I always enjoy John Elburg's book reviews.
Of course, who wouldn't enjoy his look at International Master Gary Lane's latest title, The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps ? --
Gary Lane provides the reader in this greatest ever chess tricks and traps book with a amazing collection short cuts.
Some are well known as the seven move lost from the poor Ree against Petrosian,at the Wijk aan Zee tournament from 1971, but many others as for example the game Banks – Karmmark, Internet Blitz 2007, are brand new.
Where white went for the extraordinary and forgotten Jerome Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+?
These moves, as we can read in this entertaining work from Lane is named after the American player Alonzo Wheeler Jerome 1834-1902 of Paxton, Illinois, and was analysed in the American Chess Journal in 1874. It has to be remembered that in the 19th century people liked to attack and never defend.
This book from Lane is not only a very exciting game collection but above all, a very good read.
Nearly all major openings are divided with a instructive example of play and all games in this book are pleasantly indexed with names and openings.
All together I counted around 110 complete games where some are good for over two pages of text!
As for example the following victory in the opening: Skurski, Jan (2069) - Gasik, Piotr (2189) [B12] POL-ch sf Polanczyk (6), 09.11.2000 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Bc4 Bb4+ 7.c3 dxc3 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Qxd8 cxb2+ 10.Ke2 bxa1Q 11.Ng5+ Kg6 12.Qe8+ Kh6 13.Ne6+ g5 14.Bxg5# 1-0
As we can read in the book from Lane black has tried to avoid defeat at this point with no success.
Conclusion: This book is overloaded with unbelievable shortcuts!
