Tigran Petrosian began this book in the early 1980s but did not live to complete it. After his passing, his wife, Rona Petrosian, compiled and finalized the work from his lectures on strategic nuance, published articles, reports, and archived television and radio recordings—materials widely regarded as the finest teaching resources from the 9th World Chess Champion.

Renowned for his impregnable, prophylactic style—hence “Iron Tigran”—Petrosian prioritized prevention over assault, turning patience and defensive precision into a formidable winning weapon. This volume gathers his key essays, annotated games, move-by-move analyses, and 14 structured lessons that span every phase of play, making it an exceptional manual for self-improvement.

The book features a special foreword by the 13th World Champion, Garry Kasparov.