Lasker's Manual of Chess

By Emanuel Lasker

Book Overview

"Lasker's Manual of Chess" is one of the most significant and enduring works in the history of chess literature. Written by Emanuel Lasker, who held the World Chess Championship for an unprecedented twenty-seven years, this comprehensive guide offers a profound exploration of the game's strategic and philosophical foundations. Rather than merely listing moves, Lasker delves into the underlying logic of chess, teaching readers how to think critically and adapt to the evolving demands of the board.

The manual is organized into systematic sections that cover the principles of opening play, the complexities of the middle game, and the technical precision required for the endgame. Lasker introduces his famous theory of "struggle," emphasizing that chess is not just a mathematical puzzle but a psychological contest between two minds. Through detailed analysis of classic games and positions, he illustrates the importance of position, development, and the economy of force.

Whether for a novice seeking to understand the basics or an advanced player looking to refine their tactical intuition, "Lasker's Manual of Chess" remains an essential resource. Its blend of practical instruction and intellectual depth ensures its status as a cornerstone of chess education, reflecting the genius of one of the game's greatest masters.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025442520
• ISBN13: 9781025442525
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 414 Pages
• Weight: 1.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Introduces chess and goes well beyond

"Lasker's Manual of Chess" doesn't mess arround. It is absolutely perfect for someone who needs a brief reminder of the basic rules and then is ready to get quickly into the strategic parts of chess. It is a well written book for an adult reader or older teenage reader; younger kids or someone who is a super beginner should start with "Chess For Jrs" or possibly "Learn chess: A complete Course". This may be an older book but it is very well written and a largely forgotten about classic.

The Best Chess Book Ever?

This may be the best chess book ever. I glance over my shoulder at a pile of 50+ chess books that I've purchased over my two year affair with the game of chess. Of these, only a few stand out as being truly worth the time and money. One offers such an exceptional value that I suggest it to everybody: Lasker's Manual of Chess. The prose is stilted and out of date, the section on the openings is wanting, and it starts out with directions for how to play...BUT the sections on combination, positional play, and the model games have few equals. I love endgame studies and this book is full of them. This book never fails to get me out of a rut. BTW, take the positional advantage diagrams and play them out against your chess computer for a fun lesson.If you love chess, do yourself a favor and pick up this, Tarrasch's Game of Chess, Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move, Howell's Essential Chess Endings, and Kotov's Art of the Middlegame. They may be all the chess books you ever need.

Great For High School and Above Players

"Lasker's Manual of Chess" is my favorite chess book. Unlike many chess players, I only own a few. It begins with the elements of chess: the pieces, how they move, and the essential advantages and disadvantages of positions the player will likely find himself in. Curiously, Lasker discusses the square. All of chess revolves about going from one square to another, and Lasker presumes (rightly so, i believe) that to know the end well, the player must see the very beginning at its core. He goes on to explain the why and what-fors about openings. He presents the opening concept both as a theory to muse over, and as a practical matter of setting things in such a way as to increase your likelihood of winning. He explains "Sortez les pieces" (Get the pieces out), and other 'rules' of chess. Like a Mark Twain book review, he feels in complete candor permission to question 'compilers', those players who memorize every variation of boardplay and win by the ability to study. He contrasts these players with those with natural talent, who he apreciates much more. Lasker walks through each step of the major openings in a clear manner, unlike some of the fuzzy chess primers written by modern masters. If fencing is played like chess, it could also be said chess is played like fencing. Lasker comments in the next section about the combinations, and suggestion chess is replete with violence, countered effectively by more violence, all brutal and seething with imminent danger. He provides, among others, an example of a check to the queen by a pawn. In the combinations section, he looks at variation predicaments great players he has encountered have wandered into, and how they pulled out these situations victoriously. Later, he goes through various positions, even the aesthetics effects of chess. "Lasker's Manual of Chess" by Emanuel Lasker is a great book for a high school level or above player to explore. I fully recommend it. Anthony Trendl editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Can't argue with Lasker

The longest reigning World Chess Champion of all time (28 years) Dr. Emanuel Lasker presents numerous ideas and theories on how chess should be played, along with his advice on openings, giving 68 pages out of the 340 on that subject. The book is rather dated (mine has the original published date as 1947) and is done in descriptive notation, but i found it to be entertaining and i can gather that Lasker genuinely adored the game. Lasker expounds on the original ideas of William Steinitz, and displays his own originality, versatility and his abilty to take solid calculated risks. His tournament record from 1889-1936 was 192 wins, 34 losses and 99 draws (73.1 percent). You can't argue with those numbers facing top competition. Beginners and novices should hold off on this book until they gain more expereince.

Highly recommended.

I read this book as a schoolboy back in 1978 and recently went over parts of it. It is a great and profound book from a champion thinker. The exposition of Steinitz's ideas is superb. The English prose is a bit dated, but it is also part of the charm of this book. This book is real chess literature - not like those senseless opening monographs!