Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18808 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 246 pages

Customer Reviews

Great 2nd book for a chess enthusiast
This book does not waste time on the rules of the game but this shouldn't really be expected after you've read the title. If you've been playing a little while and are heading up past the 1300's or 1400's level then you will probably hit a wall around this area and find yourself wondering how to improve some more. This book is an excellent tool to help you. Through each chapter the text explains the tactical and strategic ideas that you will have to learn and there are just enough diagrams to make it comprehensible. It is worth a slow, careful reading, practicing what you read as you go, as some of the later chapters seem to be addressing a more advanced player than one who first opens the book. This book should be in every club players bookshelf and will be a valued addition to it.

As the author notes, the negative notes about adjourned games is a bit of an anachronism as such games are more often now decided by blitz time limits rather than meeting some other time.

I have 20 books on chess so far, I cant think of any I have which cost less but I'd say this is the most valuable to me. What are you waiting for?

Wide range of topics, a great book for intermediate players.
Tim Harding is one of the world's leading experts in the field of correspondence chess, and it shows in this excellent book by his amazing skills of in-depth analysis. This is a book for intermediate players, and covers all the basics of strategy, tactics, sacrifice, development, endgame, middle game... 30 chapters with a little bit of everything. The print style, condensed algebraic with plenty of diagrams, makes it very easy to read. I was very impressed by the breadth of issues he covered in the book as well. Having plenty of diagrams was a blessing, because it meant I didn't have to bring a chessboard with me to follow along in the book, which can be very inconvenient if you like to read while traveling. I highly recommend this book, and the price makes it a steal!

Classic, cheap, essential
This book is a very user friendly to all aspects of the game. What it lacks in depth it compensates for in the breadth of topics covered. It is entertainingly written, and is still the best introduction to the game that I have read. Perhaps there aren't quite enough puzzles to test yourself, but apart from that its difficult to fault. This is the first book that gave me a rudimentary understanding of the endgame. Every beginner or intermediate should have it on their bookshelf...