The best, the worst, the shortest, the oddest, the longest, the most deceitful, the most memorable, the most brilliant, the dumbest—of players, games, matches, tournaments, books, ideas, etc.

The lists are replete with background details, fascitnating games and positions, and curious facts- an essential part of any chess collection.

The new edition contains 25 percent more lists, games, diagrams and annotations. The majority of lists from the first edition have been updated or expanded—or both.

Grandmaster Andy Soltis is the author of dozens of chess books, including The 100 Best Chess Games of the 20th Century, Ranked, Soviet Chess 1917–1991 (2000 Historical Book of the Year—United States Chess Federation), The United States Chess Championship,  and Frank Marshall (1994 British Chess Federation Book of the Year).

Eight-time champion of the world-famous Marshall Chess Club, he is an editor and journalist at the New York Post and a columnist for Chess Life. He lives in New York City.

Chess Life:
“Just the right combination of fascination and brio”

San Francisco Chronicle:
“a real browser’s delight”

Washington Times:
“The best chess writer on the American scene...opulent”

British Chess Magazine:
“enjoyable”

Boston Herald:
“A wonderfully readable book...fascinating”