If Chess Were Love: An AnalogyInstead of telling you just what it is that Karpov and Podgaets are saying about the Panov attack, which I fear is of limited interest, let me try and explain it in emotional terms. I used to play chess competitively at international level, and opening theory was very important. I'd spend a lot of time reading up on what the top players were doing, researching new moves, discussing them with my friends, and so on. The Panov Attack was an opening I played regularly. Now, I can buy this book, and get hard answers to many questions which I cared deeply about in the 70s. It's fascinating. The only problem is, there's just too much information.
Analogy time! Let's pretend that I had a similar experience in everyday life. I'm asleep one night and I'm granted a direct audience with one of God's angels. Here's me talking to Gabriel:
- Okay Manny, now I know you've wondered many times what would have happened if you'd kissed Sara at that party?
- Uh, yeah.
The rest of this review is in my book What Pooh Might Have Said to Dante and Other Futile Speculations