My Brilliant Games by Gary Kasparov

📘 Book Overview

Title: My Brilliant Games
Author: Garry Kasparov
Publication Year: 1983 (original Russian edition), later translated and reissued.
Purpose: Kasparov’s first major autobiographical games collection, written when he was still a rising star in world chess. The book presents a curated selection of his early games (before becoming World Champion), highlighting his aggressive style, deep preparation, and the evolution of his chess philosophy.

♟️ Content Breakdown & Key Themes

The book is essentially a games collection with commentary. Kasparov annotates around 40 of his most important games from 1973 (as a junior) up to 1982, when he was already among the world’s top players.
Themes include:
- Opening preparation (especially Sicilian Najdorf, King’s Indian, and Grünfeld).
- Dynamic attacking chess – Kasparov’s trademark style.
- Transition from prodigy to contender – showing his growth against strong opponents.
- Psychological insights – Kasparov briefly comments on match atmosphere, his preparation methods, and mindset.
Notable games include victories against Karpov (precursors to their rivalry), Polugaevsky, and older legends like Smyslov.

🧠 Depth, Accuracy & Teaching Style

The annotations are enthusiastic but somewhat raw—Kasparov was still very young and less polished as an author compared to later works (My Great Predecessors, Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov).
The emphasis is more on showing brilliance than carefully guiding the student.
Strong tactical insights and flashes of originality are present, but not always systematically explained for lower-rated players.
Think of it as an early window into Kasparov’s chess brain rather than a didactic manual.

📊 Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

Exciting, high-energy games filled with creativity.
A historical snapshot of Kasparov before becoming world champion.
Offers psychological and strategic insights into his rise.
Very inspiring for ambitious players.

Weaknesses:

Limited didactic value compared to later Kasparov books.
Commentary can be dense for beginners and sometimes superficial compared to modern engines.
Doesn’t cover the later, more mature part of Kasparov’s career.

👥 Target Audience

Intermediate (1500+): Can enjoy the games as inspiration, though the lessons may not always be crystal-clear.
Advanced & Competitive players (1800–2400): The real audience—players who want to study Kasparov’s sharp opening play, attacking style, and practical decision-making.
Not ideal for beginners (<1200), as it lacks step-by-step instructional clarity.

🏆 Historical & Practical Significance

This was Kasparov’s first book, written before his world championship triumph. It’s a time capsule capturing the fire and ambition of a rising genius.
It foreshadows the later Kasparov works, like Test of Time (a more mature and instructive sequel).
Historically, it documents the arrival of a new era in chess—the transition from Karpov’s positional dominance to Kasparov’s dynamic style.

📌 Key Takeaways & Lessons

The Power of Preparation – Kasparov shows how deep opening knowledge (Najdorf, King’s Indian, Grünfeld) gives him an edge.
Dynamic Imbalance – He thrives in sharp, unbalanced positions.
Initiative as a Weapon – Kasparov consistently values activity and initiative over material.
Psychological Pressure – Attacking style is not only technical but also intimidating for opponents.
Youthful Energy – His games reflect boldness—sometimes risky, but often brilliant.
Learning through Struggle – Even his losses (or inferior positions) teach resilience and fighting spirit.
Transition Play – Masterful handling of the shift from opening to middlegame.
Model Games for the Sicilian & King’s Indian – Practical reference points for players of these openings.

📚 Study Plan

Beginner (0–1200):

Don’t study in depth; just play through a few annotated games to get inspired by Kasparov’s attacking style. Focus on identifying themes like open files, piece activity, and king safety.

Intermediate (1200–1800):

Go game by game, focusing on:
- Opening ideas (write down typical plans, not memorized moves).
- Key tactical moments (solve them without looking at notes first).
- Middlegame plans (ask: why did Kasparov choose attack over defense here?).

Advanced (1800+):

Study with a database/engine alongside the book.
Recreate Kasparov’s opening novelties and test them in online practice games.
Compare annotations with his later works (Test of Time and GK on GK Vol. I).
Pay attention to transition phases—how he moves from initiative to a winning endgame.

🔗 Recommended Next Steps

Kasparov’s Test of Time – a more mature, deeply instructive continuation.
Kasparov on Kasparov, Part I (1973–1985) – covers the same era but with modernized commentary.
My Great Predecessors series – broader chess history and Kasparov’s perspective on strategy.
For a more didactic early-games book: Fischer’s My 60 Memorable Games (better structured for instruction).

✅ Final Verdict

Clarity: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) – passionate but not systematic.
Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – rich in ideas, but annotations are uneven.
Usefulness for Improvement: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) – better as inspiration than structured training.
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – historically important and inspiring, especially for Sicilian/King’s Indian players.

Summary: My Brilliant Games is less of a textbook and more of a declaration of arrival—a young Garry Kasparov showing the chess world that a new king was coming. It’s best suited for motivated club players and above, and pairs beautifully with his later works for deeper study.