Coaching Kasparov, Year by Year and Move by Move
Alexander Nikitin,who was Garry Kasparov’s long-term coach, second and mentor, has published a new book – Coaching Kasparov, Year by Year and Move by Move.
The book tells the story of how he trained Kasparov from a brilliant, but raw junior into becoming and then remaining the world champion.
Volume I covers the period 1973-1981 until Kasparov reached the age of 18. The author goes to great lengths to describe his educational approach during the early period to raise Kasparov’s theoretical knowledge and practical performance. It also covers both his play and psychological training.
In Nikitin’s blow-by-blow tournament accounts he describes how he handled various unexpected situations to get the best out of Kasparov with detailed recipes. His numerous insights will be of great interest to today’s chess coaches who wish to take a comprehensive approach to improve their pupils’ performances.
Blitz Match against Mikhail Tal
This volume contains 46 games fully annotated by Nikitin. The book also includes all 14 games of a blitz match played between the 15-year old Kasparov and ex-world champion Mikhail Tal on 26 December 1978 in Tbilisi. These games have never been published and which are provided primarily for the 2019 edition of this book.
Most of the other games are well known. Nikitin explains many of Kasparov’s decisions in those games. Nikitin provides the context of his young pupil’s thought process and mistakes and tracing his progress.
He also uses these games to illustrate and expand upon his coaching advice. It makes his commentary unique and instructive, of formidable practical use to budding players, coaches and parents.
Sample pages
Sample pages of Coaching Kasparov Year by Year.
Publishers
The book has been published by Elk and Ruby Publishers. You can order a copy of this fine book by clicking here – Order Coaching Kasparov, Year by Year and Move by Move.
Alexander Nikitin – a brief autobiography
Alexander Nikitin, born 1935 in Moscow, coached Garry Kasparov from 1973 until 1990. He was Kasparov’s chief second in his Candidates, and World Championship matches from 1983-1987. In 1992 Nikitin seconded Boris Spassky during the latter’s return match against Bobby Fischer, and later in the 1990s, he coached the young Etienne Bacrot.
Links
Elk and Ruby Publishers website.
