The Basics of Winning Chess, 3rd Edition

An exhaustive study this book is not. But if you, like me, want to know how to play chess beyond merely knowing the rules of movement and aren't ready for a proper study of the topic, then you are not going to do much better than this book. Of it's 55 pages of actual text, none are wasted. Clearly written, concise, and brief. Clearly nobody is going to become a master after reading this, but I now feel I understand a game that mystified me.

I picked this book out of about 6 or 7 others on the same topic because the writer gave enough, not too much, information all at once but rather takes the reader step by step in the very basics of chess. The author points out that chess is a lifelong learning experience and gives some good advice on starting out giving pointers on some errors most often made by beginners. The book has been helpful to me I have not yet gotten out of the novice status but I intend to! The book points out the names of the pawns and the arrangement of them on the board in a very helpful manner. The author does not patronize the reader but rather shows an interest in getting the reader ready to move forward.