Board Games Books

The most elementary chess matters are wrong. For instance: "...Black didn't advance the e-pawn to d5" (page 24), and "When Black advances the d pawn two squares to d6..." (page 103). On page 35 we read "The armies are at equal strength", but this refers to a position in which Black is a rook ahead. On page 109 "checkmate" is illustrated by two illegal positions (in the second of which Black has two kings).

The young reader is also given a little politics. On pages 138 and 140 Schiller goes awry with the French for FIDE, whereas on page 115 he inexplicably refers to "the Professional Chess Association (WBCA)".

The book's prose would be shameful from a 12-year-old, and even the proper use of apostrophes is beyond Schiller. Examples: "a normal part of most top young player's days" (page 23) and "Beginner's are usually advised to never resign" (page 121).

One final irresistible quote is the typically slipshod reference on page 94: "...as Gabe relates (on page whatever)".

Edward Winter

As a fulltime chess professional and chess trainer,(I run the Stan Vaughan's Las Vegas Chess Club) I am always interested in taking a look at new books out by fellow professional chess teachers, coaches, and trainers.Eric Schiller most certainly qualifies as one of a handful of top coaches and trainers in America, having trained or coached many of America's top "whiz kids" and promising prodigies. As a successful trainer myself (having numerous individual and club team national scholastic championships earned by my students) I was interested to see if this book had any new ideas of use to me or my students. It does! One of the outstanding new concepts I found from this book was Mr. Schiller's expression of piece values. Many books designed for beginners use whole numbers. In my instructions I have usually modified this, using fractions, which is sometimes difficult for kids aged 4 and up who haven't had fractions in school as yet. Mr. Schiller solves this longtime problem, simply multiply by ten so that a quen is worth 90 while minor pieces are 35. Now why hadn't anyone of us trainers thought of that before! The book has lots of photos and of course games from these "whiz kids" and all in easy to read large type. My only possible criticism of the book is that the "basics of chess" starts on page 95, instead of at the front, prior to the whiz kids games analysis etc. Other very minor criticisms would be simple nitpicking such as FIDE is the International Chess Federation, while competitor World Chess Federation is a different organization. Also the big payday in 92 of 5 million for Fischer-Spassky 2 certainly tops 3 million. But all in all the book is well worth the price, if only for the piece valuation innovation of Schiller, let alone a nice collection of games.

The manual to the game is terrible. Usually, guides flesh out the mechanics of game play. Not so here. No mention is made of how things are done in the game. Instead the book is made up of a glossary, comments on naval life, tactics and ships in the late 18th and early nineteenth centuries and discussions of historical scenarios.

The glossary is padded. Knowing what a "club tack" may be useful for the game (the play isn't explained) but most people know what a pistol is.

The historical commentary is good for beginners but how many beginners will buy this game without a friend who already knows these basics urging on the purchase? What would have been nice is adding commentary on the hypothetical campaigns. To wit, what must be done to acheive different levels of victory. Not a word on campaigns is mentioned,

Like the game, this book was rushed out the door. The game can be patched; the book can't.