Chess Books

I picked up this book around the age of 13 when I decided that I was going to begin playing competitively. When I first began reading this book, I only knew how to setup the pieces on the chess board, and how different pieces moved. By the time I finished this book, I knew how to write algebraic notation; I understood the purpose of the chess clock; I even learned a few "chess manners", such as tipping over your King if too shamed to state that you wished to resign. This book also gave me a broad and concise overview of chess concepts and tactics (most importantly, the opening) so that I would not be overwhelmed when I would begin to study more advanced chess.

This book is the perfect starting point for any beginner or anyone new to competitive chess. Although this book may not be of much use by players who have been playing competitively for some time, it nonetheless contains some introductory information that may even take an experienced (1700 rated player) player by surprise; it touches on concepts that are usually overlooked by more experienced players. I believe this book can be as valuable to the new player as it can be to the experienced player who's caught in a slump.

The important thing to note is that, although this book contains much useful information in itself, this is only the starting point; this book kindly paves the way for the reader, after finishing this book, to begin tackling more important concepts and tactics.

After finishing this book, I recommend Seirawan's "Winning Chess Openings" then progressing onto Jeremy Silman's "How to Reassess Your Chess" OR "The Amateur's Mind", another one of Silman's works (although I would not recommend reading the two books simultaneously, both of them should be read, one after the other). These books should and will strengthen your game, and they will also create a firm foundation for your playing style.

I hope that you are able to get the same thrill and knowledge that I acquired through this book. Like Jeremy Silman said in one of his books, "May things go so well for you!"

This book is a must have for those that are new to the game of chess or that want to start delving into the theory that will be mandatory if one wants to go from losing every game to winning some. The first third of the book was useless for me, because it focused on how the pieces move about the board and chess history. Nothing which i didnt already know or need to know. The book then continues with tactical basics like pins/forks and Seirawan gives sample games where one can see these tactics in action. So, yes I think it is a great book for beginners or newbies, but not for someone who is looking to progress into the intermediate phase of their chess training. His other books provide much more theory and topic specific info than this one.

This is for people who really want to start playing chess like the pros do. If you already know how the pieces move this book steps you through at your own pace with puzzles of increasing difficulty. I recommend this book to all my friends who want to start playing in tournaments like me and they absoluetly love it.

I have been away from chess for many years. Recently I decided to take it up again. After losing a number of matches against my computer I concluded I needed to go back to basics. This book is easy to follow and includes all the basics one needs to understand to be competitive in chess. Whether you are just beginning or need a refresher course, this is an excellent book for you. The author also includes short biographies and the chess styles of famous grand masters.

I originally bought this book for my wife as an introduction to chess. I started reading it myself, and became quite hooked. Now I am reading through the entire series and am on book 3, Strategies.

This book has three of the biggest names around behind it: Seirawan, Jerry Silman, and the Microsoft publishing powerhouse. The result as might be expected is as good an introduction to chess as you are likely to find.

The authors break Chess fundamentals into 4 parts:

1.) Force
2.) Material
3.) Space
4.) Time

A final section includes instructive games. There are also quizzes and tests along the way to keep things interesting. The result is you will have a very solid grasp of the basics of this greatest of games after reading this volume.

Another advantage of this book is that it is the right length, you can work through it easily in a couple of weeks, so it is not to overwhelming. It also is insightful while not being too difficult, so it won't discourage the newcomer. But it is perspicacious enough to enlighten the midlevel player as well.

Well written, well thought out, and well edited, this is the introductory chess book for this decade. Recommended for beginning to mid-level players.

Nunn does everything right in this book. First off, the games that he selected are very interesting, and they directly illustrate the themes he discusses. Second, he is one of the finest game annotators going on the planet because he can combine a deep understanding of a position with user friendly annotations. Fantastic stuff, and kudos to the brainy Nunn.

This is a really great book. I have at least one hundred chess books. I have even read many of them! I have read, studied, and used this book more than any ohter. It is a good to great collection of games. The annotations are the critical part of the book and they are great. When I study a game, I write the date in the margin. I have been through some of the games as many as ten times. Why? Well, first, I can and do learn new things each time. Sometimes I learn things that I was not ready for the first time. Other times I just enjoy the game (but still I usually learn something). The earliest date that I notice as I write this is from eight years ago! Not only do I expect to enjoy many of the games many more times, there are still some games that I have not been through the first time! Mostly the games that I have not studied are openings that I have not had interest in playing. That too changes over time so I expect to have more fun and learning with those games in the future. A related matter is my only real criticism of the book. It does not have an index of openings. In spite of the fact that the author has taken a different approach to organization, such an index would be very helpful in using the book. Indeed, I intended to prepare such an index to include in my review. That intention has delayed the review so I gave up on that idea. I will consider some of Nunn's other books, but since I have so much to learn from this one, I may not get any of them soon.

If you look at the book description (above), you get the idea that this book is focused on teaching fundamentals to non-experts. Wrong. The title's obvious parallel to Chernev's [excellent] work (Logical Chess Move by Move) only reinforces this misleading perception.

Each chapter does begin with a few paragraphs on a fundamental principle of chess. And the first moves are described as if to total novices. But as soon as Nunn gets beyond those first few moves, you'd better be able to follow lots of algebraic notation with very few visuals, because the vast majority of this book is variation intensive, and thus useless to non-experts who don't want to spend hours getting through a few pages at a time.

On the other hand, if you ARE an expert, then what's the point of reviewing fundamentals that are already second-nature? In that case, this is just a group of highly analyzed games.

This book sits useless on my shelf. If you haven't read Chernev's book, then you're better off getting IT because it is what it says it is.

My word; I took up this magnificent game only a very short while ago, and now, three months later, I'm hooked. To learn, I saw at once the need for expert guidance, and I can confirm that there is plenty of guidance to be had, and most of it turned upon pure vanity. I tried CD's and numerous online instructions, and purchased various unreadable books, and until I came across 'Understanding Chess' by John Nunn, through Amazon. Com, I was at my wits end trying to understand the most simple game plans, tactics and strategies. This book gave me instant confidence. It is a real chess page turner, full of exciting plots and positions, encouragement and really good advice. So much so, I have it next to me when I play online and in this regard I've already begun to win a few games against much more experienced and very much stronger players. The key lies in its simplicity of approach. It is well written and so easy to understand. It does for chess everything that is essential in developing the skills demanded. For all those keen to take up chess, to improve performance, to gain greater advance, and to discover in this ever more fascinating game the fruits of clear thinking and the joys and rewards in winning. Chess is not a game which can be self taught overnight. The essence is long term, so one needs something constant to guide one along the way, and this book will most certainly do that for me.

This is a very popular and famous book, and John Nunn is a well-known chess writer. Almost every move is explained deeply in this book. But there is one problem with this book: For whom did Nunn write this book? I'm confused because, in a specific game the first move "1.e4" is explained as if the reader is beginner or a novice. But later in the same game, Nunn includes a lot of long and complex variants in several analyses after a specific move, analyses that are only useful for a strong chess player. For me it seems like the author couldn't decide for whom he wrote this book for, and that sure makes this book not one of the best "move-by-move" books. The games chosen, for instance game 20 between Kasparov and Shirov is to complex, to explain weak colour complex for a novice/beginner. And some games presented in the book are actually exceptions from basic guidelines, e.g. "don't keep your king in the centre, but castle quickly", guidelines that an intermediate player should follow.

Improvers should instead try books like McDonald's "The Art of Planning" or Giddins "50 Essential Chess Lessons". Beginners should try Chernev's "Logical Chess Move by Move"

This book was excellent in detailing the development of the ancient game of chess. It begins with ancient Persian roots as a Islamic game which traveled throughout the known world influencing kings and countries. The book is more than a history lesson, it is a lesson into the dynamic effect of chess on culture, science, and human reasoning. The history is told through interesting anecdotes. Throughout the book, the author details the moves of the "immortal game." This is one of the most famous games in history. It was a 1800's century battle of tactics. It was the romantic style of chess perfected. The book details the four historic periods of chess and the style of play in each. Also, the book quickly highlights some of the movement changing players throughout history. This book was an excellent read for those who love this "game of kings."

This review is given of a book I havn't finished. Hoever I have gone a long way through and like what I have found.
This is the book I always thought, "interesting but I have a lot to read." I was also disappointed because I thought from the review on the jacket that it was about chess in general instead of the famous game.
Well, as I found when I got it on my Kindle it was both. It traces the history of Chess through the ages. It also gives an in-depth study of the famous Immortal Game(a notable game played between two masters in a London Gentleman's Club), with illustrations and analysis of every move, which is great as I simply don't have the gift of making a mind picture out of notation. The book is written in an engaging style and gives charming anecdotes. It is not written in a the style of a typical chess manuel but in a way an average reader can comprehend and enjoy.
The book is slightly flawed as regards general history. The distinction between the Middle Ages and the Renaisance was exagerrated. And Islam did not come anywhere near eliminating tribal feuding from Islamic countries except for a brief time. And the amount of Ancient knowledge that was transmuted via Islam, as opposed to Byzantium is also exaggerated(a better way to look at it is that increased contact between Northern Europe and the Meditteranean rim as a whole brought advances in Northern lands). Those however are minor points. And are matters of historical disputation anyway. All that is irrelevant. What the book gives, a rich tapestry of the lore of the Game of Kings is what makes the book worth reading.
The book, on the whole is just what I wanted. A history of chess and chess folklore written in a charming manner. I love the type of book that traces the history and legends surrounding some particular commodity or item and have been wanting something about chess for a long time. In short this book was a great windfall.

I met the author briefly recently (he lives not far from my apartment in Brooklyn), and he gave me a copy of this book. I have to admit that I hadn't played chess in years until I started reading The Immortal Game. I really appreciated David's mix of personal anecdotes (his grandmother's grandfather, Samuel Rosenthal, was one of the greatest players of the late 19th century), history, and technical commentary. His move-by-move rendition of the famous "immortal game" that gives the title to the book is anything but boring, and it ain't easy to make the recounting of a chess game a page turner! You definitely don't need to be an aficionado to appreciate this book, or the game itself.

An easy and enticing read on the roots, history, and impact of chess throughout the centuries. It is not a strategy guide, nor will it teach you any opening or closing strategies, but it will, more likely than not, make you want to pick up the board and play a few games. As an amateur player, I found David Shenk's writing refreshing and enticing - chess is well known for being a very hard game to get good at. Being an active practitioner of the 'Romantic' school (very little directed strategy, and focus on the element of surprise, cleverness, and well, fun), I now have a perspective on the evolution of the game, its impact, and a newfound enthusiasm for learning more about it. Great read.

I've been buying a lot of chess books recently, and this one is so good I bought some extras to give away to my correspondence chess opponents. It gives a general history of the game (not too detailed or tedious, as some readers might find HJR Murray's more detailed work, for instance) that is quite informative. Overlayed on this history is the story of one particular game between two chess champions, each with a drastically different style of play. This game, which is known among chess enthusiasts as "The Immortal Game" is a fascinating story in itself which dovetails nicely with the more general history. If you don't know how to play chess, the actual game description will certainly be less enjoyable, but the book is a great read nonetheless. Highly recommended!

I don't see the point of this book. Presents bunch of special cases to confirm that general rules are no good. But good players know when to deviate from rules anyway, and beginners need to know the rules first. So, who is this book for?

Also, this guy writes way too many books which always seems suspicious to me.

I liked this book: it can give you clear ideas about a set of topics about strategy. The first part is built upon the discussion of the ideas given in "My System", by Nimzowitsch, as seen from a modern master's point of view. Despite of this other-source-dependence, the book if self-sustaining: you do not need to read Nimzowitsch's book to understand J. Watson's.
If you want to improve your strategic skills on chess, buy it (and read it!).

We are lucky, thanks to this book we can learn chess strategy avoiding to study outdated books like the ones by Nimzowitch and Pachman.
Watson tells us which of the old ideas are still good and which are wrong, and then he give us the modern brand new ideas. All in a enjoyable and instructive way, without thousand of boring and not useful variations in every position. Variations like the ones that make Pachman impossible to read.

I am about half way through Watson's book. It is very clearly written. I like it because it contributes to two areas. As a student of the game, I am interested in chess's history. It is intriguing to learn more about Nimzowitsch's contributions and to learn how chess theory has advanced in recent years. Second, I am already seeing Watson's lessons influence my play and understanding of the game. All in all Watson is a good teacher.

Take my comments here with a grain of salt. I'm an intermediate player and no more than that. I will never know as much about chess as Mr Watson. But I have this book, and others like me will buy it (as we probably are the target audience), so I'll put in my two cents worth as to my impressions.

First of all, a lot of work has gone into this book. Mr Watson is very scholarly, and writes very well. My first impressions of this book were "amazing", just like many of the reviews here. But the more I read, and the more I think, the more I have some concerns. So I will try to list them now:

1. Who is this aimed at? As an intermediate player, I am looking for chess books that "teach me", that "help me to improve" or are just "fun to read". But this book purports from the outset to be more of a summary of what is going on in modern chess.

2. Is Mr Watson qualified to summarize modern chess strategy? As a 1700 odd player, I don't really understand a game that a 2000 player is playing. I have read and seen that the jump from IM to GM is enormous. I have serious doubts that anyone less than GM level can accurately describe how GM's are applying strategy, let alone describe all the strategic advances since Nimzovich. In fact, I doubt that Mr Watson, as an IM, could fully explain strategy up to Nimzovich.

3. Why the lack of humility? What's with an IM taking sides for and against ideas of GM's? I think unless you had played at GM level you have no business presenting yourself as an expert who can decide which GM's are right or wrong.

4. What's with "rule independence" the main thesis of the book? So, the position and analysis that has been done on it (probably with a computer today) is more important than strategic rules. Well I think the ability to understand a position beyond rule application has probably always been key at GM level - there's a reason why so few can get there. Does this help me, as an intermediate player, to learn though?

5. Is Nimzovich a decent starting point anyway? Some GM's are very dismissive of "My System" - have a look at Kevin Sraggett GM's book review on his web site.

While a ton of work has gone into this book, and I enjoy browsing from it, and can learn from it (as an intermediate player), I just don't like the way Mr Watson presents himself as the expert who can summarize and provide the word to date on chess strategy. I think IM's can and do write terrific books that teach us chess. But to summarize the state of all chess strategy knowledge? Come on! It would be like me writing a book on IM chess, which would be a total joke.

Since other reviewers already described the book in detail, I will only add *why* it is such a good book. Yes, it has many, many puzzles and they are presented according to difficulty--but many books do that. Why is this book so good? The reason is. the *choice and arrangement* of the puzzles.

Most amateurs can recognize basic mating patterns when they are shown to them, and can "feel" that a scarificial breakthrough is necessary in a position to try and force mate. But most amateurs have serious problems *combining* the two--that is, not only "feeling" a scarifice is necessary, but finding the exact mating pattern is will make possible and calculate the moves up to mate. It is here that amateurs flounder: they sacrifice "on feel" and then do not follow up correctly, or else know everything about basic mating patterns but do not have any idea how to force them in real games.

This book to the rescue! Its mate in one teaches us all the basic mating patterns that arise in practical games--e.g., a (white) queen mating on g7 with the support of a fiancettoed bishop on b2 (common in many kingside attacks), or a rook mating the king "from behind" with a knight and pawn closing its escape squares "from the front" (common in king hunts where the rook penetrates to the 7th rank), and so on. Then, and crucially, the book presents these same mating patterns "disguised" in mates-in-2 and mates-in-3, also from real game situations, so that one can know how to cause them in "real life" (and with examples how this actually occurs in complete games).

Doing this not only excercises a crucial "chess muscle" most amateurs never knew existed, but also your chess memory, which will allow you to spot such positions in real life more easily, without having to discover them over the board.

Highly recommended.

I own the oversized hardbound edition. I'm still around the 678th position and counting and don't intend to stop!

Despite the terrifying title... 5,334 problems ?!, ... it's one enjoyable chess gym. The 2-D diagrams use one of the nicest modern Staunton fonts around and are clearly printed and illustrated. It contains an introduction, piece properties, mates in 1, mates in 2, mates in 3, combinations, simple endgames, combinations, critical positions in some of the Polar sister's games, and a solutions key (only the first move per problem). It's a simple and effective format for an outstanding effort in putting so much material in an organized manner. Many of the positions are implicitly aggregated by theme which does not give away any clues but allows the reader to better develop pattern recognition. No hints, just practice.

The softbound version makes a great gift; the hardbound is hard to find and more of a personal library book. Only a tactical practice database or software can improve on this book. I can only wish it were available as a database!

Instead of giving a more limited number of problems to solve with the most important tactical patterns, the author set out to do "quantity instead of quality" and becomes a "compliler" instead of a teacher directing a student to learn what is most important with perhaps a limited time to study like the average chess player.
This mass compilation of problems contains a lot of junk filler along with some very nice important tactical themes to learn. So, the book refuses to show you what is important, and what should be tossed out with the garbage - the postions which would not likely occur in real games you would play.
I would like a book with 100 to 500 of the MOST IMPORTANT TACTICAL THEMES TO LEARN. Not so many that you cannot tell what is important from filler to make a book so big.

I had the firm objective of solving all puzzles in this book, to improve my chess tactics skills.

As I progressed through the puzzles, I could definitely see improvements, to the point of reaching average solving times of 5 to 20 seconds.

Unfortunately, at about #1450, the book switches to puzzles that seem to be taken from newspaper columns (the author and year of publication is given for each one), and the level of difficulty rises by a huge amount. My average solving times fell to 20 to 30 minutes, if I was lucky to spot the solution at all!

Another problem I see with this book is that it contains only checkmate puzzles. It would be nice to have tactics leading to material gains, which are much more frequent in chess games.

5334 Chess puzzles is a lot, and there is no way anyone is going to get them all! (Well maybe Kasparov). The book itself is HUGE and leather bound and is an exquisite coffee table book. I do have one slight problem with it however. It is full of Mates in 1, 2,or 3. - and these are great. I would have liked to have seen a section on "White to move and win" or "Black to move and win" - without knowing what it is that I the reader am looking for. This is more akin to a real chess game, where one knows there is a win somewhere, but is not sure what kind to look for. Anyhow, that is a small complaint for an otherwise gorgeous book.

Four and a Half Stars.


Relic113

It has been said that this book is best for players of at least 1600 strength, due to the positional nature of the games presented and the relative lack of annotated variations. However I feel the book is excellent for anyone about 1200 or higher and I offer the following concrete reasons.

1. The book serves as a fine introduction to the concepts of positional play. That is, by carefully going through the games, you will learn about positional thinking. A second or even third run-through will reinforce these ideas and they will begin to make sense.

2. The narrative explanations are actually better for a lower rated player because they are easier to follow and understand. The lower player gets lost in a maze of variants.

3. If something is not clear (this happened to me in many places, of course) then put it on your computer and explore the situation with the help of Fritz or some other engine. Clarity will not always come but plenty of learning will take place.

4. I think most important of all the book gives the lower player something to strive for. The feeling, after repeated study of the games, of "a light going on" is something that I really appreciated. This is learning of the best kind.

Though the lower player has to spend most study time on tactics, one good book of GM games to study is important. This can easily be that book.

I like the games in this book. They are from some of the strongest players in one of the strongest tournaments. Though the analysis to the games seems accurate, I found that some times there was no explanation of things that I had a question about. And the analysis and ideas would lose me at times. Not all that clear.

Excellent, chatty entertaining annotations. Elucidates the evolution of the philosophy underlying chess strategy in excellent prefaces.

This book is constantly reviewed in glowing terms. In my opinion, this exalted status is not at all warranted. Yes, this was a great tournament with many games of very high quality. Yes, Bronstein is a brilliant and imaginative player who writes well. Furthermore, I definitely applaud Bronstein's goal "to avoid weighing down his book with variations." Nothing is more annoying than an anno-Fritzed game where the mass of variations cannot be untangled to understand the position.

However, Bronstein errs way too far in the other direction. Many games are "annotated" with no variations at all, with Bronstein relying instead on overly wordy evaluations of positions which do not allow the reader to form an objective opinion. General principles unsupported by any concrete variations are even more unhelpful than too many variations.

For example, compare the analysis of Geller-Euwe, Euwe-Najdorf, Averbakh-Kotov and Keres-Smyslov in Bronstein's book with the analysis of these games in "The World's Greatest Chess Games", and there is simply no comparison. The modern approach by Burgess and Nunn of providing enough variations to allow concrete understanding is overwhelmingly better than Bronstein's discussions of the same games. The game collections of Kotov (Grandmaster at Work), Averbakh (Averbakh's Selected Games), Smyslov (125 Games) and Taimanov (Taimanov's Selected Games) contain games from this tournament, and all of them do a much better job of annotating and explaining than Bronstein.

Overall, I have to go against the consensus and rate Bronstein's book as mediocre. (Don't lynch me.)

This is perhaps the greatest tournament book ever written. Bronstein's his psychological insights into the thinking processes of strong GMs make this book a must-have for players of all strengths.

In particular, players of sub-2200 rating will find this book a treasure and a careful study will certainly enhance your understanding of the game. For a creative and tactical genius, Bronstein does not weigh down the book with detailed variation analyses, but focusses on the broad thinking of positional and strategic matters.

Kotov in his classic "Think Like a Gramdmaster" quotes freely from this book.

The easy, conversational style of the annotations makes it a pleasure. Witness this (I am not quoting from memory here) - "It is time to introduce the reader to the secret of the backward d6 pawn in the King's India Defence...". The paragraph that follows is a deep insight into one of the fundamental positions of the KID.

Buy this book. You will be much the better player for it.

I went into the romance department of the bookstore and picked out this book. This is my first (and probably last) novel by this writer. It just simply wasn't what I was looking for in a summer read. For me, I wasn't really interested in these characters. I didn't find myself wanting to know more and some of the characters were too similar and the women seemed to have confidence issues.

The best part is how fast I got the book. When I ordered 204 Rosewood Ln from someone else because you didn't have it, it took forever, so I won't be doing that again.

74 Seaside Avenue

It won't be my last either! At first I had trouble who was who etc. But after awhile I caught on and I couldn't put it down. I loved all the characters and I can't wait to get my hands on all the previous books and the newest one. Debbie writes with such a style that has you begging for more. Maybe it does seem a little too gossipy but I loved it and heck it was enjoyable. Debbie writes so well I didn't notice I just couldn't get enough!! I loved so many of the characters I couldn't even begin to think who was my favorite.

What I like most is she doesn't have to use filthy language and dirty scenes for it to be enjoyable, which is hard in this world today. I am finding it harder and harder to escape these days so I will take it when I can get it! Thanks Ms. Macomber!! Keep on writing! :)

I have read the entire series and will read No. Eight that is coming out as a library book. I won't pay for it because I am not sure it will be great. I loved the books from the beginning especially the first four but the last ones are not nearly as engaging. The seventh one was somewhat silly and unbelievable. A chess master and a beautician? THe premise is rather unlikely and I did not care for her quirky family - rather trashy. I would skip it.

I didn't think I would go on, but I found book 7 better in story content than book 6. I am looking forward to book 8 as there were some things left unresolved in this last one.
I would recommend to Debbie, however, that she not add any more people to her cast of characters. Even with the cheat list in the front to refresh our memories, there are just too many and a new reader would find it frustrating. Less is more. I still like her writing and look forward to the Christmas book in Cedar Cove.

Teaching Chess by Todd Bardwick has helped me to keep up with my son as he learns the game. I played a little when I was young, but never having learned much about the strategy I needed help to learn....quickly! Easy to read, lots of tricks to remember concepts, appealing to adults, but clearly explained so you can share ideas with young kids learning to play.

Of all the Chess books I've reviewed, this is by far the best. Even if you don't teach Chess, as I do, you'll find this book a necessary part of your treasure box. Above and beyond just being well written, easy to comprehend, and complete, the impact of the quotes offered from the age of wisdom blows you away. As in life "When the game is over, the king and the pawn go into the same box."

This book is very well written. With a little previous chess knowledge I was able to learn enough to help teach the kids in our local school's chess club. I like the way this material is presented, it is easy to understand and structured in a way that makes a lot of sense. I would highly recommend this book. It arrived quickly also. I was emailed when the book shipped and it arrived a few days later. I really appreciated that.

I was immediately impressed with the customer service Todd provided. I had an email the book was shipped within an hour of placing my order. It arrived in less than a week too, which is unheard of. The best was yet to come. I ordered this book for a teacher friend who started a chess club for elementary students in grades 4-6. He was thrilled with the techniques and exercises inside and can't wait to start incorporating them into his weekly sessions with the kids. According to him, this is an outstanding teaching aid, and the best he has encountered since starting his chess club.

This is one of the books that my chess teacher has and also lets the class use it. Though it is more for chess teachers I also recommend it for students...

Ok . There are 31 customer reviews already and I add a 5 star (if there was 6 I would give it) to this product . ABSOLUTELY the best book on strategy !! Explained in clear and brilliant style . It's as if Seirawan is physically there at the board talking to you like a coach . It's like having your own personal coach . Seirawan knows the ins and outs of an amateur's play and he precisely pin-points them . If you are bored of reading books with pages and pages of annotations , if you would like some strategic advice that can be applied TO ANY GAME --- this is the book for you !!! I know I have been searching long for books that don't just show me one master game after another but give me some ideas I can use in my own games . I need to know which ideas work in games and this is exactly what Seirawan does . The games he uses to illustrate are brief and terse . Once he has shown how opponent uses the concept to gain advantage , he moves on !! This is very important !! Annotating the game till the end not only makes it difficult to follow but the main idea gets left behind in the jargon . This is a MASTERPIECE . It will be with me forever ....

This is the 3rd book in Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess" series. In this book Yasser discusses chess strategy and coming up with a plan. He discusses topics such as proper piece placement, and pawn structure. Once again Yasser does a good job providing clear explanations of the topics to the reader.

I would have to think that his series is about the best introductory chess series in the English language.

I purchased this the same time as Seirawan's "Tactics" book. I enjoy the author's writing style and he knows his stuff. He uses a good sense of humor to keep the reading lively and his background on the annotated masters games is informative, interesting, and engaging.

The only reason I give "Tactics" 5 stars over this one's 4 is that Tactics is just easier to read and work through. Due to the topics of this book the examples are long, some even full games, so while the explanation of the principals of the chapters is simple and straightforward it takes some serious set-aside study time to work through the examples with your own chessboard. (Tactics on the other hand with its short term calculations can be done in your head). The format of having test questions at the end doesn't gel with the subject matter as well as Tactics, but is consistent with the format of the other books of the series.

The examples take longer to work through than to get the point of the chapter--with several chapters I could correctly answer the end of chapter tests without working through the examples. You can quickly review the points of the chapters just by looking for the italicized print, and that is often enough information to answer the end of chapter questions correctly. I'm sure working through all the examples would increase the value and understanding of this book but I am someone who does not have hours a day to devote to studying chess.

Again it is an excellent book and I recommend it, I do believe it has improved my play. Just plan on scheduling serious study time when you want to read through some of it, it's not something you can read casually on your nightstand.

This is book at a mid-level skilled player who wants to add on their their basic knowledge of chess. Ideas are taken from actual play and are made into broken down examples. This is instead of using complete games (another excellent way to improve - here one of the mid-level comment on every moves book like "Logical Chess" or "Unbeatable Chess" would fit in well) the author focuses on a variety of concepts that he fees are important. This is certainly a good, but not a great book.

I started taking chess seriously about one year ago and I bought this book only a few days ago. This book is very engaging and has demystified many aspects of positional chess for me because of Mr. Seirawan's very lucid and down to earth approach to the various concepts presented. It is also very encouraging to see that even an IGM of Mr. Seirawan's ability can err during play. I am about to purchase "Winning Chess Tactics" and I know that my money will be well spent!!

This is another book on my way to chess mastery. Maybe not, but the book did improve my skills. The best part of the book was the positions to solve. After each tactic is given, there were numerous tests to complete. This sharpened the skills in being able to see the move on the board. The book is good for an beginner to an intermediate player. It is a book that would be worthy studying again in the future. I liked this book so much that I brought the second book in the series by Polgar.

Yes, the book does spend about 50 pages covering chess fundamentals, but moves directly into "puzzles" designed to build pattern recognition skills, the sort of skills Susan Polgar began learning at age four...

While I'm not at all as gifted as Ms. Polgar and won't ever be able to remember 20,000 patterns, I am confident that I can make progress with her method, and enjoy the game in the process.

A good value.

One of the best book in the market for Chess Beginner-Intermediate level. Very well written for any level reader to understand and with exercises very well documented and explained, this is a must-have for B-I level players; when I say beginner I am talking about someone that knows to play Chess.

As is expected of a Polgar, this book is very well written and easy to understand. The instructions for each section are clear enough for a novice to understand, and yet the exercises are challenging for even intermediate players. I have personally noticed an improvement in my game.

While it can be read quickly, I recommend contemplating each exercise and understanding what the lesson was before moving on to the next section...you will reach the end all too soon anyway.

But then you can go on to "Chess Tactics for Champions".

I bought this book for my 6 and 8 yr. old children who had just started playing chess and had a basic understanding of the way the chess pieces moved . The book breaks down various facets of the game in small and easily understood lessons. My kids really love this book, and it has greatly helped improve their playing. I have also learned many things from this book. I had always been a casual chess player who could think through different situations as they unfolded in the game, but after reading this book, I now have a more structured and intentional approach to playing and can visualize patterns much better. I think this book is great for anyone who would like to improve their playing above the basic level.