This week (Thurs., 29 January), joining NM Dan Heisman on Ask the Renaissance Man is author, tournament director and President of the Marshall Chess Club, Frank Brady.

Frank was the Founding Editor of Chess Life magazine and is famed for writing Profile of a Prodigy, the biography of Bobby Fischer - the film rights to which he sold to HBO, who are currently in-filming with Brady as consultant to the movie.

Apart from his passion for chess, Frank Brady is the Chairman of the Department of Mass Communications, Journalism, Television and Film at St. John's University, New York.

Petrosian System Against the QID, The - Beliavsky & Mikhalchishin

The Petrosian System Against the QID deals with a reliable and interesting system which has been played by most of the world's elite, starting with ex-world champion Tigran Petrosian. The authors' own practical experiences show that they feel comfortably in the Petrosian system with any colour. They are especially effective with White and have not allowed a single loss in 27 years. This book will be interesting to a wide range of players who enter the QID positions as White or Black.

Soft cover, 168 pages.

Price: $29.95 -   Buy now!

School of Future Champions 4: Secrets of Positional Play - Dvoretsky and Yusupov

The main theme of Volume four is "prophylaxis", a concept first expounded by Nimzowitsch and one which has been brilliantly developed by Mark Dvoretsky and his pupils. The art of positional play is explained in terms of planning, manoeuvring, the study of typical positions, and deep strategy in grandmaster games.

Soft cover, 240 pages.

Price: $34.95 -   Buy now!

Kasparov: How His Predecessors Misled Him About Chess - Karolyi and Aplin

In his bestselling series My Great Predecessors, Garry Kasparov deeply analysed the styles of the twelve previous world champions and praised their important contributions to chess. But in this book - a humorous, affectionate tribute - you will see Kasparov as you have never seen him before. Seperating fact from fiction will be quite a challenge for the reader in this unique double collection of over 130 instructively annotated games won by the champion of yesteryear but lost by the greatest player of the modern era.

Soft cover, 271 pages.

Price: $22.95 -   Buy now!

Black Lion, The - van Rekom & Jansen

More than 85% of all chess games start with either 1.e4 or 1.d4. The Black Lion presents a flexible, logical and sensible way for Black to meet both of these moves. This robust, multipurpose opening system looks quiet, like a sleeping lion - hence the name. But when this predator is provoked, and the game heats up, Black eats his prey in an extremely swift and efficient way. The opening moves are easy to learn, Black has a good choice of middlegame plans, the positions are fresh and interesting, and White will often struggle to counter Black's ideas.

Soft cover, 280 pages.

Price: $27.95 -   Buy now!