In Black and White (Paperback)

In Black and White by Paul van der Sterren is an English-language paperback chess autobiography that combines a personal life story with serious training material. It follows the career of a professional chess player and includes more than 300 deeply analysed games and fragments. This edition runs to 768 pages.

What the book covers

Van der Sterren traces his chess journey from his first moves at the board to the Candidates match against Gata Kamsky in 1994, when he was only four steps away from a world championship challenge. He writes openly about progress, setbacks, self-doubt and the effort required to keep improving at the highest level.

The book is not just a record of success. It also covers the later stage of the author’s career, giving readers a rare view of professional chess from the inside: tournament results, practical analysis and the realities of life as a top player.

What you will find inside

This title has achieved cult status in its Dutch edition, in part because of the depth of its chess content. The book contains more than 300 deeply analysed games and fragments, making it useful for ambitious players as well as readers looking for a substantial chess biography.

If you enjoy chess books with real substance, this one combines a direct personal account with concrete games and analysis from the pre-computer era. It is a rewarding read for experienced players and for anyone interested in modern chess history.

About the author

Paul van der Sterren (born 1956) was a professional chess player for more than twenty years. He won the Dutch Championship in 1985 and 1993, represented the Netherlands at eight Chess Olympiads, and lost the 1994 Candidates match to Gata Kamsky after a hard-fought contest. He is also the author of several chess books, including Fundamental Chess Openings (2009).

Key details

• Product type: paperback chess autobiography
• Title: In Black and White
• Author: Paul van der Sterren
• Language: English
• Format: paperback
• Page count: 768 pages
• Content: chess autobiography with training material
• Chess content: more than 300 analysed games and fragments