The Complete Book of Chess Strategy: Grandmaster Techniques from A to Z

Not a review of the book, haven't had the opportunity to read it. This is, however, a review of the seller. At the time of my purchase there were several copies of this book available. I ordered and paid for the most expensive of the three, listed as "like new". others were of lesser listed quality. What I received was definitely NOT "like new." I have purchased many used books online (and in person) and know what "like new" should look like. The copy I received was highlighted throughout and messily underlined in ballpoint pen throughout; the cover was in good to fair condition, which again is not "like new," but I would not have complained. But I did not receive what I ordered. I suspect they just sent me the volume in the poorest condition and figured they had my money so who cares. I care. I certainly will never trust, nor buy from, this seller again.

This was a excellent book on chess. One of the best. It dealt with most of the basic chess tactics. It covered each topic quickly enough to be interesting but not so deep that it was over my head. A great chess book. It dealt with pawn movement, opening moves, end game tactics, especially rook development, and middle game skills. It was the best book so far that I have read from the author.

This is one of the best one volume books on chess. It is geared towards a beginner-intermediate player (ratings between 900-1499). If you know how the pieces move and understand basic concepts, but struggle, this is the book for you. I received it as a gift, and although it was a little basic for me, I was able to still learn some things from it. The book is divided into three basics sections, the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. The Opening: This lists just about all of the openings. For each opening, Silman describes the first few moves and the main variations. He'll briefly talk about the objectives and aims for each side. This is quite hand and important. Many big openings references like MCO or NCO list moves, but fail to describe any overall objectives, such as "Black will play for a either a c6-c5 or e6-e5 advance, while White attacks the kingside with Ne2, Ng3, h4, h5." This way you know what you are playing for without have to memorize lines (which you shouldn't do anyway.)The Middlegame: This lists different strategy and tacics. Strategy is general overall ideas like having active bishops, having knights in advance positions, creating advance positions for your knights, putting rooks on open files, and what situations bishops are better than knights and vice-versa. Silman will shown an example and ask "what should Black do here....well the knight should go from f3 to d6 via d2 and e4. Tactics are basic and simple combinations to win material or the game such as skewers or pins. He'll show a simple example, and then show the same example in a mock game, but with more pieces and perhaps a couple of moves to make before you reach the position. Classic checkmates are also shown in a similar fashion. The Endgame: Here are described very basic and simple endgame principles. The endgame is an equally important part of a game, but often forgotten by beginners and intermediates. Classic positions and endgame strategies are described. Many of these positions come up in games and it's good to know them

My first Chess book was Robert Fisher Teaches Chess (a very good book). This one may very well be better. It is a very good opening reference. It gives examples of all of the tactics used during a chess game, it covers middle game strategy. One very important part of the book is its coverage of the mating patterns. There is also an overview of endgame strategy. This book has a lot of the stuff you will find in the Art of Attack. It is easier to understand, however. I mention this because it may be a much more advanced book than I indicate in the title. So if you don't know how to destroy a castled position or you don't know how many basic mating patterns there are this book is for you. It is also a must if you want to know the names and moves of about 20 different standard opening lines.International Chess Master Jeremy Silman gives a lot to chess. Most chess authors lack his passion. His web site has numerous book recommendations too.

This book cover all phases of the chess game. In the first section, Jeremy Silman, give us some examples of opening systems, he comentsthe main ideas and specific plans for each opening. There is a quiz in the final of this section. The big attraction of this book is the second part: The midle-game strategies.The contents are: tactics: Forks, pins, decoy, double attack etc. Mating patterns, focal points at f7,g7 and h7. minority attack. He teaches when to attack on the wings, and when to attackon the center, using pieces or pawns according to situation of the game. There are a lot of strategical stuff in this book. There is a quiz in this section too. The third part, Silman, writes the basic of chess finals: kings oppositions, triangulation etc. for the rooks: Lucena Position, Philidor Position etc.This book is indicate for beginers to intermediate chess players.

Gives an excellent overview of basic strategies. Perfect for the avid chess player who wants to start toward tournament play (on-line or otherwise). I got it because I was getting blasted on www.chessclub.com. I'm now able to hold a 1200 pretty consistently now (when I don't get lazy). This book, and a little polish on an opening repretoire from "Modern Chess Openings - 14" put my game above every friend and family member I play. I have to regularly get humbled on-line to remember I'm not the "master" my friends and family think I am. I've given this book to many of them (to make things more fair and fun.)Definitately not for high-end masters, except to freshen up as the author states.To all those solitaire players out there (you know who you are) make the move to a time-kill with mental value rather than one that numbs the brain. ;-)