Teach Yourself Better Chess

This book describes practically all the aspects of chess in a concise easy-to-read format. Players at all levels can gain insight in many of the two-page discussions about the ideas and concepts that go into the analysis of a chess game. The format of the two page discussions contain a few paragraphs describing a concept in chess on the first page and a sample of that concept demonstrated on a chess board usually from an actual game played. This book is an easy to comprehend book that improves the way chess book have previously been written (e.g. Reinfeld) with their dry prose and endless brain numbing lists of chess moves. This book is an ideal reference tool to keep on hand to either learn new concepts or refresh your memory.

Bill Hartston is not only a strong chess player, he's also a smart and erudite writer. This book is a gem, and is perfect for the kinds of players who admire the writings of C.J.S.Purdy for their practical wisdom. This book has that wisdom, and its format makes it easy, and a delight, to use. Hartston positively encourages the reader to dip into it in any order, although it's also designed to be worked through as a course; it's a goldmine of ideas and advice that's also fun browsing.

A beautiful and highly useful tutorial book that explains in 75 mini-lessons various concepts ranging from tactics to strategy, openings to endgames, calculation to intuitive judgements. Novices and intermediate players are probably best-suited for the book's contents but even stronger (1800+ USCF) players can find interesting concepts and examples to review. I'm 2009 USCF and I admired the book's style and directness: what a fun way to learn chess.

The title might lead one to believe that this is a beginner's manual, but this book is really aimed at the weekend tournament warrior, probably rated at least 1500. I have several beginning students and am always on the lookout for new ideas and angles in primers to enhance my lessons. I pulled this book off the shelf at the library in anticipation of doing just that. Opening it to the first page of chapter 1, I found myself struggling to solve the "White to move and win" diagram! What kind of beginner's manual is this!? After three full minutes the winning idea finally came and a quick thumb-through of the rest of the book confirmed that I wasn't going to find many lesson ideas. Rather, this book is intended to change the stereotyped way amateur players think at the board. Befitting Hartson's training as a psychoanalyst, his purpose is to get into the amateur's head and alter his attitudes and thinking at the board. There is a lot of great advice here presented in short, 1-2 page lessons based on master tournament play. Many first-hand examples from the author's own games. This little book would be a great help to tournament players rated 1500-2200 (the lessons turned out to be for me). And at the price, it is a certified bargain.