The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess

by Patrick Wolff

Book Overview

Written by a U.S. Chess Champion, International Chess Grandmaster, and longtime instructor, this book includes information for both novice and expert, including over 400 illustrated chessboards and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028641825
• ISBN13: 9780028641829
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Alpha Books
• Length: 367 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A must!!

I started to play chess quite long ago, when I was a child. I got my first chess lessons from my dad, with whom I regulary played. Albeit he's not a professional player and doesn't participate in tournaments he's a very aggressive player who's been playing chess for over 40 years. Having recently moved next to my dad's I got the chance to play with him regulary once again. Since I'd spent a couple of years away from playing chess and he was still a thorn in my side, I thought I had to study chess in order to beat him. So I got a couple of books, covering the basic stuff and a couple of more advanced topics like openings. Prior to read this book I read "Chess for Dummies". This book has NOTHING to do with the Dummies...the Dummies doesn't go deep on the concepts, doesn't presents the reasons why you should or not play something and does not have any exercises. This book is exactly the opposite! Everything is extremely well explained, covers from the basic stuff ("First lesson: this is a pieces") to more advanced material (combinations, pawn formations, etc) and has lot's of exercises at the end of each chapter that allow you to consolidate the knowledge and even to complement what was said on the chapters. After reading Dummies I felt no improvement on my chess, but after reading this book I felt I was starting to play differently and was able to think more as a chess player than before (I was just a piece-pusher). If you are looking for an introductory book that shows a couple of directions on chess and that might act as reference for you, this is it! The exercises have solutions on the end of the book and are thoroughly commented, explaining EVERYTHING and showing lot's of variations. The only downside of the book is that the author keeps talking on and on about a supposed famous match between Kasparov and some Ananad guy who happened in 1995. The author was a coach for Anand on that match and as such the theme is recurring on the book, which I find a little bit annoying. But don't let that stop you from buying this book. It's really worth it!!

Cured Me Of My Fear Of Chess

I've always had a fascination with chess and wanted to learn how to play for many years. My only problem and I think the problem of many other people was a fear or intimidation of the game. I was under the impression that you had to be of superior intellect to learn the game and always stayed away from learning anything about chess. I finally decided to learn about the game and read several books to try to help me learn and understand more about this great game. Of all the books that I have read, this book has helped me the most. The rules and fundamentals of the game were explained in a manner that the chess novice could understand with diagrams included to allow you to visually see what was being explained to you. After only reading the first three chapters I was playing games of chess with friends and against my computer and actually winning a few games. I never thought I would actually be playing a game of chess but now I find it's my favorite hobby. I recommend this to anyone who has always wanted to play chess but felt that they weren't cut out for the game. You'll learn easily and find yourself playing chess in no time.

A Complete Idiot's Review

This book is wonderful for anyone, from the person who has never played chess to someone who knows how to play but wants to become serious. The authors spend a little time on the basic rules of the game and a description of how the pieces move. Most of their effort, however, is expended on the basic tactics and strategies involved in a more sophisticated game of chess. The book provides all the information necessary to become a good player. Most importantly, it accomplishes this goal with lots of illustrations showing how the board changes, move-by-move. As a result, the book is exceptionally easy to understand. You do not need to sit with a chess board or computer, plotting moves, to follow and understand the authors. If you are a relatively new player and want to by one book, this is it.

Outstanding.

This book is MUCH better than the Chess for Dummies book. This one gets into tactics, strategy, analysis and is STILL easy to read and understand. Where the Dummies book teaches how the pieces are moved, this one suggests ways to play effectively. There are many excercises at the end of each chapter that really contribute to your understanding of the subject. It doesn't go too in depth on opening strategies, or endgames, or any specific part of the game, but it gives you adequate knowledge of everything. That sounds impossible, but then I read this book. Besides, they have whole other books on those subjects so they don't have to cut corners. If you want a book to teach you the absolute basics, buy the Dummies book. If you want not so much detail on how the pieces move, but more on how to move them, this is the one. This one's a keeper.

Brain Food!

If you are just starting out and just learned the moves a few days ago ... or you have been playing tournament chess for a couple of years and you still are not where you want to be; THIS IS THE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! I am a Life-Master. I bought this book to teach out of. I was not supposed to enjoy it. God forbid, a beginner's book should teach me anything! But this is exactly what happenned. Not since Capablanca's Primer and Chess Fundamentals has there been such a book. A book like this comes along once every 20 years. Believe me, I have sufferred through enough of the bad ones, I appreciate the good ones. If you are trying to improve in chess and you can read, this book will help you. Hint: Set up a board and study every position in this book. You will get the maximum benefit from it.GM and U.S. Champ Pat Wolff will make you a better player. Get it. Buy two. Give one to a friend.