On the Origin of Good Moves

A Skeptic's Guide at Getting Better at Chess

Willy Hendriks

• Publisher: New in Chess
• eBook ISBN:
  9789056918804
• Year: 2020

The way a beginner develops into a strong chess player closely resembles the progress of the game of chess itself. This popular idea is the reason why many renowned chess instructors such as former World Champions Garry Kasparov and Max Euwe, emphasize the importance of studying the history of chess.

Willy Hendriks agrees that there is much to be learned from the pioneers of our game. He challenges, however, the conventional view on what the stages in the advancement of chess actually have been. Among the various articles of faith that Hendriks questions is Wilhelm Steinitz's reputation as the discoverer of the laws of positional chess.

In The Origin of Good Moves Hendriks undertakes a groundbreaking investigative journey into the history of chess. He explains what actually happened, creates fresh perspectives, finds new heroes, and reveals the real driving force behind improvement in chess: evolution.

This thought-provoking book is full of beautiful and instructive ‘new’ material from the old days. With plenty of exercises, the reader is invited to put themselves in the shoes of the old masters. Never before has the study of the history of chess been so entertaining and rewarding.

Table of contents

• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Explanation of symbols
• Preface
• 1 Exercises for Chapter 1
• 2 Exercises for Chapter 2
• 3 Exercises for Chapter 3
• 4 Exercises for Chapter 4
• 5 Exercises for Chapter 5
• 6 Exercises for Chapter 6
• 7 Exercises for Chapter 7
• 8 Exercises for Chapter 8
• 9 Exercises for Chapter 9
• 10 Questions for Chapter 10
• 11 Exercises for Chapter 11
• 12 Exercises for Chapter 12
• 13 Exercises for Chapter 13
• 14 Exercises for Chapter 14
• 15 Exercises for Chapter 15
• 16 Attack at all costs
• 17 Exercises for Chapter 17
• 18 Exercises for Chapter 18
• 19 The Great Steinitz Hoax
• 20 The concept of balance
• 21 Exercises for Chapter 21
• 22 Exercises for Chapter 22
• 23 Exercises for Chapter 23
• 24 Exercises for Chapter 24
• 25 Exercises for Chapter 25
• 26 Lasker making history
• 27 Exercises for Chapter 27
• 28 Exercises for Chapter 28
• 29 Exercises for Chapter 29
• 30 Exercises for Chapter 30
• 31 Exercises for Chapter 31
• 32 Exercises for Chapter 32
• 33 Exercises for Chapter 33
• 34 Exercises for Chapter 34
• 35 Exercises for Chapter 35
• 36 Exercises for Chapter 36
• Endnotes
• Index of names
• Selected bibliography