THE ART OF BISGUIER: Selected Games 1961-2003
Authors: Arthur Bisguier & Newton Berry
Russell Enterprises, Inc. (2008)
www.chesscafe.com
272 pages
$28.95

Reviewed by Jeremy Silman

When the first volume of Bisguier’s games (1945-1960) came out in 2003, I received a huge amount of criticism for panning the book (you can see that review HERE). I felt that the typesetting was amateur-hour to the extreme, and that Mr. Bisguier wasn’t pushed to go into more detail with his reminisces or his notes. Overall, I felt that the editors had failed Bisguier, and was saddened by this legendary U.S. chess great getting far less than he deserved.

Of course, Bisguier was none too pleased with me, but he showed his class by agreeing to write a very nice blurb for the back of my award winning book, BENKO’S LIFE, GAMES, and COMPOSITIONS. What a mensch!

Fast forward to the present and THE ART OF BISGUIER: Selected Games 1961-2003. Here we have a new (professional) publisher, proper typesetting, and a Bisguier that appears to be a man on a mission. First, the notes to his games are far more detailed and full of his trademark humor. Who did he play? Well, younger players might not be aware of Bisguier’s enormous strength, so here’s a list of his victims (found in this particular volume): Keres, Najdorf, Ivkov, Geller, Taimanov, Portisch, Gligoric, Benko, Kavalek, Larsen, Miles, Szabo, Byrne, Ljubojevic, Timman, Andersson, Alburt, Evans, Tarjan, Nunn, Kudrin, Kamsky, Fedorowicz, Biyiasas, Rhode, Benjamin, Wolff, de Firmian, and the list goes on and on (there are 100 fully annotated games in all). “Victim lists” don’t get too much more impressive than that!

As important as the games are, what really makes such a book memorable is its rendition of history. Can the author give us insight into the chess professional’s trials and tribulations? Can he introduce us to the players he faced and make us feel like we know them far better than we did before opening his book? Can he bring past decades to life for us? Bisguier shines in every instance. We’re shown the human side of Keres whom Bisguier hangs out with in Tallinn, introduced to Bisguier’s drinking buddy Tal, handed information about his being Fischer’s second and facing him over the board, given insight about his friendship with Bronstein, taken on Euro-roads big and small as Bisguier treks around Europe with Mednis, dragged backstage to match play (yes, even a pre-chess match!) vs. Benko – this is only a tiny taste of the absolutely wonderful tales we’re treated to in this book.

THE ART OF BISGUIER: Selected Games 1961-2003 is an absolutely delightful read and gives you a lesson in American chess history that’s up close and personal. A must buy for game collection aficionados, or lovers of chess culture in general.

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THE ART OF BISGUIER: SELECTED GAMES 1961-2003

THE ART OF BISGUIER: SELECTED GAMES 1945-1960