Shankland: Small Steps 2 Success

Autor: Shankland, Sam
Verlag / Hersteller: Quality Chess
Erscheinungsjahr: 2019
Sprache: Englisch
Buchumschlag: hardcover
Seiten: 360

Master Passed Pawn Strategy in Middlegame and Endgame

Small Steps 2 Success by Super-GM Sam Shankland focuses on passed pawns, one of chess strategy's most decisive yet underexplored topics. Passed pawns determine countless middlegame and endgame outcomes, and learning to handle them—whether attacking or defending—separates winning players from the rest.

This second volume in Shankland's pawn play series breaks down passed pawn strategy into clear, actionable guidelines. Connected, isolated, and protected passed pawns all receive dedicated attention, ensuring readers develop practical mastery across different pawn structures.

Highlights

• Comprehensive coverage of passed pawn types and their strategic implications
• Clear guidelines designed for practical application in both middlegame and endgame
• Analysis of how to maximize attacking chances with passed pawns
• Defensive techniques against opponent's passed pawn threats
• Strategic framework for evaluating pawn play advantages
• Shortlisted for FIDE's Averbakh-Boleslavsky Award 2019

Essential reading for players seeking to deepen their understanding of pawn strategy and convert positional advantages into decisive results.

FAQ

What types of passed pawns does the book cover?
The book addresses connected passed pawns, isolated (lone) passed pawns, and protected passed pawns. Each configuration receives dedicated analysis to help readers handle the most common pawn structures in practical play.

How does this book relate to Shankland's first pawn play volume?
This is Shankland's second book on pawn play. While the first volume established foundational pawn play principles, this sequel focuses specifically on passed pawns and their strategic deployment in middlegames and endgames.

What playing level is this book suited for?
The book is designed for a wide audience of serious players. It provides systematic guidelines that ambitious club players and tournament competitors can use to improve their handling of passed pawns.