5 comments about Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games.

1. With over 1100 pages, the "Polgar brick" is the biggest single volume of chess instruction I know of. Its first three chapters, which together make up most of the content, are respectively collections of mates-in-one, -two and -three. It is followed by a collection of chess miniatures, which are games decided in at most 25 moves. Then follow puzzles featuring combinations extracted from the games of the author's famous daughters, some basic endgame puzzles, and finally all of the solutions.
   
   The benefits of studying tactical exercises, endgame puzzles, and complete games cannot be doubted. And yet I cannot give this book a full recommendation. It seems a shame, for example, that the vast majority of puzzles focus on mate: there are so many other kinds of tactical patterns that receive little or no coverage. I can well imagine getting to problem 500 or so, sensing the limitations of such a narrow approach, then abandoning this book for a puzzle collection that is more balanced. Even the chapters on combinations are rather unusually grouped by key squares. Some would argue that this enhances pattern recognition, but one could just as easily argue the opposite: you're not learning to recognize the pattern if it is revealed to you a priori.
   
   As for the game scores, buyers should be aware that they are accompanied by only the barest of annotations - just a few symbols here and there. The principal virtue of these games is that they're brief. I cannot say that they are the most instructive games. Again, what an opportunity lost. How nicer it would have been, for instance, to present 25 or 50 or 100 of the most instructive games from the classics, with full annotations. It wasn't the case at the book's original publication, but now anyone can extract a collection of miniatures (for what that is worth) from a database, including some which are free on the internet; so, I don't know what value this chapter offers.
   
   Still, for the budget-conscious buyer the paperback edition of this book might be a satisfactory choice. The disproportionate attention to checkmate problems is a livable condition; if you do the work, you'll improve your chess. And there is so much to do! For others, I would instead point to the more balanced puzzle collections by Emms, Palliser, Blokh, Cheng, Alburt, or Reinfeld (or the software called CT-Art by Convekta); the lovely endgame exercise books by Pandolfini or Rosen; and the wonderful annotated game collections by McDonald, Giddins, or Nunn.



2. Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games
   Good information, easy to understand.
   I recommend this item for beginners and old timers.



3. This is not my favorite chess encyclopedia, but it contains lots of good material and, especially considering its price, is worth having.
   
   I think the most useful part of this book is "600 Miniature Games." After having seen this book for years, I finally bought it for this section alone. Each of the games contains miniatures decided by decisive attacks on the King's Field (f7/f2, g7/g2, h7/h2, f6/f3, g6/g3, h6/h3), whether the king is castled or not. You can basically follow these without a chess set and sometimes I like to open this book and "do" some of these in my head as an attacking refresher. I have some of Convekta's software (CT Art, etc) but those compendia have more varied problems and with this section of L. Polgar's book, I can focus in on kingside attacking practice.
   
   Recommended.



4. This book is a must have for anyone who is even remotely interested in the game. It starts off with simple checkmating patterns that even the newest player can understand, and then progressively increases in difficulty. But no worries! Even if you are wanting to learn how to play the game, this book teaches you that too! From setting up the board to winning the game, this book is quickly becoming a staple of everyone's chess library.



5. Well, there aren't actually billions of puzzles here, but there might as well be.
   
   Without a doubt, this is a very good book if you're a normal person who's never studied chess or has only begun playing. The basic checkmate patterns are reviewed over and over and over again - and eventually, I absolutely guarantee, your work in this book will lead to victories.
   
   Now if you are really just beginning, I think the book to start with is Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess followed immediately by Chess Fundamentals (Algebraic).
   
   Then I would have recommended Simple Checkmates, and there is still nothing at all wrong with that book. It is definitely easier to carry! But this book by Polgar is very nearly just as good, with the benefit of having kajillions of puzzles.
   
   Beyond that point, you just need to study tactics forever, and ever. I can never stop recommending The Art of Checkmate to anyone above 1200 and under, say, 1500 (which I have again fallen under), but it is probably good for even better players as well.

5 comments about Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 2.

1. This is the book I've been waiting for. The usual approach to chess openings is to memorize piles and piles of endless variations, and hope to outbook your opponent. But we all realize how futile and unsatifsying that really is. Finally we have a book here that truly explains the ideas behind the moves. It also explains why certain moves are not played. It connects different openings to each other, so that you know what to do when your opponent inevitably veers away from theory. And furthermore, it helps you to handle tricky move-orders, which were always confusing to me before. With this book and his Strategy books, I think I'm starting to understand chess.



2. Well, I followed my own advice and got this book, even though I haven't
   played 1.d4 in about 20 years. I wasn't disappointed. Just as in
   Volume 1, this book is full of good practical knowledge and deep
   insights, tying the 1.d4 openings to fundamental principles, and to
   important concrete ideas. Through the theme of "cross-pollination,"
   we can see the give and take between different opening systems. As
   always with Watson, it is also beautifully written and a pleasure to
   read. This book helps me to prepare lessons for my students, and who
   knows, maybe I'll dust off that Queen's Gambit sometime.



3. First, I must confess that I have only read the chapters on the Queen's Gambit Declined and the King's Indian Defense.
   
   Queen's Gambit Declined chapter
   He gives detailed descriptions of the major themes of both the classical and exchange variations. I especially liked his discussion of the Tartakower Defense. I found his discussion of move orders to be quite interesting, subtle and useful.
   
   I should mention that the section, "Declining the Gambit; Other Second Moves", provides important information about the Marshall Defense, Baltic Defense, Albin Counter Gambit and Tchigorin Defense. In my view, the entire Queen's Gambit chapter is a "must read" for anyone who plays this opening or for all players who really wants to deepen their chess knowledge.
   
   King's Indian Defense chapter
   
   I have played the Strongpoint Variation (page 208) for many years but was not aware of many of the themes in this line. Watson's clearly describes various strategies that Black has used against 8.Be3, 8.Re1, and 8.d5. Again, a "must read" in my opinion.
   
   To conclude, as always, Watson has a wonderful knack for describing specific strategies of openings and their variations while also providing interesting example games that illustrate these strategies.



4. Very thorough book. I have yet to finish it, but studying the techiniques takes time. If your a chess enthusiast and want to expand your knowledge of chess openings then I would recommend this book.



5. This volume covers the QP openings.
   
   Like Volume 1 it explains the concepts concerning pawn structure and piece placement, rather than give variations to memorize.
   
   If you want to understand WHAT to do in an opening, rather than HOW to do it, these are the books for you.

5 comments about How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit Chess).

1. 
   
   Great book. I love the premise- and the careful way the Mr. Chandler explains it- which is that pattern recognition is a more powerful tool than in-depth computation analysis. It serves as a nice illustration of Gladwell's "Blink" theory, that less information can be more when the brain is finely tuned in to the right information. Chandler points out that a human chess pro is better than a computer because our brains can quickly filter out the irrelevant info and just recognize the broad pattern, such as a set-up for a standard mate possibility. The computer is inferior, per the author, because while it might come to the same conclusion, it has to do it by generating every single possible move with every single piece on the board, following out hundreds of thousands of possible subsequent sequences to arrive at the checkmate. Of course, I would suggest that the computer is actually superior in this respect because, even though it has to analyze hundreds of thousands of possibilities, it really doesn't mind. It doesn't get bored, fatigued, or seduced by a bold capture. But, still, I appreciate his point.
   
   The author gives examples of fifty standard checkmate motifs, and uses good illustrations to help recognize the pattern when it is there and understand the sequence of events. My only beef with the book, for which I've docked a star, is the sexist title. I can't help but comment on this in this post-Imus era. The author tells us from the start that it is really a book on how to beat anyone in chess so the title is just an eye-catcher. But I don't want to reinforce the many messages that young girls get about what they should or shouldn't be good at. Okay, to be truthful, in all the chess playing families that I can think of off the top of my head, it is in fact the fathers who are the chess nuts, who hand the game down to the next generation. But lets not reinforce the not uncommon notion that men are naturally superior chess players. I've even read the likes of Camille Paglia, in one of her faux-academic pieces, use the fact that chess champions are all men as evidence for a male superiority in spatial and mathematical reasoning. Without going too far into what is a complicated and emotionally loaded argument, I would just direct people to do a little internet search on Judit Polgar if you are not already familiar.
   
   Still, overall, thumbs up. A good book, really for beginning to intermediate chess fans of any age, which will increase your arsenal of offensive tricks and improve your defensive vigilance.



2. This book isnt really about how to beat your dad at chess, because your dad could be bobby fischer or not even know how to play chess (just wanted to clear that up for u guys)
   
   This book has 50 mates and its about pattern recognition, that means pretty much just pounding it into your head so u can remember to use it when you have the chance. its a really good book, i would get it.



3. Before reading this book, I played chess like a scared chipmunk, obsessing about little details like whether pushing this pawn would weaken my position by a picounit. This book helped me see that the way to win games at the amateur level is to attack, to be aggressive, to go after the enemy king like he is your nemesis, to crank open his position like a sardine can and commit regicide.
   
   The book's title is somewhat misleading in that the book is very narrow in scope (a full book on how to beat dad would have to include discussion of openings, endgames, and more general chess strategy and tactics). Rather, it contains fifty practical checkmating patterns that frequently come up in real games. If the basic mating patterns (e.g., how to mate with a King and Queen versus a lone King) are the alphabet of checkmate, this book is the grammer of checkmate. The patterns consist of beautiful 3-5 move combinations that you will have opportunities to apply in many of your games.
   
   If you are looking for a beginner chess book, get the Idiot's Guide to Chess. That is the best place to start from square one. Then learn some very basic tactics (e.g., Pandolfini's Beginning Chess). Then get and read this book. Over and over. With these patterns ingrained in your mind, you will spot them in the far distance during games, aim for them, and go in for the kill. Sure, sometimes you will crash and burn, but that will only make you more prepared for the next game.
   
   Thanks to Chandler for writing this book. It has made chess fun for me again.



4. I'm a weak player, but curious, so I set up both Chessmaster and Chess Genius with the layout shown for Damiano's Mate, the 8th Deadly Checkmate, but the first example from the introduction.
   
   Neither engine cooperated with Chandler's script by taking 7.Kg1, because both recognized another option: While 7.Qh5 didn't change the outcome of the game, it extended it by nearly 60 moves!
   
   It seems unlikely that this board position is (as Chandler describes) the same one where Grandmaster John Nunn recognized the winning combination in two seconds, because the white queen on e2 changes everything!
   
   That doesn't mean the book is worthless, of course, but it does shake my faith in the author somewhat. If I were a GM, I would recognize the typo and move on; as a novice who is probably the target of this book, I find the gap between explanation and reality most confusing. Has this error been corrected in a revised edition?



5. This book really improved my beginning chess. First, Chandler gives a great overview of why pattern recognition is important. Then he proceeds to show certain board set-ups to demonstrate various checkmating techniques. Don't be fooled by the title, this is a great book for all beginning chessplayers; more experienced players may already have seen this material, though probably not nearly so elegantly presented! When I began playing correspondence chess with some of my (equally matched) friends, this book did more for me than almost any other (some tactics books were also very helpful, and should be part of your learning experience). In fact, my recommendation would be to tell your friends about this book, but keep it secret from your chess enemies!

5 comments about Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1.

1. This books is a great addition to anyone's chess library. To achieve best improvement you should be:
   
   1) in the 1500 rating vicinity or higher.
   2) You are reasonably good with simple tactics so that you don't spend lots of time questioning why certain moves hasn't been played
   3) You don't get out of book quickly in most common openings even if you don't know the whole line
   4) in other words, you can make reasonably sound opening moves more than not if you don't know the line.
   5) You are familiar and have played a number of common openings like the Ruy Lopez, The Scicilian, QGD, etc
   6) You need to increase your positional awareness
   7) After a number of moves in the opening you feel you don't know how to proceed.
   
   If you are most or all of the above then this book will greatly help you. It will help you explore themes that arise from openings and help you link middle game plans with openings, one of the ways that separates you from amateurdome.
   
   Study the book carefully. Read it more than once (not necessarily cover to cover). Select openings you'd like to concentrate on and know more about and read and reread.
   
   The book is very thorough and detailed and also give game examples to stress the point. It deals the most common variations and leaves other less important out (this is however subjective as some readers will complain. Check the review on Jeremy Silman's site). A good start for later deeper diving.
   
   As with most chess books, some of the stuff he says won't make sense either because they really don't make sense or because you still don't have enough understanding of the concepts, so always have a critical mind. Always have a critical mind and ask yourself questions before jumping to the author's analysis. That will help you absorp the concepts. Computer analysis is a great tool for you to understand moves that the author left.
   
   Now that didn't sound like a book review, rather a how-to, but I'm saying that cuz I've been through this. I was first reading the book as any other books and it turned out to me no more than variations with some description. Only when I followed the above, I discovered how helpful this book is. I learned to pay attention when the author talks about typical plans arising from the opening. This is very important.
   
   I didn't like much Chapter 3 that everyone raves about. I think it confused me more than helped. Skim through it quickly and refer to it later every once in a while.
   
   My other criticism is that some other important openings have been left out, so check the table of contents and see if your favourite opening is there.
   
   Needless to say, GET BOTH VOLUMES!



2. From fromt to back, this book improved my game drastically. Openings are simplified and explained thoroughly. Watson breaks it down move by move and tells the reader the why's and hows and backs it up with plentiful examples of real life games. Highly recommended!



3. I have examined 2/5ths of volume 1 and roughly another fifth in volume 2: my impression is, if you have a good grounding in general opening theory, you will find this material merely repetitive. It does not educate an advanced palate except coincidentally. Of course, it will here and there add an insight to your learning, but that's as any text will do that has been seriously written. The level of the material is, in general, elementary and, of course, in a work of this size, far from encyclopedic. A player above ~1800 will not be well served, unless he wishes to fill gaps in his overall knowledge of the openings. You will not be able to play any of the openings covered in a competitive setting: it simply covers too much ground to provide the player with anything approaching an adequate preparation. Moreover, since opening theory is largely concrete (this is the gist of Watson's Modern Chess Strategy as well), even in this respect Mastering the Openings is apt to be as dangerous as it is beneficial.
   
   A student can obtain this material in less expensive, less verbose presentations; and studying the great masters will absolutely advance your understanding of opening play far more concretely and with greater sophistication than do these volumes. Someone once asked Bobby Fischer how best he could improve his chess play; Fischer directed him to study a comprehensive opening manual (like Nunn's). After completing his assignment some time later, the student returned to Fischer with the same query. Fischer directed him to go read it again. With openings, that's about the sorry best of it, I am afraid.
   
   Still, for the uneducated, as an opening primer it IS adequate, albeit, since it is published in two volumes, time consuming and, again, unduly expensive. If you wish to pay over much for insufficient material, this is your baby. Otherwise, avoid it. I can unequivocally state, I am very disappointed in the purchase.
   
   tlt



4. Watson has succeeded in producing a great book that introduces the opening and the correct approach to developing an understanding of the various openings. He first gives three chapters on the elements underlying the openings for the weaker player. Then follows the openings themselves; they are fully explained with words and not just analysis (as is contained in reference works such as Modern Chess Openings). The analysis follows the ideas and does not just substitute for it. There are many complete games to show how the ideas work out to their logical conclusion.
   The book does not cover all the openings, but it does cover all the main openings used in current top level chess. Watson concentrates on sound openings that will give the player good competitive chances. He avoids the marginally sound and bizarre openings that some players use in an attempt to confuse an opponent. Such tactics usually end in the player of those openings getting a disadvantage.
   By concentrating on ideas, analysis, and games Watson shows how to prepare for using an opening in competition and how to continue adding to and improving the opening for future use.
   This book puts the old Ideas Behind the Chess Openings by Fine to shame. Before he died Fine had the chance to update his book; instead, he choose to leave it a half-century out of date and woefully incomplete.
   Players should applaud Watson for finally providing the work needed to really understand and master the opening.



5. This volume covers the KP openings.
   
   Like Volume 2 it explains the concepts concerning pawn structure and piece placement, rather than give variations to memorize.
   
   If you want to understand WHAT to do in an opening, rather than HOW to do it, these are the books for you.

5 comments about Forcing Chess Moves: The Key to Better Calculation.

1. I have a lot of books on tactics, but none of them explains how I need to look at positions to be able to find all those great moves. After reading Forcing Chess Moves, I finally feel like I can find combinations over the board and not just in a book!
   
   There are tons of cool positions and a lot of useful quizzes throughout the book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their tactical ability.



2. This is an interim review as I'm less than half way through the book but really loving it. The aim of the book is to overcome human bias in ruling out outrageous 'computer' moves that might lead to an instant win or gain of material. I suppose I am as guilty as the next person of playing automatic recaptures and rejecting sacrificial continuations that appear to peter out. However in my case, the main reason is that I am a lazy analyser.
   The reason I like this book so much is the clarity and helpfulness of the analysis. Each of the over 600 positions in the book is shown with a white or black square next to it indicating who is to move. Hertan then gives the main line of the solution. He also explains why plausible options don't work and gives all the reasonable alternative lines. And he does this all in a very concise way.
   The way I am using the book is as to improve my analysis skills. I study each diagram with the solution that follows it covered up. Then I compare my analysis with Hertan's to see what important lines I missed, or where I gave up on a line too soon.
   This is definitely not a beginner's book on tactics. It assumes you know basic tactics likes pins, forks and back rank mate combinations. As a puzzle book, the positions are more difficult than Reinfeld's 1001 books but not too much harder. The real differentiator for me is the quality of the explanations.



3. I used to think I was pretty good at tactics and calculating variations..until I got this book. I've come to see that I have a biased "play it safe" mode that keeps me from seeing the dynamic potential in alot of positions. And I am terrible at calculating with precision. As the author says, close enough is not good enough...you must strive for precision. This book is helping me in each of those areas. The examples are HARD. Usually when you get a book on tactics the first few chapters are a breeze. Not so here. These are advanced, difficult problems, that have FORCED me to go where I haven't gone before: 1) looking for and analyzing moves I wouldn't even have considered before 2) calculating with precision. It's like having a personal chess coach in alot of ways. I also like that there are typically a number of examples of one theme (ie. corridor mate..back rank..etc) grouped together to help you in pattern matching for your own games.
   
   Overall a terrific book! Whenever you find a book that helps identify and remedy a serious area of chess weakness it is well worth the money!



4. I've got plenty of tactics books, even tactical programs like ct-art (which is awesome btw). But there is something magical about this book! The tactics are so rich and vibrant and truely do change the way you look at positions. You'll find after going through about 50 of these puzzles (out of 650 I think) that you are yourself looking at the board differently. Also this book is thick for a modern day chess book less than 20 bucks, I was shocked to get this book in my hands and discover how the publishing company didnt "cheap out" on the size or text like they were going out of business... Buy this book, you wont regret it...



5. I'm a big fan of studying tactics to improve at chess, and I have a large collection of books on the subject. This is a very well written book on tactics, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Good layout, large diagrams, and the fonts and printing are excellant. This challenging book contains 650 fresh and very exciting tactical positions divided into examples and exercises. My only possible critism is that it could use even more exercises, but I keep a note card in the book to cover the answers to the examples and I use them as exercises also. This may not be the best for a beginners first book on tactics, but it is outstanding for intermediate players looking to improve. It is defintely on my deserted island must have list.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, Third Edition.

1. Primers on chess are notoriously poor, since many mediocre players (e.g., Pandolfini) consider themselves qualified to write them, and some cynics (e.g., Schiller) churn out primer after primer on the assumption their victims lack the skill to realize how bad they are. There are, however, exceptions: primers by strong players which respect the reader, such Capablanca's and Purdy's. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" is such a book. The writer (a stronger player than Schiller or Pandolfini can ever hope to be) does not repeat others, but gives thought to what beginners REALLY need to know--and it shows.
   
   He deals respectfully with the history of chess, giving important facts without (false) "fun" anecdotes about the "insanity" of champion X. Even his "why play chess at all?" section is fresh, without any waffle about the "beauty of the immortal game of chess": chess is a fair game where opponents on all levels are easy to find, and it is never boring. THAT is what beginners need to know. The same care is seen in the choice and presentation of the technical material. For example, Wolff deals with space and weak squares, crucial to those who want to become decent chess players, but which most primers simply ignore.
   
   It is no insult to Capablanca's or Purdy's classic primers to say that, finally, a better book for beginners had arrived. Like those primers, it is a book by a very strong player who gave much thought to what beginners really need to know. But it also brings the reader up-to-date on issues (computer chess especially, but also more recent chess history) that the earlier books, of course, couldn't deal with.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. 
   Concisely written that slowly guides players who want to gain a better understanding of how to strategically play (or better yet, at least have a chance vs. more knowledgeable players). Well layed out. One can ease through the text as the information is presented at a liesurely yet practical pace. Refreshing and not overbearing.



3. I learned a lot in this and there were a lot of diagrams for visual learners.



4. 
   
   I bought this book couple of weeks ago and I am done with this book!! It is very interesting book; it is like a mini encyclopedia. This book is big, but for someone who knows basics about chess need not to read the first 120 pages. I finished the first 120 pages in less than 2 hr. This book well explains the principle, strategy and tactics of the game. Worth reading it, it will never make you an idiot as some of the reviewer's told here.



5. Brilliant book. Don't let the title fool you. This is one of the most well-written books about chess I have come across, and the drills are great. It's probably the best beginner book you could read; most beginner books just tell you how all the pieces move and leave it at that. This book actually goes through the various tactics like forks, skewers, uncovered attacks, etc., in a manner that is understandable and fun. Then it moves onto positional considerations. I improved my game by several hundred points by using the techniques I learned in this book, and it made me want to go out and read more books about chess to further develop my skills. HIGHLY recommended!!!!!

5 comments about Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master.

1. the best endgame book I have seen, easy to understand and
   divided as to your skill, also easy to remember , Silman is great teacher.



2. This book is one of the best I've read until now. It is really a pleasure to read it for hours and hours.



3. I bought this book for a specific purpose: to learn more about drawing Rook vs Rook + pawn endings. I've been working through Convekta's Chess Endgame Training and have found that many exercises end in a position declared a draw but that would still leave me nervous as the weaker side. One strong player told me that every Russian schoolboy know those drawn positions. Oh, to be a Russian schoolboy.
   
   IM Silman's book does indeed address these positions in some detail. Initially, I was not able to find the information, having relied on a quick scan and a look in the index, which has no entry for 'draw'. I sent IM Silman's an email asking why such important information had been omitted. I was surprised to receive a warm and helpful email in reply that explained that, in the spriit of the book itself, infromation about R vs R + P endings was introduced in stages throughout the book. He also mentioned Emms book on rook endings which contains the same material but compacted into one place over 13 pages.
   
   I prefer IM Silman's treatment because ultimately the collected pieces form a more thorough whole.
   
   Overall, the book is a treasure. I don't know of another work that is so accessible, yet complete. Previously I had to make due with the interesting but error-ridden Endgame Course by Pandolfini. One thing I do like about Pandolfini's book is the catchy names he applies to endgame techniques and positions. IM Silman also uses that mneumonic technique but to a lesser extent.
   
   I had also previously relied on Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual. That is a superb reference book but not friendly to someone learning the ropes. For example, Dvoretsky has a page on corresponding squares. It became clear that I was not comprehending the nuances of what he was saying. I tried and tried. In the end I bought Müller and Lamprecht's Secrets of Pawn Endings which covered the same concept but over the course of a dozen pages. Then I got it. I think.
   
   IM Silman's book, on the other hand, is designed so that there are no unresolved mysteries at each stage. Its a nice concept and well done.
   
   The only thing that keeps me from giving the book a full five stars is the single-column format. The book is beautifully laid out and with generous diagrams but I remain convinced the a two column layout is superior.



4. Silman is a master at understanding the mentality of someone that doesn't already know what he's about to teach them. His ever pragmatic and often humorous approach is much appreciated in an endgame book, as most books on that phase of the game tend to be on the dry side.
   
   My only quibble is that he seems to back off of complexity in the later "courses" in favor of more abstract advice. My gut feeling is that at the higher levels it is even more important to know specific techniques and concepts, like knight and pawn vs knight, queen and pawn vs queen, basic techniques for queen vs rook, rook and pawn vs knight/bishop and pawn(s), and so on. Also, the section on the "five greatest endgame players of all time" seemed a little perfunctory somehow, perhaps because most of the games he selected there occur in so many other anthologies.
   
   Overall, though, a wonderful and much needed addition to chess literature.



5. Jeremy Silman is certainly one of the world's best chess writers. His "Reassess Your Chess," pretty much universally acknowledged as a great chess book, has helped countless people enjoy chess to a greater extent (myself included). His "Complete Book of Chess Strategy" covers the basics in a clear, concise way. His "Reassess Your Chess Workbook" is a valuable learning tool for any chess player. And the list goes on.
   
   But here, Silman chose a different topic from his other books. His "Endgame Course" concentrates entirely on the endgame, a mysterious, and quite beautiful realm of a chess game that too few players really know much about. Seeing that many consider the endgame to be boring and unimportant, Silman sought to create a book that not only taught the player many endgame secrets, but showed the reader the beauty and fascination of an endgame, that instilled a love of the endgame in the reader. He has succeeded admirably.
   
   The book is divided into chapters, one for each rating group. Thus, you can concentrate on which material would be appropriate for your rating level (or your estimated rating level.) For the least experienced beginners, Silman presents such simple topics as overkill mates, etc. As we move up the rating ladder, we find such topics as Opposition, Rook Endings, the Lucena and Philidor positions, and eventually, a fun chapter on endgame tactics. The book is ending by a fascinating chapter on the five greatest endgame players of all time. I don't know how he does it, but Silman managed to make each topic fun and interesting to learn, all by using wit and humor. Even the descriptions contained in the back of the book detailing recommended endgame books are fun-to-read. Who knew chess-reading could be so much fun?
   
   With fun, yet with great depth, Silman explored a part of chess that I previously would have nothing to do with. Now, I'm and endgame expert and I had a great time becoming one, thanks to this great book. Recommended for ANY chess player. We all need to know the secrets of the endgame, and there is no better way to accomplish this than by using this book.

5 comments about Chess for Children.

1. I have seen countless books on chess aimed at youngsters over the years, but this is probably the nicest introduction I have ever seen, aimed at primary school children. The problem with so many books is that they are too ambitious, too wordy or just downright boring, but such criticisms in no way apply to this latest addition.
   
   The game is taught through the medium of a cartoon character, George, and his pet alligator, Kirsty, a self-proclaimed Grand Alligator of Chess. The large format pages and large diagrams are easier on the young eye, and the language is readily accessible to a young age group.
   
   The book consists of six parts. Part One covers the basics of how the pieces move, then subsequent parts take the young beginner through a succession of easy, welldefined stages, until by the end of the book you are able to play through and understand a complete game. The book is also very much inter-active, as there are tests interspersed at regular intervals throughout.
   
   As I said earlier, over-ambition is the main problem with so many beginners books, but here the authors have set out with the very limited objective of getting the child started on a very basic level. Opening theory, middlegame strategy and endgame technique have no place here. The emphasis is on learning the basics in an enjoyable manner. If you have a young child or relative who wants to learn chess, then I can thoroughly recommend this book, which in addition to everything I have already said comes at a very reasonable price.
   
   This review first appeared in the magazine En Passant.



2. This book is an excellent place to start teaching children chess. I almost gave it four stars because I don't think children under 7 or 8 will be able to tackle it themselves without an adult. It would still serve as an excellent guide for older children and teens and with an adult's help any younger child would love it. It has great outlines and pictures of how the pieces move, the rules, special rules (en passant for example) and can be referenced easily by anyone. Great job by Mr.Chandler.



3. I bought this book for my children's school library. I am the chess coach at their school and have been making efforts to increase the library's collection of chess books for children. This book is a fine addition to the collection. As I read through it I thought that my K-2 crew would probably enjoy it more than my 3-5 crew, but so be it. I think learning any activity should include reading about it, in addition to having personal instruction. This book will help those little ones to develop good learning habits and good chess habits as well.



4. This book is great for teaching beginning children all about playing chess. It uses simple language, and clear explanations, for easy understanding. Cartoon character images help to keep children interested as Kirsty (a pet alligator) teaches George how to play. No prior knowledge of how to play required.



5. I am using this book to teach my two older children (6 and 4) and my wife (who never learned) how to play chess.
   
   It is WELL done at having bite sized lessons followed by exercises. (I add some additional ones of my own.)
   
   I was concerned about the algebraic chess notation lesson with my four year old, but he did great!
   
   The best part about this book is that it isn't just a "here are the rules" book. Last night we went through the lesson on the value of pieces and talking about whether a swap is good or not. Some other really good lessons are the ones showing common checkmates, that talk about what to do when in check, and the chapter on forks, pins, and skewers.
   
   This is a great book, but understand that it is for the absolute beginner. I think it is going MUCH better using this book than if I had tried to teach the kids just by myself.

5 comments about The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance.

1. Josh Waitzkin is an eight time National Chess Champion by the age of 20 - who then moved on to become a martial arts champion - holding several world championship titles. This book is worthy of reading simply to gain an insight into what it takes to be a world class competitor (and winner) - the focus, the incredible concentration, the physical and mental discipline, the grit and determination - and the access to the best coaches and opponents. However, there was little translation from the "What" he accomplished to the "HOW" - as the learning techniques were were not spelled out. If you expect to pick up this book to learn how to get to the top as a world champion, you'll be sorely disappointed.
   
   This passage on page 88 captured the essence of his message to me:
   
   "To my mind, the fields of learning and performance are an exploration of greyness - of the in-between. There is the careful balance of pushing yourself relentlessly, but no so hard that you melt down. Muscles and mind need to stretch to grow, but if stretched too thin, they will snap. A competitor needs to be process-oriented, always looking for strong opponents to spur growth, but it is also important to keep on winning enough to maintain confidence. We have to release our current ideas to soak in new material, but not so much that we lose touch with our unique nature talents. Vibrant, creative idealism needs to be tempered by a practical, technical awareness."



2. This book presents a very eloquent and rigorous examination of the learning process. Despite a handful of critical reviewers, I find the principles translate very well to other disciplines if you put a little thought into it. The principles are most easily adapted to performance-based disciplines, such as music, dance, any kind of public speaking, and, of course, competitive fields such as sports and chess. However, the principles also apply to any discipline that requires mastery of fundamental skills leading to an ability to use these skills to deal creatively with new problems. Yes, this should include science and language learning. The book doesn't tell you specifically how to learn the fundamentals of any particular discipline. Nor could it--this is something that really requires either the guidance of a teacher or a rigorous process of self-exploration. Rather, Mr. Waitzkin attempts (quite successfully, I think) to drive home the point that progress comes when we slow down the material we are learning to the point that the nuances of the subject open up to us. The secret is to love this process and not get thrown off course by impatience or lack of concentration. Mr. Waitzkin's passionate discussions of his fields do much to illustrate the feeling that you must try to access in your own field. This has apparently gone over the head of some reviewers (who don't appear to have made much of an effort to understand the book), but the number of positive reviews should tell you that there are at least a few profound insights in this book.
   
   Also, a few reviewers complain that this book is only useful for someone with the time and money to spend devoting themselves to their hobbies. It's true, most of us could not afford to spend all our time practicing Tai Chi, as Mr. Waitzkin apparently does. The book does not offer shortcuts. However, if you have a job at which you want to excel, you will certainly have enough time to take advantage of the principles. Further, even if you want to excel at your hobby and only have an hour a week to spend on it, your time will still be better spent practicing slowly and immersing yourself in the details, as Mr. Waitzkin advises. The process will be longer, but if you love what you're doing, that shouldn't matter.



3. I aim to emulate a lot of the practices described in this book. It's a fast and entertaining read, but I plan to go back and take notes on some of the recommendation sections. I recommend it to anyone in pursuit of excellence or who needs to overcome a major obstacle.



4. Josh is definitely on to something. The learning principles he outlines in this book are priceless. This book is thick with good ideas. I had to stop after many chapters to make sure I absorbed the information.
   
   He is clearly well-read when it comes to philosophy and human psychology. And he relates his academic training to his careers in chess and Ti Chi in an illuminating way. The parallels between these seemingly unrelated disciplines are striking. Josh's writing helps you understand how his learning process can be applied to many fields of study.
   
   This book is also very well written. Let me state that again because so few authors are as gifted as Josh: This book is very well written. I loved the vivid descriptions of his chess and Ti Chi battles.
   
   After reading this book I look forward to hearing him speak someday.
   
   The only negative I can think of is that this book may not be very accessible to people who are not already "learners". If you are not interested in learning and improving your ability to learn, this book may be inaccessible to you.
   
   I've always enjoyed learning and honing my personal learning process, so I absolutely loved this book. This is the type of book that I will apply to my learning pursuits and then read again (probably in a year) to make sure I absorbed everything.



5. "The Art of Learning" by Josh Waitzkin, while largely autobiographical, contains some really priceless ideas on concept of skill mastery.
   
   The book is an insider's look at what it takes to becoming world class in any field. The second part of the book, which talks about Josh's journey through the martial arts is particularly revealing in this regard. Focus, but also recuperation, are crucial elements... this is very well illustrated in the book, through examples from Josh's life.
   
   Besides that, a lot of it is downright inspirational... I was particularly inspired by Josh's account of training through an arm injury to reach an ever greater level of success. A lesson to all of us who sit on the sidelines as soon as we get hurt a little.
   
   I would have loved to hear perhaps a "metaphysical" perspective on the Art of Learning... does complete devotion to a skill lead to happiness, ultimately? Perhaps the subject of a later book!
   
   Paul
   paultheo2004@yahoo.ca

5 comments about Practical Chess Exercises: 600 Lessons from Tactics to Strategy.

1. Yes, I truly think so, though neither I possess or study chess books on a regular basis. I am just a 1600-1700 ranked player who does not spend much time for studying.
   Concept is similar to "How Good is Your Chess" by Larry Evans, but this time you do not have 3 options to chose from. I prize selection of board's positions - they teach! Solutions are well explained and SHORT.
   You have about 100 pages (6 puzzles on each), so if you take one page a day or two, pleasure will last about 1/2 a year. The only draw-back is the size of board squares. I wish they were bigger (format/or number of pages should be larger).



2. Six diagrams on the left, six short solutions on the right. What's so original? The diagrams are strewn at random, an easy fork, a deep combination, a bit of opening theory, what ever. It's as if you had wandered into a club and started looking over shoulders. That means one must study EVERYTHING before thinking of an answer. Not unlike real life. The author says to cover the right hand page with a card; well of course. The problems are very well selected. I think that I might learn something here.



3. This book is an outstanding collection of tests on various themes in chess (not only tactics, but also attack, defense, threat identification, counterplay, openings, middlegame, endgame, the thought process, positional play and strategy). The examples are unique here, as John Watson puts it simply in the introduction: "Ray's understanding of the ways in which amateurs oversight that don't occur to the masters who usually write exercise books." This is the key advantage of the collection, which provides very instructive feedback on every test position (running from easy * to very difficult **** regardless of the theme, good for identifying one's weaknesses). The level is about 1600-2000. I hope this approach will become a new popular way to write chess training books for all levels!



4. One of the best puzzle book I'read.
   It reproduces tournament conditions because no hints on problems and they varies from tactics, to strategy to openings. Also, difficulty is mixed on easy, medium, hard and very hard.
   So, start your clock and think like in a tournament. Find the best move ! May be you have to defend yourself and thats the solution !.
   Excelent book !



5. Good book as chess coach. Good instruction material as well as useful lessons for myself.