Sunday Book Review: Surprise in Chess

Surprise in Chess
Amatzia Avni
Cadogan (1998)
softcover, 112 pages
figurine algebraic notation

I have a long-term interest in chess psychology (see "My Chess Psychology Bookshelf" for examples), and I have enjoyed the writings of psychologist and FIDE Master Amatzia Avni, reviewing several (Devious Chess, The Grandmaster's Mind and Practical Chess Psychology: Understanding the Human Factor) of his books.

Surprise in Chess is not a new title (in fact, its publisher, Cadogen Chess, has since morphed into Everyman Chess) but I have been reading it lately (along with its companion, Danger in Chess) to better understand the impact of the Jerome Gambit and its relatives.

Contents
Symbols
Introduction
Surprise in Chess
The Theory of Surprise
The Five Faces of Surprise in Chess
Special Cases of Chess Surprise
More About Surprise in Chess
The Way Players Experience Surprise
Summary
Assorted Surprises
Solutions
Index of Players and Composers

Avni's writing style is aimed toward the average chess player, more conversational, rather than being technical. He has a sense of humor that lifts the more serious discussions (e.g. how can a "logical" game like chess, where "information" about what is happening on the board is equally available to both players, have any surprises?). His examples of surprise help fill out the theory that he outlines.

Jerome Gambit Gemeinde members regularly surprise their opponents, and, adding insult to injury, often seem to know how the player across the board is going to respond, and even what he or she will do next... There is nothing "magical" about what is going on, only the fact that the gambiteer knows something about "The Way Players Experience Surprise".

Two quotes, amongst many, got me thinking

The last four examples provide abundant proof that chess is not always as logical, coherent and ordered as we might like to think...
In a world where pure chess weapons are in the posession of a wide public, nuances in non-chess weapons can make the difference between succcess and failure.
Surprise is such a weapon.

It is well worth the effort to pick up Surprise in Chess from the local public library, or perhaps it sits on your chess club library's shelf. The local bookstore may have a copy. It is certainly available online.