Rating: Summary: why this book is just three stars...? Review: In this book Bobby Fischer teaches us with some examples..(e.g back-rank mate, defence, attack the enemy's pawn cover etc) especially for beginners, this book is a little bit good because, you have to draw many situations in your brain how to mate and then you can remind it in real-chess-playing. that means.. if you read and watch 'what the back-rank mate' is in this book, and if you meet that situation in your playing, you will know how you can mate your opponent.But, in this book, he is just talking about the examples and do not tell us how to think. so if you finished this book, and wanna play chess? the answer is no. because there are nothing but lots of example about how to mate your opponent in some situations. in my opinion, if you really don't know how to play chess, and you want to know how to think in easy words, The complete idiot guide Chess may be much better. in that book, the writter is teaching what you want to do to us with very very easy words so beginner can understand. How to reassess Chess, Logical Chess are also good for how to think but that book is difficult for beginner and maybe lose your fun in chess. I think.
Rating: Summary: It's a great book for beginners Review: If you've never played chess before, why not learn from one of the best players in the world? This book is layed out logically, progressively building on previous material. It will leave a complete newcomer with a basic understanding of the rules of the game, and some basic mating patterns. Anyone who is more than a rank beginner will be extremely bored with this book, and probably somewhat upset about spending their money on it.
Rating: Summary: Bobby Fischer's Finest Hour... Review: This is a wonderful book. Challenging, thoughtful, but very thorough even for the beginner. We used this book for chess players in chess club, and it really improves the game. Using chess board illustrations on each page (instead of notation) allowed beginners to progress quickly and learn to THINK chess. The BEST chess book I've ever seen. Highly recommended for all chess players -- children or adults.
Rating: Summary: For the absolute beginner Review: Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is a beginner's puzzle book. Each page has a diagram which asks the reader to chose the best move. Most of these puzzles revolve around check mate and are very basic 1-move attacks or defenses. The answers can then be seen on the following page. I feel that this book is helpful for those individuals who have just begun the game of chess. The tests within give the beginner an opportunity to see some of the common mating patterns. And starting with Check Mate is a fun way to start the learning process. There is nothing more satisfying that capturing the enemy king! Having said this, I do not feel that this book is a very good learning tool. There is not enough commentary to explain the ideas and principles of check mate that the book focuses on. You just look at the pictures and go from there. The title of this book is misleading. The idea of "Teaching Chess" would seem to imply that many important facets of the game are explained. This is definately not the case. There is no hint of tutoring on opening, middle or end game principles. The book "teaches" very little. Secondly, Bobby Fischer is not the one supposedly teaching chess here. When one sees the name Fischer in a book's title, he can usually expect brilliancy inside. This is not the case. None of Bobby's magic is revealed in this book. Anyone could have crated the puzzles inside. If you buy this book, accept it for what it is: A beginner's puzzle book.
Rating: Summary: graetly improved my game Review: i started see things i hadn't seen before after i worked through this workbook.
Rating: Summary: A Must Have For All Students of The Game... Review: This is a phenomenal program for beginning players, depending on their age. I found that the most valuable element of this book is the increasing complexity of strategies introduced as one advances in basic knowledge of the game. Personally, and again this is just my humble opinion, I did not find this appropriate for my beginning chess players, ages 6 and 9. Although this is an extremely well-written program, we needed something a bit more visual and basic in its presentation initially. Our first choice was The Kids' Book of Chess/Book and Kids' Chess Set by Harvey Kidder and Kimberly Bulcken Root. Again, I preface this review by saying that although I did not start my younger players with this book, I find that it is ABSOLUTELY essential for every chess player to have. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess was definitely the next logical source of instruction for us. It contains a good overview of the basics, but delves voraciously into developing mastery. It is referred to as a program, because it is interactive...sort of like a chess "laboratory". Each unit teaches and illustrates a concept, and then requires a written response from the reader. The reader can then compare their response to the author's. This learning technique is invaluable and helps increase retention because the student is required to work through the problem before checking his/her answer. The program is also sequential. You must be patient and NOT skip lessons (you wouldn't want to anyway!) If you do, you will lose some very valuable insights. Each lesson builds on the previous lesson and lays the foundation for following units. Again, you may find this to be the perfect primer for your beginning chess student(s), as most of my fellow reviewers have. Buy this first and evaluate it accordingly. If you require something a bit more elementary, then check out the book I mentioned in the first paragraph; but do not, under any circumstances, move forward with your lessons without this book! 5 Stars. Invaluable, educational and provides an excellent foundation.
Rating: Summary: A good practice book for the new player. Review: Lenin once said that "Chess is the gymnasium of the mind.". This book is an exercise tool of that facility. The book begins presuming one has never seen the game, and proceeds to take the reader through increasinly difficult themes by use of programmed learning, a most useful device. The new player will strengthen his or her game quickly , and the intermediate player, such as myself, will benefit from refreshing forgotten themes, and occasionally discovering a new one. If you are looking for new opening strategies, or detailed middle game analysis, go elsewhere. This book is very short on theory, but long on training the eye and mind to spot lines of weakness and strength ahead of time. It will enhance most players' appreciation of the endless subtlety of chess, and I recommend it highly, subject to the foregoing commentary.
Rating: Summary: A Great Place To Start! Review: I've purchased this book time and time again to give to friends who are starting to learn the game. It is a wonderful and non-complicated approach which anyone should be able to easily work through. You don't need a chess board! Just have fun anywhere anytime with this great book. A great follow up book to this would be BRUCE PANDOLFINI'S "BEGINNING CHESS". It sort of picks up where this Fischer leaves off, exploring more advanced positions with the same simplicity. Both books are above all, challenging and fun!
Rating: Summary: Great for beginners and intermediate players Review: This is an excellent book for those of us who aren't masters but just want to get a little better at our favorite game. The book concentrates on back-rank mates using pins and sacrifices (if you don't understand that this book will explain it very easily, better than I ever could). It's easy to follow, like another reviewer said you won't find long columns of move lists to intimidate and confuse you. It gives you simple examples that lead you on to more complicated positions. I played through all it's excercises and noticed an immediate jump in my playing strength. Be careful with this book, thou: 1) I lent it to a person whom I play a lot and they also picked up their game and 2) This book became somewhat famous in the dorm I used to live in in college and eventually got stolen from me. But for sure, if there were more chess books this helpful and accessable to average players than there would probably be fewer average players!
Rating: Summary: OK beginner's book, some uses for stronger players too Review: This book certainly drills beginners in how to checkmate, and works systematically through mating combinations. There's a lot of emphasis on back-rank mates though. So I wouldn't rate this as a beginner's first choice because of the limitations, but I think even many quite experienced club players would get something out of it.
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