The Tao of Chess: 200 Principles to Transform Your Game and Your Life

I, as a beginner, find THE TAO OF CHESS by Peter Kurzdorfer to be a very enjoyable and easy read that serves to reinforce chess information that I am still learning. This book is a list of 200 principles well organized into Part I and II with approximately 20 short themed chapters in each. Each principle is 1-2 sentences (usually with at least one diagram demonstrating the principle and algebraic chess notation of usually no more than 3-10 moves for each side). The accompanying explanatory text with each is about 2-3 short paragraphs. The "Tao" section which follows is limited to a brief statement of 1-3 sentences extracting from the chess experience an application to everyday life beyond the chessboard. Within this concise format, an amazing amount of valuable and quite varied information is presented. TAO OF CHESS does not pretend to be about game analysis: it is mostly text and is about ideas and concepts. I think someone not a beginner might, also, enjoy this book as the ideas presented are not limited to those usually offered the novice. What I like best about this book is its easy, concise format which is very user-friendly for a beginner but it is not a primer and does not teach the basics or stand alone as can books like THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO CHESS, GUIDE TO GOOD CHESS, ALPHA TEACH YOURSELF CHESS, LASKER'S MANUAL OF CHESS, PORTABLE CHESS COACH, CHESS FOR EVERYONE, THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY CHESS or PANDOLFINI'S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHESS. Part I (TECHNICAL MATTERS) mostly addresses principles of POSITIONAL CHESS such as controlling the center and king safety. Without overwhelming you, it presents chess ideas clearly and concisely. For instance, in the chapter "The Center", "Principle 18: Play to the center, whether Classically or in the hypermodern style" includes definitions for both the "Classical center" and the "hypermodern center" ... these bite sized morsels are easy to digest and assimilate. For some, this may be chess-lite but, for me, there is a place for an easy buffet of ideas from which I did come away learning something. Part II (HUMAN MATTERS) addresses self-awareness because, as the author points out, "A strong opponent will learn things about you during a game that you didn't know." Part II focuses on such topics as awareness of one's style, visualization skills (Kurzdorfer suggests playing blindfold chess without sight of the board or pieces.) and using the time we have to think about our next move wisely. In other words, it invites both an investigation of the inner experience and a continued exploration of chess ideas. And the Tao?? Well, sometimes people outside of Eastern traditions think that something with a title like this should say something special, profound but, having been on the same meditation path since 1986, I know that it is all in the small and mundane. In any case, I do agree with the author that skills learned in one area of our life can carry over to other areas which is why,

That could've been the title for this delightful book. Those expecting master-level depth of analysis should look elsewhere; this book makes no pretentions to being a course in chess mastery. I volunteer as a chess coach at an elementary school. I always stress the value of the life-skills that chess teaches. This book has not only validated my approach, but given me many new ideas on how to enrich these children's lives through chess. Thanks, Mr. Kurzdorfer! And, yes, I learned some useful chess tips from this book as well. The positions were interesting and well explained (at least for someone at an average club-level of play.) I've read hundreds of chess books: this one ranks in my top ten.

I enjoyed this primer (and more than that) on how to play chess. It is written in clear language and will improve almost anybody's game.

A pithy and poignant look at the greatest game ever invented and how and what it can say about life lessons. Anyone who has played chess (regardless of skill level), who has at least half an introspective brain (which nearly all chess lovers do) has long recognized the parallels between the principles of chess strategy and the applicability to life strategy. What author and Chess Master Peter Kurzdorfer has done is actually do what many others I suspect have wanted to do for many score years....actually capture some of those principles in writing. Its not an overly deep read, on either the chess or philosophy, but it is a very satisfying read on both topics. Don't look for in depth middlegame strategies or 1400 opening strategems, but expect a solid treatment of fundamentally sound chess as well as fundamentally sound 'know thyself' type tips. Warning: While this book is very applicable to novice and amateur chessplayers, reasonable knowledge of elementary chess and of notation is required to enjoy it. Never fear, learning chess notation takes minimal effort. One drawback, however, is that I do not recall seeing an explanation of algebraic chess notation in the Tao of Chess, and it could benefit from that. Overall, if you like to play chess, even just periodically, this is a good 'take on vacation' type book or one to spend time with across 4-5 weeks in evenings at home after work.