This book is the third in a series that represents testing and evaluation of human and computer chessplayers for over 30 years. The original work started with the Bratko-Kopec Test in 1982 whereby 24 positions proved very effective in evaluating the leave of both human and computer chessplayers. This led to the development of five tests which comprised the 1997 first edition of this book. For the 2003 edition Kopec and Terrie added two tests bringing them to a total of 182 positions comprising seven tests. These tests are particularly knowledge-based covering all phases and all levels of chess play. The present edition, our third, adds five new tests, covering the openings including Novice (1000-1499) Intermediate (1500-1999), Advanced (2000-2199) and Super-Advance (2200 - 2700). A test covering the subtleties of King and Pawn Endings has also been added. The new 2013 edition also has the all the tests re-ordered by level of difficulty. All in all, there are 304 positions in this new comprehensive edition. The book promises to be an excellent tool for self-study and for study of chess in classes. It is an invaluable tool for instructors.

This book is aimed at the player who wants to improve his or her understanding of the most important middlegame concepts. It starts (Chapter 1) with mating patterns, tactics and combinations. Chapter 2 covers all the important themes related to Pawn Structure play. Chapter 3 moves to an unusual and important theme -- how and when are the conditions ripe to attack the opposing king? What conditions are destined to lead to success, and which will result in failure. Overall the book covers the the topics often deemed the most important for success in the middlegame in chess. Numerous unusual, original examples. Beautiful tactical examples and themes. Examples from Fischer, Spassky, Tal, Kasparov, and many other great players, as well Dr. Kopec himself. All important tactical themes are illustrated in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 covers very important themes related to pawn structures, including good structures, bad structures, and pawn structure methods. Finally, Chapter 3 covers important themes from real play illustrating how and when the conditions suggest that an attack on the King is appropriate. Practical Middlegame Techniques also covers (in Chapters 1 and 2) the material in two of Dr. Kopec's most popular DVD's: "How to Visualize Combinations" and "Pawn Structures and How to Play Them." Chapter 3 is entirely original material. It includes two spectacular postal games by Dr. Kopec spanning two years each and including two and three piece sacrificies. It also includes a spectacular win by Gary Kasparov over Boris Gelfand.

Quite simply put - the Sicilian Defense is the most popular and most complex of opening systems in chess. It has been the favorite of top players throughout modern times. There are a number of systems and variations to choose from such as the Scheveningen, Dragon, Najdorf, Boleslavsky, Kan, etc. There are also a number of sharp, complex, theoretical systems and that is why it is aptly named "The Sicilian Jungle." IM Dr. Danny Kopec's addresses the problem of trying to simplify the complexities of the Sicilian Defense from the perspective of STRUCTURE - that is, sound structures for Black, particularly for the endgame. Dr. Kopec uses a unique method which he calls "Mastery Lessons" to guide the learner towards pawn structures and piece configurations which have been demonstrated to lead to success in certain Sicilian variations. This approach, developing "heuristic packets," helped to achieve master level play in his work with computer chess programs.