1 comments about Dangerous Weapons: 1e4e5: Dazzle Your Opponents in the Open Games! (Everyman Chess).

1. This is a great book that offers excellent and very thorough coverage of many openings or specific variations that otherwise have received insufficient treatment in the literature. I was especially happy to see Flear's chapter on the Bird Defense vs. the Lopez, which updates his previous work in Offbeat Spanish (which had been itself, IMHO, the most up-to-date treatment previously). I think he also wrote the chapter on the ...g6 system for Black in the Open Games (especially versus the Scotch and Four Knights). For that alone, this is a great book and worth having. But there is so much more -- and every line is not only interesting and sound but very thoroughly treated. There is stuff on the "Modern" way of playing the Max Lange Attack as White, the Center Game (where White typically sacs the e-pawn), the Bishop's Gambit (though not as good as The Fascinating King's Gambit -- but it is just an article, of course), and the Four Knights for White versus the Rubinstein (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.O-O!) I have written a much longer review online elsewhere, but that about sums it up. If you play 1.e4 e5 as White or Black, this is a must have! And what else would you expect from Emms and Flear?

5 comments about Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors, Part 5 (My Great Predecessors).

1. Let me start with the obvious question: Should I buy this book.
   
   YES!
   
   Here's why:
   
   Kasparov has written a series that will keep any chess player busy for years. Yes, he made numerous errors, especially in the earlier volumes. However, he has been learning how to write as he has continued through the other volumes. He has listened to, and responded appropriately to criticisms (especially by including non-Russian predecessors in volume IV).
   
   Volume V is factually much more accurate than any of its predecessors in part because Kasparov was alive and analysing these games as they occurred. The level of his analysis is mind-boggling, and yet he still manages to make the notations readable. Once again, he has used computers to double-check his work, and once again, he has freely used many other people's analysis (usually without crediting them). However, this is clearly Kasaparov's book, and perhaps the single best chess book ever published.
   
   I am sure that players will find errors in this book, but that is the nature of chess and of chess books. Instead of berating the author for his oversights, I plan on having fun seeing if I can spot even one! It may take me a few years, because there is so much meat to it.
   
   There was a review written on March 12, before the book was published, which is basically a re-hash of the old criticisms of previous volumes. I don't think the old criticisms are fair for this new volume. If the previous reviewer has specific examples of sloppiness or careless analysis, I'd like to see them. But let me repeat, I consider this the best chess book ever written.



2. EXCELLANT BOOK. CLEARLY EXPRESSES THE VIEWS OF MR. KASPAROV. BOOK IN EXCELLANT CONDITION. A MUST READ FOR ALL CHESS ENTHUSIASTS.



3. Reviewing Karpov's life and skills from Kasparov's point of view is the most attractive experience that I've had among all massive chess books that have been studied. It's been very enjoyable.



4. This is Volume Five of the five-volume set of My Great Predecessors. I had to do a lot of shopping around to find each volume at a price I could afford, but if you are serious about developing an understanding of chess strategy, this set is an excellent resource. The books cover the history of great chessmasters, detailing many of their games. I don't start at page one and read through them sequentially; rather, I look up a particular strategy and lay out the game on my chessboard to move through it. One game usually leads to another, and I can spend hours going through the volumes this way. [NOTE that this review is authored by my 19-year-old son.]



5. Kasparov has produced a five volume set about the former world chess champions giving hindsights about the strongest players the champions met while they were at the chess summit. In this fifth volume, he breaks his earlier rules: this volume bears the name of one who never was world champion, namely Viktor Kortchnoi. Moreover, one can no longer find any subchapter on the rivals of both K and K this time: surprising since Kasparov was only one of the many talented young players coming to the fore between 1975 and 1985; think of Beliavsky, vaganian, Romanishin, Hübner, Tony Miles, Ljubojevic, Mecking, Sokolov, Yusupov, Psahis who was twice URSS champion, beating Gazza on the way to his title in 1982...Curious, indeed...

5 comments about Chess Exam And Training Guide: Rate Yourself And Learn How To Improve.

1. This is not a typical chess book. It's more like a puzzle book. But instead of mate in 5 type of tactics problems, it covers all aspects of the game in 100 questions, opening, middlegame, endings, positional, tactical, planning (I wish there were more). It is so much fun to do the exercises and they are well chosen. It will definitely improve your play and identify your weak areas.
   
   Another great thing about the book that makes it stand out is the answer keys. You have to come up with 2 answers, one is assessment and the second is the correct move. That eliminates the luck factor from the assessment. Also there's no true/false answer, but you get 5 points for the correct, 1 for the incorrect but close, and sometimes you get points deducted for those that are obviously wrong.
   
   You can take this book with you anywhere you go, anywhere you have to wait for a long time and need some pass time. As for the assessment accuracy I will know when I'm done. But that's not a big concern for me. The interim
   that comes after each 10 questions shows me 200 points below what I thought I am, but I am hoping this will increase later.
   
   Strongly recommended.



2. I finished the 100 exercises in a total of 29 hours, what represents spending 17 minutes per exercise. It was a very interesting experience. My ICC rating (standard) is about 1750. The book estimated my rating as 1820. So, very close.
   
   While I was doing the exercises I had the feelling that my game was improving. The positions presented are all very interesting. When you find yourself thinking: "this one is easy", analyse more carefully because there are a lot of "hidden ideas".
   
   But don't think that the job is finished when you complete the tests. This is about 70% of the total job. Now you have to input your results in a table and calculate your score, overall and by 12 categories: opening, middlegame, endgame strategy, strategy, tactics, attack, defense, threat, counterattack, calculation, sacrifice and standard endgame positions.
   
   For each of this 12 categories, the autor gives advices on training and books for reading. In my opinion, this is the differential of this book. After completing the tests, you have an idea of where your game is weaker and what to do to improve.
   
   Now that I have finished the book I will follow his advices and maybe, in 1 or 2 years, I will be back here to say if my game improved or not.
   
   I will not give 5 stars because of following reasons:
   a) the process of inputing the scores into the tables (so that you can see your ratings) is very laborious and operational. You should be very careful to avoid mistakes. The book owners should have free access to a spreadsheet which would substitute this laborious process.
   b) there are only 6 exercises on openings. I don't believe that with such a small number of exercises, one can evaluate properly the level of your opening play.
   c) in the Tactical session the autor refers to "Tactical Motifs" from "Mr. Bloch". Actually the correct reference is "Combinative Motifs" from Mr. Blokh.
   
   Afterall, I recommend this book for those who want to improve but does not know exactly how to do it. At the end, you will have a training plan to follow. No shortcuts. I don't recommend for begginers.



3. I have now made some progress here. The questions are excellent and doing the work is educational. I have not tried the last half of the book yet.



4. This book is unique and worth the purchase price. It is mainly a rather difficult exam which covers all ranges of chess expertise and therefore we novices miss many of the questions completely and this is a little difficult to tolerate. Fortunately the 100 questions are broken up into 10 sections and you get to review your performance at these points, which is a big relief. The main benefit I got from the book was the detailed explanations of the correct answer and the chess thinking that one should utilize in solving the problem. There is no system to the order of the problems. After the exam there is a very detailed analysis of your answers and you get an approximate rating in various aspects of the game (tactics, endgames, etc.). Based on this information, the last portion of the book provides some general guidance on how to improve, along with some specific books that might help. My only criticism of the book is that it covers the whole range of chess expertise and many of the problems were way over my head. My rating was 1450.



5. This is a pretty good book and can be used a couple ways. as a training book to sharpen your skills. As a teaching book if you are teaching others. Also this is a pretty good book to use if you are rusty or have never played in a rated event and want an idea of how good you are playing RIGHT NOW!!! The positions are instructive and the rating scale seems pretty close. I am a master just a bit over 2200 and have shown this book to a lot of my friends who are much weaker. The rating scales give a pretty close estimate of current playing level and will make you better as you progress through the tests. Very well done book. I will probably get a few copies for people I know who play chess and want to get better as gifts.

2 comments about Build up your Chess with Artur Yusupov: The Fundamentals Volume I.

1. I saw this book at a friend's house recently. I checked the table of contents and went through a couple sections.
   
   This is a very nice look at tactical play and developing pattern recognition. Several examples of a theme are given, followed by quiz positions. Yusupov also recommends a method for working through the variations given. This is not just a book of tactical puzzles, but a guide toward improving a player's eye for combinations.
   
   Yusupov, along with his trainer Dvoretsky, has written some of the best advanced chess manuals. Here he writes for the beginning to intermediate level chess player who is striving to improve.
   
   Highly recommended!



2. I really like this book. It is not really an instructional book but rather a graded workbook. I would say it is half way between an instructional work and a test book. You are introduced to some concept, shown some examples, and then offered exercises to do (with a rudimentary scoring system). No effort is really made to teach you though - it's as if this were designed as material for coaches which I believe it is.
   
   Jeremy Silman was disappointed that it was so dry (he's right) but this doesn't bother me at all. There are numerous books providing good instructive material on this or that topic but precious few that offer any kind of substantial course or progressive introduction of material (I guess this is what you pay a trainer for). This book (volume 1) looks like it could be the start of one and that would be a good thing. Actually Silman's own endgame book is very deliberately written to offer a progression of material and it is great (less dry too, for those who care).
   
   The material is not difficult, but not beginner stuff (the Introduction suggests under 1500 ELO). The exercises at the end vary in difficulty so some are trivial and others require more effort.
   
   My purpose in buying this book was to discover fundamental weaknesses that I had skipped over so I could fill in the blanks (the Introduction states that it will help "close any possible gaps in his chess knowledge"). It is proving useful for exactly that purpose. In essence I am paying for the author's proven skill in selection of material and recognizing what is relevant for a particular playing level. This is money well spent.
   
   Five stars if it had just a little more instructive prose (or even references for more study).

5 comments about Chess for Juniors: A Complete Guide for the Beginner (Chess).

1. Want to learn chess? If you are an absolute beginner or someone who has mastered the very basic skills then look no further! CHESS FOR JUNIORS will do the job for you. Yes, I am into advertising, but not as a profession for this book (if you know "Mr. Clean", "Hey, Mikie likes it" or "Where's the Beef" I was the person who made this possible on national TV". OK, you have got it! I am an old timer writing about a book with the "Youth Market" in mind. But then why has it been since it publication date of 1991 the #1 best selling chess book? It is GOOD, VERY GOOD!
   
   -->
   
   WHY:
   
   1. VERY CLEAR (Mr. Clean can see everything)
   2. VERY UNDERSTANDABLE (an 8-year-old or older name Mikie will like it)
   3. LOTS OF MATERIAL (you will not be left saying, "where is the beef!")
   4. WELL ORGANIZED (just like a "box of chocolate" - I was involved in that too!)
   5. BEST SELLER (couldn't be all that bad! - it is ranked as #1)
   
   -->
   
   SOME THINGS I LIKE:
   
   1. If you are using this book to teach someone who doesn't know a thing about chess (maybe you or your kid or your student?) then it starts off assuming no knowledge (everyone was once a beginner)
   2. Once you finish you can go back and find almost every important term or concept in the index (doesn't require a college education to find something - Gommer Pyle would find what he wants!)
   3. Written in a mature manner that an old guy will appreciate, yet the humor that kids will like in the book offers a perfect balance to make this a book for anyone who can read. (must only be beyond the reading level of - see spot run, run spot run)
   
   -->
   
   HOW:
   
   1. You have ordered here before (go for it you button pusher!)
   2. New, Used, or a Collectible Autographed Copy (like I have - I try and get whatever I can autographed just click on the right button of your choice)
   
   Now I absolutely love this book. My grandkids, parents and I all have a copy and so should you. Next time you are watching TV and see a commercial, or see the author's students "Will Smith" or "Nicolas Cage", then you will be reminded of this particular book!



2. I run two after school chess programs at elementary schools and use "Chess for Juniors" as the text book. At first I was disapointed to see that this book has become difficult to get (if you can get a used copy grab it!). However, I found out is is going through a complete revision and will be a second edition when released later this year (as well as the entire "Chess for Juniors" series of books, including some new ones to be released).
   "Chess for Juniors" is the perfect text book for teachers who are running a class for elementary age students on up (yes, it is suitable for a class for adults) beginning with an introduction to the basic rules and leading into a lot of basic material on strategy found in all aspects of the game.
   What I found that sets "Chess for Juniors" (and the entire series) in a class by itself is the readability (ease of understanding the material) and comprehensiveness of the book.
   Whereas, a 3rd grade reader of average reading skill can understand it, it is not going to insult an adult who wants to learn from it. It is is structured so any teacher conducting a class can easily follow the building lessons (it provides the perfect format for a ready-made class outline!).
   Please hurry with the second edition!!!



3. "Chess for Juniors" is obviously the work of superb teacher whose mind and heart have fully committed themselves to the playing and teaching of chess over a number of years. It's perfectly organized and will turn any prospective or current player who carefully studies and absorbs its twenty lessons into a 1200-1300 player at least. I'm looking forward to diving into Snyder's "unbeatable Lessons" books if they're as valuable as this one.
   
   Since I already knew the basics of chess before I bought this book, I was most interested in the approach Snyder took once he directed his readers on to the next step, since this is where introductory books on chess really show their true colors.
   Snyder covers the pins/forks/skewers tactics as well as anyone, but the best part is the in-depth attention he gives to openings, defenses, and what he calls "Tactical Motifs." What this entails are insightful, detailed looks at the Ruy Lopez (the "Spanish") and Giuoco Piano (the "Italian") openings, and a group of the best-known gambits (From's, King's accepted and declined, Bishop sacrifices, Petroff's Defense). He also looks at those three to four-move checkmates like the Fool's and Scholar's--how they can be sprung on novice/unsuspecting opponents and how they can be avoided so easily if you develop the sound opening principles Snyder sets forth. If you play over and completely absorb all these openings and the basic variations as Snyder sets them down here, you'll develop a strong sense of space and begin to understand the tactical and strategic consequences of the moves you make.
   
   Snyder also gives great explanations of some defensive responses, especially the Sicilian, the King's Indian and the Nimzo-Indian if you're playing black. The depth of Snyder's explanations is perfect, so that you learn what to do and why to do it without getting bogged down in needless details and variations. His lessons on King-Pawn, Queen and Rook endings are also perfectly set out. End games are essential of course but they are a bit dull to have to study. Again, I feel Snyder gives you just what you need to know so that you won't blow an end game with a loss, draw or stalemate when the use of a few core techniques could have made the game yours. Finally, there are a couple of instructive games which look especially at attacks on the weak f7/f2 squares and their outcomes, around which many wins or losses can revolve.
   
   All in all, this is a superb beginner's book, either for youths or adults. I would say that there are other good ones out there too which can be fruitfully studied in conjunction with Snyder--the beginner's books by Yasser Seirawan (Play Winning Chess), John Nunn (Learn Chess), and I. A. Horowitz (Chess for Beginners). I do think it's shameful that many advocates of Snyder's fine work try to undermine these other works by pumping "Chess for Juniors" and pushing down all positive reviews of his competitors by marking these reviews "unhelpful." There seems to be some kind of strategy at work, since they always put Snyder's title in upper case letters, recommending it after they have put down the other work. Sometimes they won't even review the other work, but will just mention Snyder's. It all seems orchestrated. I'm sure an author and lover of chess such as Snyder must be too classy a man to advocate this kind of lowball campaign. Apparently his students are not.



4. I got this book a couple of years ago and now am chess club presendent at my school chess club in 7th grade. I loaned it out so many times it is getting worn out.
   
   When I went to get a copy now I found out it is temporarily not in print because it is going to be made a new edition. I plan to get the new edition for the chess club.
   
   What I liked about this book is that it isn't a silly little kids picture book. It teaches serious material using an easy to understand method by making the language basic enough and organizing it in an order to make it learning friendly. It would be good for anyone who can read as well as an average third grader right on up to adults. The index in the back makes it easy to find things and relook things up like terms, openings and rules.
   
   Everyone in the school chess club likes it and uses it for continued reference even after having read it. I think this is the best first book for kids and adults.



5. I wanted to let people know that this top-selling chess book is now available under the title "Chess for Everyone: A Complete Guide for the Beginner". It has been updated and improved. The improvements include adding opening information, more detailed explanations at critical points and a less cramped, easier to read format. It is extremely complete in covering everything that a beginner needs to know to take him/her to the next level. It is a great book for students in grade 4 on up to adult. It is well organized and very suitable for textbook use by chess teachers. It uses a building format where lessons expand on material thorughout the twenty graduated lessons. It is one of only a few "beginner" books that are part of a comprehensive series that allows for direct follow-up material that is consistant. There are currently 5 books in print. In 2009, "Basic Chess Tactics: A Tactical Pattern Recognition Workbook for the Classroom" is scheduled for release. The "Chess for Everyone Teacher's Textbook Guide" is unlike any other teacher guide in that it provides lesson plans and information on how to teach chess to be used in conjunction with "Chess for Everyone".

5 comments about Play Winning Chess.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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!"

5 comments about Chess Openings for Black, Explained (A Complete Repertoire).

1. I bought both this and the repertoire for white book, which I reviewed with 4 stars. This one I feel a bit sceptical about. Basically I have found i don't really like playing the Bogo or Nimzo Indian, which is a big chunk of the book, since it is the response to all d4 openings. The positions resulting from these openings are completely foreign to me and seem like they are taking too long to adjust to. Other opening reccomendations seem good though! The accelerated dragon is generally reccomended all around, and it is covered quite thoroughly here. But you can take what you want and ignore the rest.



2. This is a repetoire book, not a games collection, not a treatise. From a repetoire book I want to know what to play in each situation and what kind themes arize when I do. And this one does just that: it is an excellent repetoire book. Mine is already tattered. I use this book a LOT. I buy other books to complement this one.
   
   What makes it good is the presentation: lots of diagrams, good summaries, good "quick review" pages. Each chapter has its own outline of variation with page numbers to lines. These are slightly abbreviated and are awesome for quick reference and self-testing.
   
   When you evaluate the choice of lines, you'll always find a few places you disagree. Since this is somewhat inevitable, I don't think it's fair. A repetoire author MUST advocate something and making choices means some people feel their pet line is excluded. You buy this kind of book because you WANT this. These authors deliver.
   
   And mostly, they have a consistent criteria for why they chose the lines they did. They want to prepare you comprehensively, so you have a something to play against anything that's thrown at you. This means covering the anti-sicilians and all the d4 deviations. They do. They also insist that the lines be technically sound. Mostly they succeed, but I'm a little suspect on their response to the Alapin. They also, generally, want lines that lead to middlegames with clear themes, and best of all, these themes are often similar across divergent openings. There's lots of cross polination here. Finally, the usually want openings with compact theory, which is good for club players.
   
   There are a few flaws relative to the above criteria, but in a work this ambitious, it's inevitable. I thought the Nimzo as the main defense to d4 is reasonable, but it's breaks their "compact" rule since there are nine (!) different plans for white on move four. And as I said, the way they respond to the Alapin, delayed Alapin, or Smith-Morra leaves me a little uneasy. There also some dumb chapters on the history of e4 and the history of closed openings. Useless filler. The chapter on illustrative games has 13 games. Why bother? It's clear you need to supplement this book with games based opening books, so don't give me a token gesture, admit it and recommend some books.
   
   Overall, quite an impressive undertaking. This is surely the benchmark to compare repetoire books against. I'd be very happy to see copy-cats adopting the basic format and presentation, but putting their own spin on what they advocate.



3. Useful for players of all the levels. A powerfull and complete repertoire for black. Typical positions, key ideas. Very good designed by Jami Anson and also it is possible to read without a board. A five stars book!!



4. Excellent explanations of various black openings.
   Very instructional....Good reference



5. This book is well written and easy to learn from. It has good production qualities (binding notwithstanding).
   
   But it is a repertoire book, and we are paying for the authors' judgment in selection of lines. I find the choice of the Nimzo-Indian a terrible choice for an amateur repertoire. The Nimzo would be my Black opening of choice (I love it), but you just never get to play it. It's very disappointing to put so much time and energy into learning an opening only to confront the inevitable 3.Nf3 time after time after time (assuming you are even offered the Queen's Gambit).
   
   If you can get to play it in your neck of the woods I'm envious and wish you well with it, but I'd check out your chances of facing 3.Nc3 before you invest too much effort learning it.
   
   [Update: My coach has me playing the Nimzo now (different lines). I still say playing the Nimzo is a great way to learn the QID.]

5 comments about Positional Chess Handbook: 495 Instructive Positions from Grandmaster Games (Chess).

1. This is an excellent book on chess. The diagrams are clear and can easily be followed through and the previous reviewer who commented that they were too small, was on my part greatly exaggerated and didn't do any justice. Buy one copy for yourself and decide. This book gave me countless hours of enjoyment and I am sure it will do the same for you.



2. I recommend this book for any 1500+ ELO player who wants to improve their strategic game. A lot of the variations are given few comments, so a solid chess understanding and playing the moves on a board are essential. The book is organized into themes which any chess player can appreciate: discussion of good/bad knights/bishops, endgames, 2-bishops, bishops opposite colors, etc.



3. I've rekindled my interest in chess and, not wanting to expend too much time on the game, have limited my reading to three books: on tactics, on the endgame, and on positional chess.
   
   This book, serving the latter purpose, has 495 diagrams, mostly from practical games between top players, many of which are known classics. Each illustrates a point, and the author avoids copious variations. The moves usually extend from the diagram position to the end of the game. They are very well selected. As a result, my intuition has clearly improved in an important area of the game.
   
   Gelfer's rigor is reflected in his impeccable English (no translator or editor is mentioned). I can't think of a single typo, in word or variation, and the text is clear, no nonsense and to the point. He seems to have honed the work, culled from his training manuals for the Israeli youth and women's teams, over years. This makes the book a pleasure to read.
   
   My copy, which isn't a Dover edition (which have excellent bindings), is getting old (1993) and pages are beginning to fall out. But that's a good sign: it's due to the use the book has seen. Highly recommended.



4. This book is a great collection of strategic examples. You can dedicate many time in the themes of each position and also you will enjoy with this useful manual. A must for every chess player.



5. I am an avid player and own an extensive collection of chess books. As most chess fans have probably discovered, a lot of chess books are simply the same ideas rehashed and presented with different games. This book however, is a refreshing break from the rest, presenting strategic play in a condensed format with great exemplars of the theme discussed. Honestly, probably one of the best books on the game that I've read. Short, sweet and to the point--highly recommended!

5 comments about The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played: 62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy.

1. Irving Chernev is, along with Fred Reinfeld, Edward Lasker, and Al Horowitz, one of the great popularizers of chess. None of these fine chess writers have much to teach the elite classes of players rated 1900 and above, although even strong players will enjoy the sparkling wit and breezy style for which these authors are admired. What these writers offer is their infectious enthusiasm, and their talent to entertain, inform, and instruct painlessly.
   
   It has been pointed out by other readers that this book falls short in the accuracy and bias of its annotations. If accuracy and unbiased annotation is what you need, then perhaps you should pass on this title. But, if you are like me and enjoy a little drama and color and yes, even one-sided praise for the winner, then this book should delight you.
   
   Monsieur Chernev writes for the average player, and he understands the fine art of chess annotation. He doesn't burden his reader with deep ramified variations. Such ponderous analysis tends to do little more than suggest to the reader that the Master is omniscient. Instead, this author strives to present only the salient points; the strategic themes, the immediate tactical considerations, and sometimes the missed opportunities in the game. By sticking to the main ideas, the reader is better able to grasp the material and to enjoy it, for enjoyment is the real point, and Chernev never loses sight of that fact.
   
   The games in this collection are chosen especially for their strategic instructional value. Strategy implies a closed game (usually a d-pawn or hypermodern opening). Consequently, these games are not fulminating with wild tactics and dazzling combinations. The tactics tend to lie under the surface but nonetheless influence the play. To call any of these games boring is to miss the whole point. From a strategic viewpoint all these games are beautiful, exciting, and instructive. The introductory text for each game gives a sense of the human element; a mix of history, personality profiles, time, place, and event, and an overall description of the struggle about to commence. I have a lot of games collections in my chess library, but I have not been able to finish many of them. I couldn't put this one down. Have fun while you improve. Read this book.



2. I am partial to Chernev, perhaps because he is such a good writer and has such an engaging and entertaining style. But bias or no bias, this is a sparkling collection of games with a generally positional flavor, though that's perhaps a bit of a simplification as there are great endgames and much, much more.
   
   This is a book to savor slowly, not gobble quickly. I recommend taking quite some time to go through each game, even if it takes months to complete the book. Spending a week or more on a single game (say 30-60 minutes at a session for five to ten days) is not out of line, if you want to get deep understanding. Using a computer alongside might help; if you look around the internet you can quickly find PGN for all the games. Now, given the positional nature of many of the games and the lesser positional ability of most computer programs, you need to use the computer with care, but it will help you step through the moves and explore variations to your heart's content --- which is exactly what to do and how to get the maximum benefit from this fine book.
   
   Bottom line: the book combines good instruction with excellent entertainment, and puts us in touch with the sheer beauty of chess.... a welcome break from examining White's 9th move alternatives in the Yugoslav, for instance!



3. Beautiful collection of games and also shows that good chess instruction need not cost a fortune. The ideal rating for the students is from 1200-1500, though anyone who likes reading good chess literature will enjoy it. In descriptive notation which means that you can learn to be "bilingual" and be able to comfortably read both descriptive and algabraic notations. This gives you the flexibility to buy any chess book out there because not all of them will be written in algebraic notations.



4. This is one I first read about 35 years ago and re-read every few years. I would have to say this is one of the books that helped me to become a master. (2227 USCF and 2217 Canadian Federation -2388 ICC) But better then that it helped me to understand how to plan in what seem like slow or dull positions. I have given copies of this to anyone I know who asks how to improve. The thought process is clear and explained well. This book is geared to players from just starting out to even average club players who just forget basic ideas and how they work together. A deal at $10 too!!!



5. Excellent book to analyze. It has descriptive writing, so, it keeps a classic printing view.

5 comments about The Reassess Your Chess Workbook.

1. I do not believe one can get a true appreciation for Silman's 'Reassess Your Chess' without also working through this Workbook. The games examined provide many opportunities to exercise the knowledge of imbalances acquired in the previous book. As a stand-alone instruction manual, it dispenses copious useful insights into the game of chess, including a VERY enlightening tutorial on endgames involving Bishops of opposite colors. Although also quite time-consuming, it is a good improvement over the long-winded ways of 'Reassess Your Chess' with most of the middlegames studied much more to the point (see my review on 'Reassess Your Chess').
   
   Alas, it is not without flaws. Besides minor issues like typos and misspellings, there are a couple of incorrect analyses; most notable is the one in Problem 131 (the very last in the book). Silman insists in the question that White had missed a great opportunity, namely a Bh7+, or "Petrosian check," which would ensure a quick win for White. However, after investigating the position with Chessmaster 10, I do believe Silman is incorrect. In fact, the follow-up position actually gives Black a winning game. These misdiagnoses are annoying, but also can be very confusing to a lower-rated player.
   
   Even with its faults, the many in-depth tactical and position dissections should not only heighten a chess player's senses to the issues he needs to look for and be aware of in every phase of the game, but, if nothing else, add to his intuition, a very important weapon in the player's arsenal.



2. This was a great book to get after I read "The Amateur's Mind" by Silman. Silman's system of looking for and creating imbalances, then exploiting the imbalances, has given me a framework for thinking about chess. Much better than books like "How to Think Like a Grandmaster," which really didn't teach me anything.



3. IM Silman's "imbalance" method of chess instruction is justly popular. I shows the amateur--usually for the first time--what is *really* going on in a high-level chess game: to wit, the creation and exploitation of different imbalances (superior pawn formation vs. two bishops, say) around which the two sides make their plans.
   
   This book begins with a summary ("crash course") of his thinking techinque and imbalances from "How to Reasses Your Chess" (HTRYC). Then, a selection of over 110 problems (comprising opening, middlegame, and endgame positions as well as complete games to annotate); and, finally, their solutions. The book's great strength is in this last, very detailed, part. Every solution gives not only the correct move, but explains why: how the move helps one side use his positive imbalances or minimize his negative ones, and how the move fits with his overall plan. In addition, the solution of course offers data about the game: players, date, tournament, etc.
   
   Clearly, Silman put a lot of effort into his book: not only does he give original and detalied analysis of every position (including a re-analysis, from the point of view of his "imbalances" method, of some of the most famous games in chess history), he also chose a very wide range of players--from Fischer and Morphy to obscure correspondence players to 1500-level amateurs--if the game edifies the reader. I wish more chess writers would do this: one learns just as much (and more) from Silman's down-to-earth "Why is this move, which looked perfectly logical to the 1500-rated player, simply wrong?" than from the typical "What marvelous combination did Fischer find here?" one usually finds.
   
   To those who want to learn or practice Silman's thinking technique, which is well worth knowing if only in order to understand masters' games better, this is a very good book. Apart from the hard work and originality, I commend Silman for not being greedy and trying to squeeze more sales out of a previous book: instead of referring the reader to HTRYC for an explanation of his method, the Workbook is a stand-alone book that includes a detailed explanation of it, even if it might hurt sales. (It also has a larger, clearer format and far fewer typos than HTRYC). Such ethical behavior by authors should be the (Grandmaster) norm, but isn't.
   
   One problem, though, is the quirky design: candid photographs of famous chess players are printed in the book apparently at random, and the "solution" section reprints every question before giving the solution to it. The first oddity is due to Silman's desire to show chessplayers as they really are. The second is probably because, on the one hand, Silman doesn't want people to read the problem with the solution "tempting" them on the bottom of the same page, while, on the other, once they *do* decide to look at the solution, he doesn't want them to go back and forth between different pages to make sure they see what bishop or pawn the solution is talking about. In my view, it would have been better on balance to omit both as unnecssary and distracting rather than helpful. That said, this is a minor issue, and perhaps a matter of taste.
   
   If you are interested in chess strategy at all, this is a great book to get.



4. "How To Reassess Your Chess" (hereafter referred to as "Reassess") was, for me, the single most important book of my chess "career" (I'm not a professional, just a casual player). Without going into depth about "Reassess," I can simply say that it helped me to master all areas and facets of chess, and, as a result, my rating has been going up since I recently reread the book.
   
   "The Reassess Your Chess Workbook" (hereafter referred to as "The Reassess Workbook") is an excellent companion volume for "Reassess." Although "Reassess" does have exercises at the end of each section, this workbook will help you to further hone and employ the things that you have learned. Additionally, many of the exercises are very difficult, as they require advanced thinking, and thus, this book can also be viewed as a chess puzzle book as well.
   
   Before the exercises comes a written segment on "thinking techniques," followed by a section dealing with many of the major points of the entire game (this section is not very thorough - it's not supposed to be - but it is useful for reviewing what you've learned from "Reassess").
   
   After you've read this section (which shouldn't be a problem since Silman is such a humorous, fun-to-read writer!), you will do some opening exercises, a quiz on imbalances, middlegame and endgame exercises and even some self-annotations (which are actually quite fun, trust me!). In the back are the answers, so that none of the problems will be left eternally unanswered. And if you ever come into contact with a term you don't know, simply consult the glossary in the back of the book for a definition.
   
   The content is well-chosen: Silman uses positions from actual games as well as position he himself has created. Futhermore, each position is like a mini-lesson, so approximately 130 lessons in one book is quite a deal! The answer key is very well-written, as Silman helps us to mine the secrets and subtleties (and to spot the mistakes) of each game so that we can become better players in the future.
   
   In conclusion, "The Reassess Workbook" is a fine volume, but not an essential book for a chess-player's library. If you have read "Reassess," you will find this book to be very helpful, and I wholeheartedly recommend the purchase of these two books together, as this workbook utilizes much of the material learned in "Reassess".



5. This book is awesome. I'm only 1/3 of the way through it. I have a bunch of chess books. The value of this one book exceeds them all. There is so much information packed into these pages. Each puzzle is like taking chess classes with a grandmaster for a month. The best piece of advice in the book that I've read so far is to do self annotations. It forces you to improve your game no matter what. I've gotten so much better just by doing this. Don't waste your time, get this book and throw all your other books in the trash.