Zeitenwende im Schach

This Chess Turning Point is a German-language hardcover chess book about the shift AlphaZero brought to modern chess, from opening play and initiative to attack and long-term sacrifices.

What this book covers

AlphaZero needed only a few hours of self-learning before it became a system that shook the chess world. Given only the rules of the game, the artificial intelligence went on to defeat the world’s leading chess engine in a long match. The ten-game selection published in December 2017 drew huge attention, not only for the result but for the way AlphaZero played: bold, creative, risky and undefeated.

For Chess Turning Point, Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan analysed more than two thousand previously unpublished AlphaZero games. They also had exceptional access to the DeepMind research team, which allowed them to look behind the scenes and present the depth and range of the system’s move search more clearly.

What you will find inside

This book combines AI analysis with practical value for chess players. It brings together carefully explained games that will be useful to both tournament players and ambitious club players. The authors highlight AlphaZero’s discoveries in key areas of the game, including:

• opening preparation,
• piece mobility,
• initiative,
• attacking technique,
• long-term sacrifices,
• a fresh view of position evaluation.

That makes it more than a record of a headline-making AI project. It is also a book that can broaden your chess thinking and deepen your understanding of modern game dynamics.

Authors and edition

The book is written by grandmaster Matthew Sadler, a two-time British champion who won a gold medal for the best individual score at the 1996 Chess Olympiad. His co-author is Natasha Regan, an English women’s international master and a mathematics graduate of the University of Cambridge.

This is a strong choice for readers interested in modern chess theory, game analysis and the impact of artificial intelligence on the game, both in practical play and in broader ideas about chess.

Key details

• Product type: German-language hardcover chess book
• Subject: AlphaZero and its impact on chess
• Authors: Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan
• Language: German
• Binding: hardcover
• Page count: 416