the stronger continuation.

The 111 positions come from 2019 games of grandmasters, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ding Liren and Hikaru Nakamura. Each example shows the starting diagram twice: before the game continues and before the solution.

Highlights

• Analysis of 111 middlegame mistakes from grandmaster games played in 2019
• Explanation of the counterplay that was underestimated in each error
• Coverage of unsound sacrifices, imaginary threats and pawn-grabbing
• Lessons on pawn structure changes and on choosing between check and attacking material
• Examples of replacing strategy with tactics and of wrong positional decisions
• Two-diagram layout that supports self-study as well as work with a coach

A practical training book for players who want to avoid costly middlegame errors.

FAQ

Which middlegame themes does the book cover?
It addresses nine recurring mistakes, including unsound sacrifices, imaginary threats and defenses, pawn-grabbing and wrong evaluation of pawn structure changes. Each theme is illustrated with grandmaster games.

How should the examples be worked through?
First, the reader identifies why the move was wrong and which counterplay was underestimated. Then the reader looks for the better continuation before turning the page. A coach can set up the position and ask the student to find the refutation.

Is the book connected to other titles by the authors?
It is a companion volume to 101 Endgame Crimes and Punishments by Alexander Galkin, which covers the endgame phase.