Which would you like?
Nigel Short’s book focuses on the strategic and psychological elements of chess through detailed analyses of eight major tournaments from his career. Published by Quality Chess, this 416-page work offers annotated games and insights into the mindset required for top-tier competitive success. For more details, visit New In Chess New In Chess WINNING Nigel Short - New In Chess
The book by Grandmaster Nigel Short (published June 2021 by Quality Chess) is a unique game collection that focuses on the practical reality of winning entire tournaments rather than just showcasing a player's "best games". Core Content & Structure
Instead of a chronological career retrospective, the book is structured as eight detailed case studies. Each chapter covers every game Nigel played in a specific tournament that he won (or tied for first), including the "messy" wins and difficult draws that are usually omitted from standard collections.
Chapter Titles: Every chapter is named after a song title that reflects the mood or event.
Annotations: Short provides honest, "no-holds-barred" commentary that critiques his own play as much as his opponents'. winning nigel short pdf
Anecdotes: The text is filled with stories about the venues, fellow players, and the "chess life" on the road. Tournament Chapters The 416-page book covers the following eight tournaments: Tournament 1 My Lucky Number 1 Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands 2 Don't Stop Me Now Reykjavik, Iceland 3 We Are The Champions Amsterdam, Netherlands 4 Tallinn/Pärnu, Estonia 5 Bulls on Parade Pamplona, Spain 1999–2000 6 An der Schönen, Blauen Donau Budapest, Hungary 7 China Girl Taiyuan, China 8 A Hard Day's Night Anzali, Iran Key Highlights for Readers
Opening Insights: Reviewers note practical lessons in the Ruy Lopez (Exchange Variation) and Sicilian Defense, though Short specifically warns against playing the French Rubinstein or Stonewall Dutch despite featuring them.
Psychological Depth: The book emphasizes the "drama" and "survival play" required to maintain form throughout a multi-round event.
Authentic Voice: Readers and reviewers from Forward Chess and The Spectator highlight his "funny, quirky, and provocative" writing style.
You can find the official excerpt and full table of contents in the Winning PDF preview provided by New In Chess. Winning by Nigel Short - Book review Summarize the book "Winning" by Nigel Short (key
by Grandmaster Nigel Short is a 416-page chess memoir and instructional book published by Quality Chess in 2021. It focuses on the narrative and practical reality of winning eight significant tournaments throughout Short's career, rather than just presenting a collection of "best games". Core Content and Structure
The book is divided into eight chapters, each named after a song title and dedicated to a specific tournament victory between 1987 and 2016: Wijk aan Zee 1987: "My Lucky Number 1" Reykjavik 1987: "Don't Stop Me Now" Amsterdam 1991: "We Are The Champions" Tallinn/Parnu 1998: "Happy" Pamplona 1999–2000: "Bulls on Parade" Budapest 2003: "An der Schönen, Blauen Donau" Taiyuan 2004: "China Girl" Anzali 2016: "A Hard Day's Night"
Short annotates every game from these events—including draws and losses—to illustrate how a player must navigate varying form and psychological challenges to ultimately finish first. Key Features and Style
Witty Narrative: Reviewers on Amazon describe the writing style as "sitting in a pub with Nigel," characterized by self-deprecating humor and blunt anecdotes about opponents and tournament organizers.
Practical Wisdom: Beyond moves, Short offers advice on analyzing your own games, studying endgames, and maintaining the "killer instinct" needed for tournament success. Which would you like
Technical Focus: Readers often gain specific insights into the French Defense and strategies for attacking the Sicilian as White. Critical Reception Winning by Nigel Short - Book review
You cannot discuss Winning without the shadow of Kasparov. Short includes analysis from their match, and he is brutally honest. He shows you where he froze. He shows you where he second-guessed his instincts.
But he also shows you where he won. In Game 6 of the 1993 match, Short unleashed a king march that shocked the world. He didn't play "correct" chess; he played winning chess. He saw that Kasparov was a master of preparation, so Short threw him into the jungle.
The lesson? Preparation beats talent, but chaos beats preparation.
Nigel Short vs. Jan Timman (Wijk aan Zee, 1992) This is perhaps the most famous game demonstrating this style. While it started as a Scheveningen, the themes are identical.
Lesson: Activity beats material. Do not be afraid to sacrifice a pawn or a piece if it opens a file toward the enemy King.