You Just Saved 175 Bucks

I just completed going through month 7.

Interestingly almost all of the positions are from Winning Pawn Structures by A. Baburin. The book is out of print and I see that used copies on Amazon.com are starting at $175. (I got my copy long ago).

Even though most of the games and positions are from the book ICS does a great job of providing general guidance in how to handle the positons that is often not highlighted by Baburin. On the other hand, Baburin includes important defenses that are not addressed by ICS.

ICS identifies the book on their recommended reading list, so I guess they did cite it as a reference, and certainly their analysis although it mirrors Baburin's is more instructive in most cases.

Anyway, while you're snooping around in those used book stores you might want to look for it - you may profit in more ways than one!

I had this problem as well looking for a copy of Winning Pawn Structures, going for £100 on UK's Amazon. I'm not sure what the rules are on this site, but lets say hypothetically that there were online copies of this book that could be downloaded for free. Seing that this book is out of print would you guys think it would be ok to share a copy of this book online for free?

I don't want to be encouraging infringing copyright of any kind here, so if the book is still under copyright, let's not post links to free copies here please.

Also, just because the positions are in the book doesn't mean the same content is in there. It would be interesting for someone to compare a particular position, what it says in the course versus the book, and just how much overlap there is in the positions as well. The book tends to focus almost obsessively on isolated pawns, and the course is not organized that way is it?

Blue Devil Knight wrote:
Also, just because the positions are in the book doesn't mean the same content is in there. It would be interesting for someone to compare a particular position, what it says in the course versus the book, and just how much overlap there is in the positions as well. The book tends to focus almost obsessively on isolated pawns, and the course is not organized that way is it?

I totally agree with you that authors need some protections. Chess authors in particular are not well compensated for their work, and authors who put out quality work like Baburin's deserve the protections. I'd hate to see chess book prices go the way of student textbooks here in the U.S. - it sinful the prices.

In some cases Baburin includes more of the games and of course dozens of more games on the themes, but the ICS selected positions in the games are identical. The comments are different, there is definitely value in looking at the comments by the different commentators - a practice that Dvoretsky recommends and makes a living selling. ICS comments are generally better in explaining why certain maneuvers work, and in explaining situations where they don't work.

The content of Baburin only addresses the IQP, IPC, and Hanging pawns, although he talks about a follow on book I'm not aware that he is making any effort to complete a second volume - he should!

Can you provide the link for the suggested supplemental reading?

chesskang wrote:Can you provide the link for the suggested supplemental reading?

There is a list posted here on the forum. StarBurn posted this link:

http://www.chessarea.com/chess-instructions/

Gracias!