There are two kinds of bravery - physical, being courageous to take on somebody much stronger than you, and spiritual, not being afraid of life. People who possess both are rare. If you have that kind of mettle, it will result in failures, disappointments, pain, sadness and loneliness, but it will also afford you many moments of happiness, fulfilment, love and victory.

No one can know in advance which will prevail, otherwise many would be braver. It is like Russian roulette and if you are brave enough - or crazy enough - you spin the cylinder over and over again, give it your all and see what happens.

That level of fearlessness can be found in chess gambits where the player does not count the "sacrifices", for they aspire to the beauty and thrill of the game.

This is a novel about a fearless woman. A woman who has always played chess, with actual as well as live pieces, because she has strategy running through her veins.

Meet Grandmaster Anna Antonovna Filatova .......Let the games begin.