Sylvester wrote on 02/03/12 at 00:24:16:


The publisher still has it for sure, it was reprinted about 2 years ago: http://www.kaniaverlag.de/htm/englisheditions.html

[quote author=083D3016393F3435325C0 link=1314509637/8#8 date=1314610243]
On the feedback for the FKG, the reader reviews at amazon is rather typical, some love it for the content and some find the layout too unreadable - rightly so, as I did try to squeeze in way too much information in some chapters. Occasionally, I consider making a more readable version but it would simply be too much work.[/quote]

I can't remember if I wrote this here before, but the biggest problem I had with the book is that every time I looked at it I found another transposition that had been missed with a different evaluation and analysis in each place.  Again a function of trying to squeeze _everything_ in.  More generally I felt that there was just too much detail.

[quote author=627F63637971100 link=1314509637/0#0 date=1314509637]Many thought that's easy to write a decent King's Gambit book, but everybody who dared to write one quickly noticed the hard and dark side on writing such project.

I shall mentioned project "King's Gambit Unsencored" by Tait which was discarded by Everyman. Why?

The second one is "The King's Gambit" by John Shaw (http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/124/the_kings_gambit_by_john_shaw/) which was deleyed for several times and for several years, and even now it's not certain if this book gonna see a daylight...

Till present day the best book seems written by Thomas Johansson "The Fascinating King’s Gambit" which deals unfortunately/happily with Fischer's Bc4 line.

Thomas, can you share with us how did you fare with your book regarding sales, feedback, level of analysis and how do you see King's Gambit today? Shall you write another book?[/quote]

Well. it's flattering to see the FKG challenge Gallagher's book in the poll, but the poll as such is rather meaningless as it includes two books that are not even published yet. 

Btw, Shaw's book was originally to be written by Jan Pinski - on amazon it's actually [i]still [/i]in that name although nowadays the cover clearly says John Shaw.

I agree that one of Keres' Sportverlag books on the KG should definitely be included. 


On the feedback for the FKG, the reader reviews at amazon is rather typical, some love it for the content and some find the layout too unreadable - rightly so, as I did try to squeeze in way too much information in some chapters. Occasionally, I consider making a more readable version but it would simply be too much work.

I don't see myself writing a third KG-book, as I face 1...e5 so seldom that I've actually taken up 1.c4 recently - since [i]everyone [/i]plays the Sicilian, why not beat them to it? ;) 

First thought: the founding fathers Keres/1952 and Euwe/1966 are missing from the list.

Tough choice between Gallagher and Johansson. 
I understand the pool as the best book when it was published, and not the best book judged on the basis of today's theoretical knowledge.
Gallagher's book was a landmark book that contained everything to make a memorable book: very clear explanations, many new ideas and original analysis. 
Johansson's book was excellent as well. 
On the whole, I think my vote goes to Gallagher for his very clear explanations.

The worst book I think I agree that Kalinichenko is a good choice, with N.McDonald  (not mentioned) in a worthy second place.

How can we possibly vote for a book that hasn't been published?

Or, put another way, how can we possibly vote against such a book. An idealised book will always be better than one that has known flaws. 

Or perhaps, a la Borges, we could all write reviews of books that haven't been published.

Comparing old books with unpublished ones is a strange idea. And I am not sure those mentioned are the best of the old. 

However, if you include the unpublished QC book, you should in fairness include EC's book by Taylor too: http://www.everymanchess.com/chess/books/Attacking_Chess%3A_The_King%27s_Gambit.

Many thought that's easy to write a decent King's Gambit book, but everybody who dared to write one quickly noticed the hard and dark side on writing such project.

I shall mentioned project "King's Gambit Unsencored" by Tait which was discarded by Everyman. Why?

The second one is "The King's Gambit" by John Shaw (http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/124/the_kings_gambit_by_john_shaw/) which was deleyed for several times and for several years, and even now it's not certain if this book gonna see a daylight...

Till present day the best book seems written by Thomas Johansson "The Fascinating King’s Gambit" which deals unfortunately/happily with Fischer's Bc4 line.

Thomas, can you share with us how did you fare with your book regarding sales, feedback, level of analysis and how do you see King's Gambit today? Shall you write another book?