"World Champion Openings" by Eric Schiller, 1997
Cardoza Publishing, English Algebraic Notation, Softcover,
373pp., $16.95

"Learn the essential opening theory and moves of every
major chess opening and variation as played by all the
World Champions - and how to apply them to your own
winning approach! Schiller analyzes and annotates an
astounding 100 crucial openings by the champions in full
conceptual detail!" And so it is proclaimed on the back
cover of American master and author Eric Schiller's recently
released book "World Champion Openings." Well, ever hear
the one about not being able to tell a book by its cover?
Have a seat...

The book attempts to present an overview of most major
opening systems as the same have been employed by the
world champions. We are told on the front and back covers
that the author is "...the world's leading authority on chess
openings!" We are told this THREE times, no doubt so that
we do not forget! Of course, what this preposterous claim is
based on is never revealed. Experienced players will howl if
they read that claim, but unfortunately inexperienced players
or beginners may in fact be misled but such nonsense.

What we really have here is a look at major opening systems
that can only be politely described as "fluff." No real
substance. This combines with weak historical sections,
typographical errors, sub-standard production and the
author's ego-centric mercenary approach to produce a truly
regrettable book. And it is not even written well. Of course,
if one is going to criticize, it is only fair to cite chapter and
verse. Voila:

The historical sections are terribly inadequate. Anyone who
knows anything about the history of the game will realize
that only minimal information is presented. And sometimes
not well at all. For example, the reader is told that Fischer
forfeited his title in 1974. Of course, the rest of the world
recorded his loss of the title in 1975. The author believes it
important that the reader is informed that the current world
champion, Garry Kasparov, is of Armenian and Jewish
heritage. Why is this important? We are not told that
Steinitz, Lasker or Botvinnik were Jewish. Fischer's mother,
like Kasparov's father, was Jewish. We are not so informed.
Why is Kasparov's religious heritage relevant?

The section entitled "The History of the Champions" should,
more correctly, be titled "The History of the World
Championship." We are told that Steinitz held his own in
championship matches, but that "...in 1892 he ran into
Lasker." Hopefully he did not hurt himself running into
Emanuel, as their first world championship match wherein
Lasker won the title, was two years later, in 1894. Kasparov
is referred to as "the youngest champion..." What of course
is really meant is that he was the youngest player to become
champion when he won the title in 1985.

Typographical errors abound. On page 50, we have the game
Unzicker-Tal, Hamburg, 1996 presented. This must have
been a difficult game for Misha to play; he had been dead
four years. Mysterious commas and periods appear mid-
sentence to confuse and perplex (e.g., page 13, second
paragraph).

Graphs are occasionally used to underscore statistics or
demonstrate trends. The keys to the graphs are
incomprehensible and the significance mystifying. And take
a look at two of the introductory paragraphs to one of the
graph presentations. From page 38...

"Let's look at the preferences of our World Champions.
Most have had a strong preference for either 1 e4 or 1 d4,
though a few have a more balanced view. Some like to use a
flank strategy but vary the initial move between 1 d4, 1 c4,
and 1 Nf3, often reaching similar positions as play develops.

"Even in these cases, however, no champion has used moves
other than 1 e4 and 1 d4 for more than about a quarter of
their games."

Read these paragraphs carefully. Now cover the paragraph
and describe, in your own words, what the author has just
explained. A passing grade is made by anyone who can
figure out what is going on. While you are at it, think about 
the accuracy of the second, one-sentence paragraph...

We are told on page 46 that "the Vienna Game [is] a rather
stodgy approach..." while on page 95, that "it has seen many
swashbuckling adventures." Hmm, reminds you of that
famous 17th century pirate Captain Bluebored. The Philidor Defense
"can lead to exciting positions with castling on opposite
wings," (page 47) but 44 pages later we learn that "Black
locks in the bishop at f8 and remains with a somewhat
cramped game." Ah yes, cramped excitement. Readers will
also be interested to know that "the Italian Game is effective
against weaker opposition..." Well, enough of this.

Perhaps the most shameful act is the author's unabashed
plugging of his own books throughout the text. Want to know
more about the Schliemann Variation of the Spanish? Page
64: "[The Schliemann] is the subject of several monographs
by the author, working with Grandmaster Leonid
Shamkovich." Schiller's book on the Albin Countergambit is
mentioned by the author on page 335, his book "How to
Play the Winawer Countergambit" on page 209, even his
forthcoming book, "Standard Chess Openings," on page 287.
In the chapter (chapter? Yes, if you consider about two-
thirds of one page a chapter) "Becoming a Better Chess
Player" the student is referred to two books by Schiller.
What a surprise.

Schiller is a talented master and has a lot to offer the
chessplaying public. He should be capable of producing, if
not masterpieces, at least reasonably decent books that do
not smack of intellectual sleight of hand. It is difficult to
understand how a manuscript such as this one sees the light
of day.