A Truly Unique Chess Book The chess triumphs of the Polgar sisters are legendary. Now, in this very special book, Sofia Polgar tells her own exceptional story: from her development as a prodigy and remarkable tournament successes to her eventually settling down, with chess occupying a lesser role as she raised a family. Sofia presents many of her games, each with her own brand of fireworks. Clear, straightforward annotations allow the reader to appreciate her accomplishments on the board, while away from the board, her many personal memoirs complete the picture. There are many photographs, many of which haver never been previously published. They nicely complement the chronicle of both her meteoric rise in the chess world and her loving family who encouraged her at every turn. What is not generally known is that Sofia Polgar is also a gifted artist – a talented painter. Dozens of examples of her brilliant creativity on canvas are featured throughout this large format book. These paintings are presented in full color and on special matte paper to enhance the reader’s viewing enjoyment. From Susan Polgar’s Foreword: "You are invited to enjoy the experience of the wonderful legacy of Sofia’s amazing chess career and art." From Judit Polgar’s Foreword: "I wish the readers a pleasant journey on this artistic excursion that provides great chess lessons while also offering nourishment for the soul." Sofia Polgar: Amazing Artist – Dangerous Tactician is part autobiography, part art gallery and part tactical textbook, but above all it is a very special, unique look at the life and games of an artist both on and off the board. Sofia Polgar is a Hungarian/Israeli chessplayer and a gifted artist. An International Master, she was a chess prodigy as a young girl; she is the middle sister of the three famous Polgar sisters. She has played for Hungary in four Chess Olympiads, winning two team gold medals, three individual gold medals, one team silver, and one individual bronze medal. This is her first book for Russell Enterprises. Let us see a few more games in the Sicilian against my Icelandic opponents. Sofia Polgar ― Ralf Akesson Reykjavik 1988 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Qg4 Nf6 9.Qg3 d6 10.Nc3 b5 11.a3 0-0 12.Bg5 Ne5 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.Kh1 Ng6 15.Be2 h6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.f4 Bb8 18.Nd4 Ne7 19.Nf3 Nc6 20.Bd3 Bbl 21.Rde1 b4 22.Nd1 bxa3 23.bxa3 Nd4 24.Ne3 Nxf3 25.Rxf3 Qc3? 26.Rb1 Bc6 27.Ng4 h5 [diagram] Black's last move attacks the knight, so the question is where to go with it, right? It is tempting to give a check with 28.Nh6+ because of the pinned pawn on the g-file, but after 28...Kh8, the knight seems to be trapped. If White then tries to continue to attack with 29.Qg5, 29...Qf6! forces the exchange of queens. After the exchange, White is in real trouble without an escape route for the knight. So rather than going anywhere with the knight, I chose another way. 28.e5! Rather than retreating the knight, I put also my rook en prise, but at the same time the pawn move opens the diagonal for the white bishop and prepares for tricks on the third rank. If Black takes the knight, 28...hxg4?, then 29.Bh7+! with a discovered attack ― 29...Kxh7 30.Rxc3 and the queen is lost. 28...Bxf3 29.Nf6+ The knight cannot be taken due to the pin. 29...Kh8 30.Qxf3 Forking the rook and the h5-pawn; the pawn has to be protected otherwise it is mate. Capturing the knight leads to mate in two moves: 30...gxf6 31.Qxh5+ Kg7 32.Qh7# mate. 30...g6 31.Qxa8 dxe5 White is a knight up. Black tries some back rank tricks offering me the bishop, but that naturally does not work. 32.Rxb8?? taking the bishop would be huge blunder: 32...Qe1+ with mate on the first rank. 32.Nd7 Rc8 33.Nxb8 1-0 Capturing the bishop with the knight is safe now and White is two pieces up, so Black resigned. [Painting: Witchcraft, Acrylic on canvas 2005] In the next game I am playing the Sicilian as Black and it is a good example of the powers of the bishop pair and why moving the pawns in front of the king can be very irresponsible. Snorri Bergsson – Sofia Polgar Reykjavik 1988 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Bd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 Ne5 10.b3 a6 11.h3 Qc7 12.Nce2 0-0 13.g4 h6 14.a4 d5 15.f4 Ng6 16.e5 Ne4 17.c4 Rfd8 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2 Bc5 20.Qxe4 Bc6! If 21.Nxc6, then 21...Qxc6 22.Qxc6 Bxe3+! An intermediate move with check, winning a bishop. 21.Qc2 [diagram] 21...Nxe5! This knight sacrifice enables the black queen to join the party on the diagonals.