Gelfand, Boris Positional Decision Making In ... May 2026

Boris Gelfand’s is widely considered a modern masterpiece of chess literature. Published by Quality Chess, the book offers a deep dive into the strategic thought processes of a World Championship challenger.

Below is an essay exploring the core themes and impact of Gelfand’s work. Gelfand, Boris Positional Decision Making In ...

In the realm of high-level chess, the difference between a Grandmaster and a World Champion often lies not in tactical calculation, but in the depth of their "positional intuition." Boris Gelfand’s Positional Decision Making in Chess serves as a rare bridge between these worlds, providing an intimate look at how a top-tier player navigates complex, non-forcing positions. Unlike many instructional manuals that offer rigid rules, Gelfand focuses on the and the historical continuity of chess ideas. 1. The Rubinstein Connection Boris Gelfand’s is widely considered a modern masterpiece

A central pillar of the book is Gelfand’s reverence for Akiba Rubinstein , the legendary grandmaster of the early 20th century. Gelfand argues that modern positional play is an evolution of Rubinstein’s techniques. By analyzing his own games alongside Rubinstein’s, Gelfand demonstrates that strategic concepts—such as the or the mastery of rook endgames—are timeless. This historical perspective teaches readers that positional mastery is a language learned through the study of the classics. 2. Key Themes: Space and Structure In the realm of high-level chess, the difference

Gelfand categorizes his decision-making process into several recurring themes:

The art of slowly depriving an opponent of any active counterplay until their position collapses under its own weight.