The Science of Strategy by Alexander Kotov (hardcover)

The Science of Strategy by Alexander Kotov is an English-language hardcover chess book that gets straight to the heart of strategic play: understanding a position, reading the pawn structure and building a plan instead of searching for a single move.

What the book covers

Kotov takes a methodical approach to strategy, breaking it into clear, manageable ideas. He begins with the role of the pawns and then moves through the key strategic themes that shape positional play. The result is a practical guide to evaluating a position more confidently and turning that evaluation into a plan.

This is not a book built mainly around long variations. Kotov explains the ideas mostly in words, supported by annotated positional games, so it is easier to see both the point of each move and its place in the wider plan. The examples include games associated with names such as Alechin, Botwinnik and Karpow.

Why it belongs on the shelf

If you want to move beyond the question of what to play and get better at asking why, this book offers a clear route forward. It is aimed at players who want to strengthen their strategic thinking, understand pawn structure more deeply and plan more consciously in the middlegame.

The author is Alexander Kotov, and the book is also known for his wider chess writing, including Think Like a Grandmaster.

Key details

• Product type: hardcover chess book
• Author: Alexander Kotov
• Language: English
• Pages: 240
• Publication date: 3 April 2019
• ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-78483-080-9
• ISBN (paperback): 978-1-78483-079-3
• Included: chess diagrams