Zlotnik's Middlegame Manual
Zlotnik’s Middlegame Manual can open our eyes to the typical structures and manoeuvres and give us a blueprint to follow in order to improve our chess understanding.
Boris Zlotnik is a prominent figure in the global chess scene, recognized as both an aeronautical engineer by profession and a chess player and coach by passion, talent, and vocation. His notable achievements include winning the Soviet Youth Chess Championship in 1963 at the age of 17 and attaining the title of Master of Sports of the USSR a year later. Zlotnik’s pivotal moment came with an invitation to the newly established ‘Young Talents Chess School of the USSR’ following his victory in the 1963 championship.
In the mid-1960s, Soviet leaders identified a shortage of young chess talents, prompted by a generational gap created by World War II. The establishment of the ‘Young Talents Chess School of the USSR’ aimed to address this gap. Zlotnik, along with other notable players, became a student at this school. The authorities, recognizing the importance of nurturing young talents, sought the expertise of former World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik in creating the school.
Boris Zlotnik’s chess journey continued beyond his education at the school. After completing his university studies, he embarked on a career as a chess professor. In 1985, he became the head of the Chess Department at the Central Institute of Physical Education (INEF) in Moscow, earning his doctoral degree with a thesis titled “Diagnosis of the Mastery of a Chess Player.” Zlotnik emphasized that chess talent is reflected in the speed of progress, measured in ELO points, and he played a crucial role in the development of notable chess players like Vladimir Kramnik, Evgeny Bareev, Peter Svidler, and Alexei Dreiev. His contributions extend to teaching at Vasily Smyslov’s Chess School and Garry Kasparov’s Chess School, where he served as a chess coach for future chess stars.
Boris Zlotnik’s journey as a chess coach in Spain began against the backdrop of significant economic changes in the Soviet Union. In 1985, the ‘Perestroika’ initiative aimed at restructuring the Soviet economic system was introduced. However, the promises of benefits for citizens ultimately led to a drastic reduction in salaries and a substantial decline in the standard of living following the liberalization of prices in 1992. Responding to this economic climate, Zlotnik made the decision to emigrate from his homeland in 1992, establishing himself in Spain, initially in Ferrol (La Coruña).
In 1993, he assumed the role of Technical Director at the UNED Chess School, overseeing summer chess courses. During the mid-90s, Zlotnik began working with promising Spanish chess talents, becoming the coach of the Spanish youth chess team. Throughout the decade, he coached notable players such as eight-time Spanish champion GM Miguel Illescas, the first Spanish player to break into the top 50 globally. Additionally, in 1996, he trained 9-year-old Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez, who would go on to become a seven-time Spanish champion.
From the fall of 2004 to the spring of 2007, Zlotnik served as the chess coach for GM Fabiano Caruana, who was 12 years old at the time. Under Zlotnik’s intensive training, Caruana’s FIDE rating rose from 2196 to 2513 during that period. Notably, Zlotnik also coached Inés Prado, a player from Ferrol, who quickly rose to prominence as the first female player to win the 2017 Galician Chess Championship.
Zlotnik's Middlegame Manual: Typical Positions and Strategic Manoeuvres
In late 2020, the highly regarded chess coach and educator released an updated version of the renowned book “Zlotnik’s Middlegame Manual: Typical Structures and Strategic Manoeuvres”, published by New in Chess.
In the foreword, Zlotnik’s own pupil, Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, describes the book as an exhaustive study focusing on three crucial pawn structures and three recurring motifs found in many essential openings crucial to the middle game of modern chess.
The book is organized into three distinct sections: the first part delves into typical middle game structures such as the Isolated Queen’s Pawn, the Carlsbad Structure, and Symmetrical Pawn Structures. The second section addresses various typical middle game methods, including Restricted Mobility in the King’s Indian Defense, the question of exchanging the fianchettoed bishop, and the d5 square in the Sicilian Defense.
Finally, the third part includes a collection of exercises related to the book’s themes along with their solutions. This comprehensive manual serves as a valuable resource for chess enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of middle game structures and strategic maneuvers.
Zlotnik’s Middlegame Manual is an immensely didactic book where each theme is analyzed rigorously and profoundly, supported by evaluations from computer analysis modules and the author’s conclusions. An indispensable addition to the library of any serious chess player.
Hello, chess enthusiasts! I’m Evelyn, a passionate chess player. As a female player, I embrace the challenges, turning them into opportunities for growth and empowerment. My chessboard becomes a canvas for creativity and determination. Join me in celebrating the beauty of chess, where every move tells a story, and every game is an opportunity to inspire and be inspired.