DESCRIPTIONS OF CHESS BOOKS
40 Lessons for the Club Player (Aleksander Kostyev, 1986,1999, 214pp)
A follow-up to the book "From Beginner to Expert in 40 Lessons". Here the author
concentrates on the challenges of practical play. The material is suited for the club
player who wishes to improve. A number of complete games illustrate opening and middle
game themes, while great attention is paid to basic endgame positions.
Analysing the Endgame (Jon Speelman, 1981,1997, 172pp)
By using practical examples, the author explains the basic themes and corrects wrong analysis
of important positions by previous endgame authorities.
Attack and Defence (Dvoretsky & Yusupov, 1999, 286pp)
Dvoretsky is regarded as the world's leading chess trainer, and Yusupov is his star pupil.
This is the fifth book in the chess school series. It contains advice and instruction on how
to attack, defend and counter-attack, and keep the initiative. It comprises articles and
chapters by a number of authors.
Attacking Technique (Colin Crouch, 1996,105pp)
This book will teach you how to exploit your opponent's weaknesses, force home your
advantage, launch standard attacks, handle desperate counterplay, and know when to
exchange off into a winning endgame. Positions from real games are analysed, and the
book ends with a chapter of quizzes and solutions.
Beginner's Guide to Winning Chess (Fred Reinfeld, 1964,211pp)
This is a great old style beginner's book. Learn the old style chess notation - I
still like it best myself. The book also shows all basic rules and tactics, and there
are plenty of test questions to review your progress.
Chess Basics (Nigel Short, 1994,95pp)
This book provides an introduction to the game of chess, covering the basic rules
and tactics, and even explaining how to read the special notation in chess text books.
The colour presentation is attractive, and there are small quizzes throughout the book.
Key points are highlighted to make them easy to remember.
Chess for Children (Nottingham, Wade & Lawrence, 1993, 126pp, large size)
Children can start off with a simple game using pawns only. Step by step, the
functions and powers of each piece are introduced. Simple tactics of pins and forks
are explained, and readers will learn to decide whether to attack or defend. There
are a number of pictures, and the text is large and easy to follow.
Chess: Know the Game (in conjunction with the BCF, reprinted 2004, 48pp, )
The rules, pieces and moves, strategy and tactics for beginners in a handy booklet.
Includes over 100 sample board positions, and reveals some beginner traps to avoid.
Chess Strategy (Gufeld & Kalienchenko, 2003, 272pp)
A practical guide to recognising the key strategic features of a position, such as
advantages in time or space; strengths and weaknesses of pawn formations; and mobility,
vulnerability, coordination and comparative values of individual pieces. Separate
chapters are dedicated to the opening, middlegame and ending. Contains flashes of Gufeld humour.
Complete Defence for Black (Keene & Jacobs, 1996,2002, 160pp)
Ever wished there was a first move for black you could play against anything? One that
was both sound, aggressive, and little - known? This book provides the answer: 1 ...Nc6.
Against the King's Pawn, this is Nimzowitsch's 'other' defence, a favourite with maverick
players such as Tony Miles. Against the Queen's Pawn, it has become quite respectable in
the last decade, being used by Jon Speelman as a surprise weapon. Example games showing
variations on this theme are fully analysed.
Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings (Gary Lane, 2002, 176pp)
A repertoire of easy - to - learn openings based on 1d4. These are sound lines with a
modern twist that make them ideal low - maintenance weapons. The book covers the tricks
and traps in the opening for both sides, the basic plan and strategy using entertaining
games, and how to play the middle game by following easy plans.