This book tackles fundamental questions such as: 'How should pawns be used to fight for the centre?' and 'How does the central pawn formation affect planning for both sides?' These issues are central to understanding chess. Marović discusses central pawn-structures and their impact on play both in the centre and on the wings. He begins by surveying how the pawn's role in controlling the centre has been developed over the last 150 years, and how this has led to the refinement of concepts such as the 'dynamic' backward pawn and the positional exchange sacrifice. The bulk of the book is devoted to discussions of the main type of centre: Open Centre; Closed/Blocked Centre; Fixed Centre; and in particular the Mobile/Dynamic Centre.

Dražen Marović is a grandmaster from Croatia, who has won medals as both player and trainer for various national teams. His pupils include Bojan Kurajica, World Under-20 Champion in 1965, and Al Modiahki of Qatar, the first Arabian grandmaster. Marović has a wealth of experience as a writer, editor and television commentator on chess. He is currently the trainer of the Croation national team.

Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.

"A thoughtful study of an important aspect of the game, which can also be enjoyed merely as a collection of well annotated games. Good value for money. Highly recommended" - Phil Adams, THE MANCHESTER CHESS SCENE, THE 3 CS

"For a further fabulous feast of energetic examples illustrating the irresistible power of pawns, I can highly recommend Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess, an excellent new 256-page GAMBIT book by Croatian GM Dražen Marović, who very helpfully elucidates his material via complete well-annotated games" - GM Paul Motwani, THE SCOTSMAN

"Marović has obviously been in the company of some of the greatest players and listened carefully to what they had to say... this book is excellent value and is sure to improve your chess" - Chris Rice, WEEKEND CHESS

"Lovers of romantic play will enjoy the chapter on the open center, when central pawns disappear and other pieces show their might on open files and diagonals." - GM Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

"If you play the King's Indian and Sicilian, like myself, the book is a veritable Aladdins cave of ideas and information" - John Pugh, CHESS POST

Gambit books by Marović: Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess, Secrets of Chess Transformations, Secrets of Positional Chess, Understanding Pawn Play in Chess.