About this title: Confused by esoteric chess terms like castling, forking, and making Luft? Can't tell whether you've got your opponent in check or checkmate? This book will tell you everything you need to know to become a budding Kasparov, from the names of pieces and their movements to tactics and strategies, from advanced maneuvers to setting up chess ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very good. Very minimal damage to the cover (no holes or tears, only minimal scuff marks), in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, minimal to no highlighting/under. read more
Description: Bibuld, Jerome. Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Light shelf-wear. Tight binding. Clean pages with no marking or highlighting. Trade paperback (US). 367 p. Contains: Illustrations. Complete Idiot's Guides (Lifestyle Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Very Good. 0028617363 light shelf wear/ edge wear cover/ pages very good condition/ /"Buy with Confidence-Satisfaction Guaranteed! Customer Service Makes All the Difference. " read more
Edition: 4th Printing
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Alpha Books, Indianapolis
Date Published: 2002
ISBN-13:9780028641829ISBN:0028641825
Description: Very Good+ Expedited or International shipping may cost more. As new/ fine except for bottom exterior corner 1/8" marks/ stains. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Alpha Books, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780028617367ISBN:0028617363
Description: Near Fine. A nice, tight and clean copy. You're no idiot, of course. You've seen people play chess in movies and even on the computer. But when it comes to actually playing chess, you can barely distinguish the pawn from the rook. Don't throw in the towel yet! Whether you want to play chess fo pleasure or sport, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess will teach you everything you need to know! read more
Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more
Description: Good. Only lightly used. Book has minimal wear to cover and binding. A few pages may have small creases and minimal underlining. Book selection as BIG as Texas. read more
Description: Good. Used copy-Because of our high volume, we can not accurately describe each book, so we list the MINIMUM condition you can expect; most are better than the condition listed. read more
"This book has some great strategies for both offense and defense as well as plenty of puzzles for one to solve to better understand each concept. I play and see chess differently after reading this book so it has served its purpose."
"Yeah yeah, I know this is one of those Idiot's Guide books. But I heard it was good so i decided to peep it, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of it. Skip the first 3 or 4 chapters if you already know the rules, but after that it gets into the good stuff, and by the end you'll finally understand what 'damaging the pawn structure' or 'winning material' means. And a few friends have commented on the improvements in my game :)"
A game that I, sadly, haven't really touched since high school.
I had played the game in middle school and high school. At least, by 'played' I mean I understood how the pieces moved and the objective of the game. And I could beat anyone I knew at it, but I didn't ever get any deeper than that. No real tactics, no strategy, no real understanding of the game. I only won because everyone else sucked so much worse than I did.
I stopped playing mostly because of that. What I should have done is got some books and started reading and really understanding the game, but I didn't.
Fast forward today.
I started getting interested in the game again for a couple of reasons. I have been trying to improve myself, to keep myself mentally fit and progressing. You are either moving forwards or backwards. I'm trying to move forward.
It's an excellent book. At least, to my untrained eye and limited knowledge of Chess books in general. It covers the basics very well and gets the reader acquainted with the deeper aspects of Chess. The author is a grandmaster, 2 time U.S. Champion and has been teaching for years. All that experience pays off for the reader.
Wolff explains the principles, illuminates them with examples, then gives the reader a number of problems at the end of the chapter to work through, with answers in the back of the book, to cement the ideas. I really liked the teaching method. Some of the problems were ones he created, some from games he played, and others from great games of the past.
Chess is complex but I didn't realize just how complex it can be until I read this book. Although I claim some previous experience, I now realize I am just an abecedarian at this point, green and unschooled.
Chess isn't for everyone, there is a certain aesthetic about the game that not all will enjoy, even if they posses the needed brain power to play it.
Chess, to me, is beautiful. A well played move strikes a deep cord in me, giving me a thrill. Wolff's problems had number of these types of moves, where after I stared at the board and looked at everything I could see, I checked the answer and got that thrill when the grandmaster made a move that was perfect.
Chess tactics enthrall me, and solid strategies intrigue me. Chess has captured my interest. (Er, no pun intended. Really.)
So now I'm going to get more books and really start improving my game. I doubt I'll get into the tournament aspect, but if I can play a solid game against a computer, I'd feel like I have good handle on it.
I have long ways to go yet, but the longest journey begins with a single step. Or, this case, a single Pawn push.
If you have any interest in Chess at all, I don't think you can go wrong with this book."
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