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The Greenbecker Gambit by Ben Graff (view source)
Revision as of 20:05, 4 May 2020
, 20:05, 4 May 2020no edit summary
There are moments of clear insight: ''All gambits contain a dilemma. A trade-off. You offer up something in return for something else'' or ''The only way not to lose was not to play''. There's an excellent analysis of the state of chess and how the top players have fared - many of the names you'll recognise, others are fictional - but there's a total lack of self-awareness. He's a homeless man who places himself above Dickens, but below Churchill.
But - Tennessee Greenbecker has stayed in my mind for days and ''The Greenbecker Gambit '' is a book to which I'm sure I'll return. The writing is superb. The characterisation is excellent. I'd like to thank the publisher for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If this book appeals, you might enjoy [[Mafia State by Luke Harding]].