This page is for all works published in Ireland or by Irish authors: books, journals, columns, articles, and DVDs. There are quite a few of these so the list will be built up gradually (give the scale of the task, possibly very gradually!).
This main page will be reserved for books in print. Other pages: Books | DVDs | Magazines | Columns.
Eminent Victorian Chess Players
Tim Harding
61 photos, diagrams, appendices, notes, bibliography, indexes
406pp, softcover (7 x 10), McFarland 2012. Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-6568-2. Ebook ISBN: 978-1-4766-0143-4.
This book portrays British chess life in the nineteenth century through biographical studies of ten players who shaped the modern game. From Captain Evans, inventor of the famous gambit, to Isidor Gunsberg, England’s first challenger for the world championship, personal narratives are blended with game annotations to reassess players’ achievements and character … (From publisher’s summary.)
Reviews: John Donaldson | John Elburg | Adrian Harvey (Kingpin) | Carl Portman | John D. Warth | John Watson (The Week in Chess) | Bab H. Wilder.
Ordering information: Amazon | Chesscafe.com | McFarland
Correspondence Chess in Great Britain and Ireland, 1824-1987
Tim Harding
53 photos, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, indexes
439pp, softcover (7 x 10), McFarland 2011. ISBN:Â 978-0-7864-4553-0.
Exploring a bygone aspect of intellectual sport, this book details the history of British and Irish correspondence chess from the first formal match between Edinburgh and London in 1824 well into the 1980s, the most successful period in British correspondence chess … (From publisher’s summary.)
Shortlisted for the ECF Book of the Year award.
Collected reviews are available on the Chess Mail web site.
Ordering information: Amazon | Chesscafe.com | McFarland
Ficheall
Úna O’Boyle
148pp, softcover, Brunswick Press Ireland 2010. ISBN: 978-0-9567-2830-2.
Is à Úna O’Boyle an chéad duine riamh a chuir peann ar phár sa Ghaeilge mar gheall ar an gcluiche cláir is cáiliúla agus is casta ar domhan, an fhicheall … [Úna O’Boyle is the first person ever to put pen to paper in Irish about the most famous board game in the world, chess …] (From publisher’s summary.)
Shortlisted for Irish Language Children’s Book of the Year 2011 (Gradam Réics Carló).
Ordering information: LitrÃocht.com | Siopa.ie
The Complete Games of Bobby Fischer
Robert G. Wade and Kevin J. O’Connell
484 pp, softcover, Ishi Press 2009 (April 30). ISBN: 978-0-9238-9137-4. Descriptive notation. Previously printed by Henry Holt & Co. 1992 (462pp, softcover), ISBN: 978-0-8050-2623-8.
This unique, definitive record of Fischer’s amazing career includes: Every traceable serious game that Fischer played from 1955 to 1977; Numerous game annotations; A complete record of Fischer’s tournaments and matches; Special articles by Grandmasters Keres and Bisguier, former British champions Golombek and Barden, and openings expert Blackstock … (From publisher’s summary.)
Ordering information: Amazon
Chess Explained: The c3 Sicilian
Sam Collins
111pp, softcover (6.8 x 9.8), Gambit Publications 2007. ISBN: 978-1-9046-0071-8.
The c3 Sicilian is one of White’s most popular and poisonous ways to avoid the main lines of the Sicilian. With the forcing line 1 e4 c5 2 c3, White denies his opponent the chance to demonstrate his preparation in some chaotic system; instead Black will have to fight carefully for equality in a more rational position of White’s choosing … (From publisher’s summary.)
Reviews: Carsten Hansen | John Watson
Ordering information: Amazon | ChessCafe.com
The French Advance (2nd ed.)
Sam Collins
176pp, softcover (6.1 x 9.2), Everyman Chess 2006 (31 May). ISBN: 978-1-8574-4391-2.
The Advance Variation is a popular and direct way of meeting the ultra-solid French Defence. Very early on in the game White opts to fix the pawn structure and establishes a genuine space advantage, upon which he later hopes to mount a serious attack. … In this book, opening expert Sam Collins explains the strategies and tactics of this dynamic opening, studying both the main lines as well as the more offbeat variations. (From publisher’s summary.)
Reviews: Glenn Flear, New in Chess Yearbook 80 (2006) pp. 242-3 | Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe
Ordering information: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com
Understanding the Chess Openings
Sam Collins
224pp, softcover (6.8 x 9.8), Gambit Publications 2005 (August 30). ISBN: 978-1-9046-0028-2.
This major new work surveys all chess openings, providing a guide to every critical main line and featuring descriptions of the typical strategies for both sides. … Covers all chess openings, with verbal explanations of the ideas. This is the first book of the modern era to do this. (From publisher’s summary.)
Reviews: Carsten Hansen
Ordering information: Amazon | Chesscafe.com
Last updated 8th January 2014.
Pingback: Bibliography | IRLchess
I would like bibliographical information (start and end dates and, perhaps, number of issues published) for these Irish magazines, please:
Chess in Ireland: I have Sept 1959 (no. 1?)
Ficheall, Irish Chess Magazine: I have May 1956 and April 1957
Irish Chess Journal: I have Feb 2007 and Sept 2007
Junior Chess Corner: I have June 2007.
I know there are other Irish magazines but I think I have their start and finish dates.
Ficheall, Irish Chess Magazine:
Probably originally planned as a quarterly magazine.
Vol 1 No 1 Jan-Feb-Mar 1955
Number 2 Apr-May-Jun 1955
Vol 1 No 3 October 1955
No 4 April 1956
No 5 May 1956
No 6 January 1957
No 7 April 1957
No 8 May-June 1957
No 9 May 1958
[Numbers 6,7 and 8 also had, as an insert, the three parts of the An Tostal 1956 Tournament Book]
As far as I am aware that is a complete listing.
Chess in Ireland:
Intended to be published three times a year.
September 1959
January 1960
April 1960
I think only these three issues were published.
Irish Chess Journal:
Feb 2007 and Sept 2007 were the first two numbers of the Irish Chess Journal to be published as an e-zine at the ICU website (and without publishing hard copies). The Irish Chess Journal as an ordinary print magazine started in 1987 and continued until 2006.
Junior Chess Corner:
Again e-zine only, published at the ICU website: June 2007 the only issue.
All these magazines were official publications of the Irish Chess Union.
A book that you should mention from 1970: ‘Lacking the Master Touch’ by Wolfgang Heidenfeld. This was a charming book by someone who was a strong force in the Irish chess world for many years; I was a fellow member of the Dublin Chess Club in the 1970’s, and was delighted to be board 1 (or 2?) on a ‘Heidenfeld Trophy’ winning team for the Dublin Chess Club; we got promoted to be the ‘Dublin B’ team in the Armstrong Cup competition next year, and I played Heidenfeld when Dublin A played against us.
Oisin, I think this is out of print? I have added it to the other books page. Certainly an excellent book.