The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal by Mikhail Tal

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal by Mikhail Tal

"The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal" (originally published in 1976) is widely regarded by grandmasters, historians, and enthusiasts as the single greatest chess autobiography ever written.

Mikhail Tal, affectionately known as the "Magician from Riga," took the chess world by storm in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At a time when the Soviet chess machine prized scientific accuracy, strict positional logic, and cautious safety, Tal arrived like a psychological hurricane. He treated the chessboard as a theater of chaos, unleashing baffling, speculative piece sacrifices that defied standard human calculation.

What makes this book a literary masterpiece is Tal's voice. Writing with immense self-deprecation, sharp humor, and poetic warmth, he describes his historic matches not as dry academic exercises, but as dramatic human narratives.

The Human Behind the Magic

The autobiography doesn't shy away from Tal's intense lifelong physical struggles. Born with an ectrodactyly condition (he had only three fingers on his right hand) and plagued by chronic, excruciating kidney disease, Tal lived a life of constant physical pain.

Yet, his love for the game was absolute. He treated hospitals as temporary chess clubs, frequently escaping his doctors to sneak out to local tournaments. His writing reflects zero self-pity—only an boundless, pure joy for the beauty of creative human expression.

Language: English.

Genre: Chess Book.

Binding: সেলাই করা বাইন্ডিং

Quality: Premium Quality Books.

Printing: High Quality Printing.

Paper: Eye Friendly paper (Cream White)

Cover: Matt cover (Paperback).