Book Description
Chess is a mental game, but you don't have to strain your brain to learn the basics—not with this guide that shows you how to play. Teach Yourself VISUALLY Chess covers how to set up the board, how each piece moves, opening strategies and variations, attacking themes and common sacrifices, and more. Photos of the board let you see strategies in action. For hands-on practice, you can even set up your board and make your moves as you learn. With this book and practice, you'll be saying "Checkmate" in no time.
- Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review
- Each move or tactic is clearly explained
- Explanations accompany each photo
- Color photos and diagrams show key positions, strategies, and moves
- Helpful tips provide additional guidance
Customer Reviews:
Very effective presentation.......2006-12-15
Most chess books for beginners are simply awful. It's quite refreshing to see a book like this. High resolution photographs of the board really make a difference. The writing is remarkably clear and free of jargon. Lots of great players unfortunately are ineffective teachers. Not so here. The author has his chess accomplishments, but more important he has taught the game for 30 years. It makes a difference and it shows.
What impressed me most is how far the book will take you. There are the usual basics. Some very effective sections on openings, middlegame, and endgame play, including a section on the five steps to victory that you won't find in any other beginner's book on chess. If you casually compare this volume to the other chess books for novices, you'll quickly agree that this is the way to go.
Average customer rating:
- Great book, but this is an out of date edition
|
How to Play the King's Indian Attack (Batsford Chess Library)
Angus Dunnington
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Co (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Chess
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ASIN: 0805029338 |
Customer Reviews:
Great book, but this is an out of date edition.......2003-04-09
I wish the material in on-line reviews had stated clearly that "Ultimate King's Indian Attack" by Dunnnigton was just an updated edition of "How To...", otherwise I wouldn't have purchased this "How To..." book. Granted, it was only $8 (+ shipping) used, but it was still a waste of time/money to track it down and buy it. I thought that perhaps "How To..." was more of an introductory text. Get "The Ultimate King's Indian Attack", the updated version of "How To...", by the same author instead.
If you're really strapped for cash, and you don't care about slightly out of date theory (some ideas stand the test of time), then I give this book 5 stars, but I want others looking for KIA books to know these two are just different editions of the same book.
Book Description
Developing plans of action based on positional analysis: weak and strong squares, control of open lines, pawn structure, more. 20 problems.
Customer Reviews:
Concise and Entertaining - An Excellent Tool for Quick Game Improvements.......2006-08-06
I believe this book is most useful for novice and average players. The book helps in improving your game by showing the typical chess mistakes one makes during play. I found it to be very clear, concise and to the point. Another thing I liked about the book is that is written in a conversational way, such as the one of a lecturer, so anyone can understand the principles laid out by the author.
The book uses descriptive notation, but I guess this is just a matter of preference that doesn't affect the quality and usefulness of the information presented. Nevertheless you should take this into account in case you prefer algebraic notation.
In this edition, the editors added a series of quiz positions to the original text. By applying oneself to these positions one gets to practice the principles to find the solutions to the various problems presented to enhance the learning experience. All the positions are taken from master's games. At the end of the book the solution to each problem is presented.
Quality read, but nothing mandatory.......2005-04-17
Znosko-Borovsky's "How not to Play Chess" is much different than its title suggests. One immediately assumes that this will be a book of tactical gaffes and poor move choices in a one-move type setting, when infact this book is basically concerned with the formation of plans within the game.
Also, this book is quite offbeat in that it has very little to do with game analysis and long-winded calculations and is more a narrative of the game of chess itself by the author. Any chess enthusiast should find the commentary useful and understandable.
The author throws around a number of messages and instructions in the form of one sentence suggestions throughout the book, but these ideas are so quickly discussed that you never really have any time to dwell on them.
This book could very easily(and perhaps should have been) called "Making Plans in Chess", since that's really the main theme of the book and is most likely the only thing you'll take away from it, besides some added appreciation for the game itself.
The book proper is a very short read - only about 80 small sized pages - with about 15 diagrams using a hideous set of symbols for the pieces(I think this is sometimes called the "Leipzig" set). At the end of the book, 20 problems were added by tactical guru Fred Reinfeld(starting with number 18 for some reason). These puzzles are decent, and actually quite solvable, unlike some books whose post-mortem questions are beyond the reader(Seiriwan, et al).
A small note: This book is in descriptive notation. Read some of my other reviews for thoughts on this subject, but the author makes key references to squares(such as White's intention to make use of the QB5 square, for example) quite frequently, and thus a solid understanding of said notation is needed. Still, DN(Discr. notation) is easy enough to learn and the book is very cheap due to the author's choice to use it.
I would really have liked to have given the book four stars, but I can't help but feel that I'm not going to become a better player because of reading this book. I certainly enjoyed reading through it, moreso as an avid chess fan, but the themes of the book are encompassed in many greater texts of the modern age.
If you truly love the game of chess, spend a few bucks and read through this book, but if you're out for solid chess improvement, I would look somewhere else.
An Incredible Chess Book.......2005-03-28
"How Not To Play Chess" by Eugene A. Znosko Borovsky is a superb book. Weighing in at 119 pages, it is full of information. Another reviewer was precisely right when they said it contains more information than "The Amateur's Mind." The meat of the book is only about 90 pages long, the rest consists of a group of puzzles created by editor Fred Reinfeld. Anyone who knows anything about Mr. Reinfeld knows the quality of his combinations. The 20 positional challenges he creates for "How Not to Play Chess" taught me more than Silman's "Reassess Your Chess Workbook"'s middlegame section!
E. A. Z-K breaks up the game into simple logical factors, and then continues to deeply analyze the game:
Eugene Aleksandrovich Znosko-Borovsky vs Hermanis Karlovich Mattison, 1926
This classic is well worth the miniscule price, and if descriptive notation causes no trouble, you would do well to purchase it!
Good little instructional book........2005-03-14
Don't let the old style and skinniness of the book fool us.
This book is a good instructional one. The author did not provide many examples, but gave the main brief principles and elaborated more with words. His explanation is clear and deep if we pay attention to the details. His 70 plus pages contain as much information as 300 pages in Silman's The Amateur's Mind. His book is to help the intermediate level to improve.
There are many principles still very applicable in the modern chess:
a) Do not believe all that you are told. Examine, verify, use your reason.
b) In war, topography dictates the operations.
c) Do not leave any pieces where it has no range of action...
d) Haste, the great enemy.
All great advises.
However, there are some that the intermediate level has problem with or makes the modern players think "hmm."
a) Avoid mistakes. How?
I recall some GM's comment of the intermediate's move: "When the intermediate moves a piece, he makes a tactical mistake; when he moves a pawn, a positional mistake. Well?
b) Do not modify your plan. What? Any player knows that not all plans work out correctly, while both sides try to interfere with the other's plan. The battle plan has to adjust according to the situation. A rigid plan fails.
And there are some advices conflicting each other. On the blockade of the passed pawn, on page 81, he wrote, "If your opponent should have a passed pawn, your first and most urgent duty is 'mechanically' to stop its advance--blockade it."
If the passed pawn is not mobile (or we have control of the square immediately in front of it) then the blockade is not that urgent (H.H.). He wrote, "Unless you analyze the position, you will achieve nothing" (on page 42) and "Do not play to quickly" (on page 48.)
The advices from this book are still very applicable in this modern time. But the offensive and defensive techniques have advanced significantly, some advices need adaptations.
Superb.......2004-07-02
This book is indispensable. Yes, it is indispensable! Once you get over the fact that the notation is descriptive you will be fine. I don't mind reading books in descriptive notation and considering the content of the book this is just a minor inconvenience [Speaking of which, have you noticed how cheap are books in descriptive?]
Znosko-Borovsky is entertaining, engaging and profound. The whole purpose of the book is to make you aware of the need to analyse the position both from the internal and the external points of view. In other words: How to make an inventory of who has the advantage in tempi, material, and space and how those factors compensate to determine which side has the advantage over the board. As a consequence of this analysis the author shows how to make a plan and execute it over the board. Sounds simple? It becomes simple after reading Znosko-Borovsky's book. Why is it that few people write in this manner nowadays? Why is it that authors can not be entertaining?
I read this book at least once every month and have given it to some friends to help them improve their chess. At first sight it doesn't look like much but once you take the time to read it, understand it and go back to it, you will see what a treasure you have in your hands. For the prize of the book you get a lot and this is that rare type of book that read again and again and again...
Average customer rating:
- Excellent book, now slightly out of date
- State-of-the-art, clear and entertaining computer chess book
- A book for the Computer and Chess Enthusiest.
- Interesting history, technically simple
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How Computers Play Chess
David N. L. Levy , and
Monroe Newborn
Manufacturer: W H Freeman & Co (Sd)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0716781212 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book, now slightly out of date.......2003-11-20
A great book on computer chess from two of the field's pioneers.
State-of-the-art, clear and entertaining computer chess book.......1997-09-22
This excellent book was and still is one of the state-of-the-art books in computer chess literature, dealing with both a very interesting history of computer chess, including many rare examples of the play of early programs, and several recent examples of the best actual programs, as well as discussing in sufficient detail the quite complex technical aspects of programming a computer to play chess.
In "The Challenge Is World Champion Kasparov", we are introduced to one of the first encounters between Garry Kasparov and the former incarnation of Deep Blue, then called Deep Thought, through the detailed discussion of the proceedings and analysis of both games. A game between Karpov and Deep Thought is also carefully analyzed.
Next, "The Early Ideas" present historically the pioneer works of Shannon, Turing, Zuse, and many others, whose theorical works provided the basement for writing procedures to allow a machine to play chess.
Then, in "The First Working Programs", we see Bernstein, Kotok, McCarthy, and other AI specialist, as they struggled to implement Shannon's ideas to make Jurassic computers play some passable chess. Several games between both
computers and humans are discussed.
After these preliminary attemps, "The Formative Years" discusses more advanced programs, such as Greenblatt's MacHack VI program, Botvinnik's Pioneer, and specially Slate & Atkin's Chess program and soviet Kaissa, focusing both on
the internal of the programs and on relevant sample games.
The following chapter, "The Challenges for the Levy Bet", tells us all the details of the famous Levy bet, nicely commented by co-author David Levy himself. The best games between him and Chess are commented, as well as a particularly beautiful miniature of Blitz against Belle.
As the field advances, "The Computer Becomes a Master" discusses the ever increasing achievements of the new generation of stronger hardware-assisted chess programs, such as Belle (written by Ken Thompson, who also has
developed many Endgame Databases) and Cray Blitz (written by Bob Hyatt, who is also the author of Crafty, a strong freeware chess program), which use their incredibly fast underlying hardware to compensate for their lack of chess sophistication. We can also read all about how the first International human Masters began to know defeat against them on a regular basis.
The next step, the defeat of strong human Grandmasters, is introduced in "Eyeball to Eyeball with Grandmasters", where we see several commented games between the strongest chess programs, such as Deep Thought and Hitech, and human grandmasters such as Miles and Larsen. Also, microprocessor
commercial chess program Mephisto has a close encounter of the 3rd kind against macroprocessor non-commercial Deep Thought, and far from ashamed,
beats him hands down !
Once those historical details have been dealt with, the book enters into a discussion of the more advanced chess techniques there are, such as "Endgame Play and Endgame Databases", an area pioneered by Ken Thompson's Belle, where computers have conquered new grounds, and become invincible players. The development of a K+R vs K database is discussed in detail enough to allow anyone to program it, and then both games of the mini-match between grandmaster Walter Browne and Belle, the former trying to mate the computer with K+Q against K+R, are commented in detail.
A very technical chapter follows, "Search Techniques Used by Chess Programs", where the most advanced techniques are explained, such as Minimaxing, Alpha-Beta prunning, Iterative Deepening, and a large, detailed, and complete
explanation of Hash tables, with many diagrams and examples, to make it crystal clear. Other aspects such as Time management, Evaluation functions, Move generation, etc. are thoroughly discussed as well.
The next chapter, "The Evolution of Computing Systems for Chess Programs", explains what lies ahead: faster processors, chess-specific hardware,
multiprocessors, and makes dire predictions on the increment of playing strength all these advances will bring.
Once these almost unearthly machines have been shown, it is the time for down-to-earth-ones, the ones everyone can buy, and "Commecially Available
Chess Computers and Software" introduces them all, from the primitive, very early Chess Challenger, to Mephisto Almeria announcing mate in 7 to a 2350
ELO player under tournament conditions.
On "Writing a Chess Program" gives a concise advice on how to write a chess program oneself, and by way of comparison shows a table with the ELO rating of the best chess programs as compared to that of their programmers and more chess-profficient technical advisors.
Finally, closing the book with a gem, "Stop Press" shows commercial program Mephisto Portoroz defeating former World Champion Anatoli Karpov during a simultaneous exhibition. That such a machine, which anyone could buy, without
any special ultrafast hardware, can defend successfully against as superb a grandmaster as Karpov, says much about how far computer chess has
progressed.
The book closes with an extensive bibliography given in "Additional Reading", and some information on the ICCA, given in "Appendix A: The International Computer Chess Association", and a table with complementary data in "Appendix B: Results of Major Tournaments".
A book for the Computer and Chess Enthusiest........1997-05-13
If you like to program computers and you love chess then "How Computers Play Chess" is for you. This easy to read and intuitive book by Chess Master David Levy takes you on a tour guide of man's attempt to create a machine that can master that ancient game of strategy, Chess.
You'll gain an introductory view of how computers go about playing the game of chess including the types the algorithms that are used and the general theorys behind these "thinking machines". Levy also introduces some of his own thoughts on the strenghts of computer chess and even includes a few pradictions on when a computer will be able to defeat a human world champion. I read this book in an attemp to satisfy a life long desire I've had to create a computer program that could be me in chess.
I've found that this book as gotten me off to an excellent start
Interesting history, technically simple.......1996-07-14
This book is a definitive history of computers and chess up
through Deep Thought in 1990. Largely a survey, it rarely takes
a strong point of view of its own. For someone looking for such
a history, or for a basic consideration of chess algorithms
from alpha-beta pruning through hash tables, killer move
tables, and quiesence, it is a fine book. For my money, though,
it did not go into enough depth either in technical issues
such as the details of even a simple evaluation function or
move generator, or in the philosophical issues raised by
computer chess.
Customer Reviews:
Bursting with useful advice - six stars!.......2005-12-08
What I can never do is beat weaker people. You know how it is - if they don't actually blunder a pawn or two, if by some miracle everything stays level, you just don't know how to create the opportunities for them to go wrong, and the game ends in a disappointing draw. You and I need to know how to create opportunities for Mr Average to go wrong. And here, I think, professor Beim can help enormously! "In positions where the pieces are highly mobile, any mistake can be decisive." Dynamic chess! In other words, no matter how beautiful your opponent's position may be, and how superior to yours in terms of pawn structure and piece locations, it is always possible that you may have dynamic resources that make his static ones worthless. It's always good to make a weaker opponent think - he is more likely to go wrong than you are! And if all your pieces are leaping around like wolves then he really has to think. This is a book bursting with useful advice, such as the idea that you have to take the pieces as a whole and make the best of the whole team, not just put each one where you think it looks nicest. Or like "exploiting a dynamic advantage requires resolute action without delay." Like tennis perhaps - you might be in completely the wrong place, having been pushed around the court by your opponent, but if you have the ability to jump and stretch and contort your body, it may just be that you can win the point - then appear on countless sports pages as a twisted demon of a being with a blurred ball travelling somewhere between ground, arm, and high-kicking legs! ...but you have to seize the one moment you can do this, otherwise you're just a guy on the ground with grass stains on his pants. Beim gives you loads of instructive examples, masses of ideas, then expects you to try them out for yourself. It's like a university degree course! OK it's work but you come out with some kind of Ivy League degree, not a $30 certificate from an Internet site saying you've got a PhD in Rocket Science and Exploding Pumpkins. Real work, real results, and a lot more points at those local tournaments!
Magnificent explanation of dynamic considerations.......2005-10-28
Your modern grandmaster plays very dynamically, yet much of literature still treats chess as if it were a static game. Some authors/publishers have recognized this transformation, most notably Gambit with its fine middle game series that began with Watson (Secrets of Modern Strategy) and Yermolinksy (Road to Improvement).
"How to play Dynamic Chess" by Beim is a book that deserves to join this select group of modern middle game classics. This is an incredibly readable book, explaining many profound ideas in the most accessible and straightforward terms.
It is fascinating to see how chess hs changed over the decades. Not the rules, but the way the best players approach the game (i.e. witness the cut and thrust games in the recent world championship tournament in San Luis).
The instruction in "How to Play Dynamic Chess" is set around complete games, and the annotations represent some of the best - and wittiest! - chess writing I've seen.
Don't let this treasure pass you by.
It is a good but not great book.......2005-10-18
I do think this book is instructional but I don't like the style.
Classic instruction from a first-class trainer.......2005-02-20
This book, along with Lessons in Chess Strategy (by the same author) is a total gem. I am not alone in thinking this. On the web newsletter Chess Today the reviewer Dan Aldrich wrote that "after reading this book I have but one question - who is Valeri Beim and why has he been hiding so long? These are two of the finest treatises on chess strategy ever written".
In fact Beim has the credentials - he is a grandmaster, and, perhaps most to the point, a former head trainer at the chess school in Odessa. He is also a great storyteller. How to Play Dynamic Chess is divided into five large chapters, and within those chapters are a large number of deeply instructive games. Many of these games are classics from the former Soviet era, and, as Beim was part of this world, we see the personal touch throughout. A typical intro: "And now, yet another game by Efim Geller! Isn't this overdoing it? But what else can I do, when he had so many fine "breakthrough" games to his credit?"
Mr Beim, show as many Geller games as you like! I could be instructed by them all day long.
If you are serious about improving, this book could take you to master level and even beyond.
Average customer rating:
- Great beginner book, but...
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Chess for Kids : How to Play (and How to Win) (Troll Discovery Kit)
Mcquinn
Manufacturer: Troll Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0816744645 |
Book Description
Discover the exciting game of chess!
First you'll learn about all the pieces in the game -- from the lowly pawns to the all-important king and powerful queen. Once you know how all of the pieces move, you can leap into action. The beginning of the game, the middle game, and the endgame are all illustrated with examples of good (and bad!)moves.
In these pages you'll also learn about forks, pins, skewers, castling, and more. From strategies to traps to sneaky attacks, author Conn McQuinn gives you the tools you'll need to achieve a winning game.
This kit comes with a fully illustrated book, chessboard, and all the chess pieces.
Customer Reviews:
Great beginner book, but..........2000-03-22
There's a lot of "how to play" and very little "how to win". My kids already know the moves; they'd like to know how to win. This book was too elementary for them. It would be a great book for the beginner, though.
Book Description
Ready to castle, checkmate or skewer the competition? Here's a perfect introduction for kids to the game that's been challenging players for over 900 years! This portable chess kit includes 32 real wood pieces, a 2-sided chessboard, blue plastic carrying case and informative, easy-to-understand guidebook. Chess experts Michael and Sophia Rohde present the basics of the game alongside intermediate tactics and tips for winning. Learn how to set up the board, study pieces, and use chess notation.
Book Description
Fine teacher analyzes each piece individually; many common endgame situations. Examines games by Steinitz, Alekhine, Lasker, others.
Customer Reviews:
Other Books.......2007-09-03
A useful guide, for when I was interested. If you are going to a club or other place for a game, a convenient small size to brush up on things if you want a refreshers.
Goes over all the major and not so major necessary situations and strengths to understand.
By Far the most practical book on the endgame.......2004-09-29
If you really want to increase your endgame strength then use this book. The examples are clear, concise and easy to understand without being boring (Unlike the Averbach Essential chess endgame book). Also the book is a great value.
Although a bit dated and using Descriptive notion the examples come from pre 1950 and include, Alekhine, Capablanca, Rubenstein, Euwe Botvinnik, Keres etc all greats of the endgame. I have found this to be the easiest book from which to assimilate the required practical knowledge. It was way ahead of its time and includes the theory of corresponding squares which is often only included in advanced texts. Once this book is finished your endgame practical skill will be at the master level. I would also recommend that you also use the Hooper Pocket book of Endgames for additional examples for study.
Classic text on chess-endings.......2001-03-09
This book *explains* the ideas (themas) behind the positions. As many chess masters have stated - it's the study of the end-game that makes you a chess master. This is a good book to start the study. The descriptive (non-algebraic) notation in this book should not deter you - think of it as an additional mental exercise in chess thinking ;)
almost perfect..........2000-11-01
This is a great book...really helpful...The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the chaper on Rook endings is occasionaly not clear enough (It is apparently targeted towards a more sophisticated reader - I am a beginner-intermediate player) This chapter could use some improvement. Still I am extremely happy with this purchase.
How to Play Chess Endings.......2000-03-31
This is a classic endgame text. Znosko-Borovsky is a smooth, lucid writer. All the basic endgames are given. He concentrates on logical thinking in the endgame, analysing a position, and developing a plan of action. The emphasis is on aims, plans, and ideas, rather than on reams of varitions. If you want that kind of book, pick up Fine's Basic Chess Endings or the series by Averbach. But these books are dull, tedious and for masters and above. Even experts would get a lot out of this book. The value is excellent as well. The best way to improve is to concentrate your study on endings (most people play them quite badly) and tactics. Forget those opening books. (CFC Expert)
Books:
- Teach Yourself VISUALLY Chess (Teach Yourself Visually)
- The Asian Monsoon (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences) (Springer Praxis Books / Environmental Sciences)
- The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician's Gambit
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cigars (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
- The Egyptian Jukebox: A Conundrum
- The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: The Ultimate Reference Book for the Magical Arts
- The Everything Kids' Mazes Book: Twist, Squirm, and Wind Your Way Through Subways, Museums, Monster Lairs, and Tombs (Everything Kids Series)
- The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation
- The God Delusion
- The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time
Books Index
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The Everything Chess Basics Book (Everything Series)
The Reassess Your Chess Workbook
Practical Chess Exercises: 600 Lessons from Tactics to Strategy
The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery
