Robert Ris – författare

I have aimed to find a good balance of verbalexplanations without ignoring the hardcore variations you have to know. In caseyou find some of the analyses a bit too long, don’t be discouraged! They havebeen included mainly to illustrate the thematic ideas and show in whichdirection the game develops once the theoretical paths have been left. That’swhy I have actually decided to cover 37 games in their entirety, rather thancutting off my analysis with an evaluation. I believe that model games help youto better understand an opening, but certainly also the ensuing middle- andendgames. Just as in the The Modernized Sveshnikov,also in this book I have made frequently use of correspondence and enginegames. With a lack of over the board (elite) tournaments, most elite playersmade their switch to the world of online chess as well. These games with ashorter time control are often full of mistakes, but the opening stage is stillrelevant. Hence, I have decided to include these online games whenever Ithought them to be a useful addition to our repertoire. With the completion of this work and TheModernized Sveshnikov, I think I have succeeded in offering the reader acomplete, ambitious, and sound Black repertoire against 1.e4. I am incrediblysatisfied with the result of this work, as I think the mix of new ideas, beautifulvariations, model games, extensive analyses and explanation of key concepts willinspire many chess fans. I would like to wish you all an enjoyable read andhope that you will be able to apply some of my recommendations in your owngames. You no longer have to fear any Anti-Sicilian!  Robert Ris Amstelveen, The NetherlandsSeptember 2021

In the first volume of "Crucial Chess Skills for the Club Player", attention is given to the three key elements of practical play. These three aspects aren't closely related to each other, but together form the key to improvement for any ambitious chess player. In the first 3 chapters Ris explores the most essential positions for rook endgames, offering practical advice along the way. He also offers ways to sharpen tactical vision in chapters four to six. In particular, he seeks to cultivate an ability to sense opportunities to strike. The final part, chapters seven to nine, he examines positional play in such a way that the student's overall understanding of the game is deepened. The result is that Robert offers a course to help students master all facets of the game! Volume two is expected end of 2018.