Chernev blends anecdotes with observations on inspiring moves and combinations by well- and lesser-known players, including Troitzky, Réti, Kasparyan, Botvinnik, Kubbel, Rinck, and Grigoriev. Examples are introduced with a cue and include the composer's name, the date of its original publication, a diagram with an algebraic grid, and the winning variation presented in algebraic notion.