This book investigates the intense competitive rivalry between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov during the 1990 World Chess Championship matches held in New York and Lyon. Raymond Keene, a prominent chess grandmaster and author, provides a detailed analysis of the psychological and tactical maneuvers employed by these two titans. The text serves as a chronicle of their historical struggle for dominance, utilizing game records and expert commentary to frame their ongoing conflict within the broader context of professional chess history.

Chess enthusiasts frequently cite this work as a valuable primary source for understanding the technical depth of the 1990 championship matches. Experts note that Keene's prose effectively captures the high-stakes atmosphere of the era while maintaining a focus on the strategic complexities of elite-level play.