40 Lessons for the Club Player: A Proven Course in All Aspects of Chess

This is a great little study book. It covers a wide variety of lessons; endgames, pawn structures, attacking formations, positional evaluation techniques, etc.This is NOT a basic textbook for beginner players. the material in this book is probably most useful for players from around 1500 - 2000 USCF. (The book states 1700-2050).Each lesson is self-contained and can be reviewed in an hour or two. Most of the lessons give a little history regarding a particular player or playing style.I could not disagree more with the reviewer who downgraded the book because of the history lesson - one who is ignorant of history is bound to repeat it. Also, I know for a fact that most Grandmaster players are very familar with chess history- especially the classic games played by the masters of yester year.I wholeheartidly endorse this book - each chapter is almost like a seperate chess lesson given by your "tutor".

Figure out the price per lesson and you're crazy if you don't buy it. Learning the historical aspects of the game combined with endgames (a main focus), tactics and the basics of strategy is a key to enjoyable play. I play chess to have fun (I'm pretty good too-I've beaten a 2000 rated player before) and this is a great way to entertain yourself and learn more about the game. Each lesson can be gone through in about an hour (I go through them twice in a row to make sure I've got it). I heartily suggest this book!

I'm the 1500 player that chessmansmith was referring too. This book has made a big difference in my playing ability and in my knowledge of chess history. Want to find a good lesson on how to mate with bishop and knight? It is here! Want some good basic end game lessons? Here too! Lesson after lesson for the book advertised 1700 - 2050 player but I can tell you that as a lesser player it has helped my game and I'm now playing Fritz 6 at 1900 at parity. Even though I've played for over 35 years now I never knew of the "classic bishop sac at h7", well I know it now and I've used it to good effect. Buy this book. Study a chapter a day for a little over a month and watch your game improve. You will not be sorry. You could pay a lot more to get a lesser book. Save your money and get this one!!

One of the best all-time chess books for the average player! I would have to rate this book as being in the "Top Ten" of Instructional Books!!! I remember when this book came out, at least in English. Many suppliers could NOT keep it in stock!Every chess player who has ever read this book has told me they would rate it VERY highly!NO ONE WHO EVER ACTUALLY READ THIS BOOK EVER SAID ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT IT!GET IT! GET IT! GET IT!

I think that this is a great book if you are in the beginner-intermediate level player and seriously wishes to improve his/her game. The lessons are thematically arranged with some nice introduction which is also a great read. Moreover, the lessons are designed in such a way that each lesson is short and to the point making it enjoyable to read in one sitting. I read one lessson in a sitting about two to three times and try to implment themes/strategies/tactics I learnt at the coffee house where I play. I am in the beginner/intermediate range and while playing OTB (Over the board) I could *feel* what the author was talking about in the book. On second readings of some chapters, I read this book in parallel along with Vukovic's "Art of Attack in Chess" and needless to say, it helped my outlook and feel of the game. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the beginner/intermediate level. All you need is the discipline to pace yourself with the book and be regular with it and you will see the results yourself.