Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book that teaches players think about positions
Review: One of the books that always recommended to beginners; i.e., those that know the moves but not how to improve. This book, in its third edition is already a classic. Silman's writing style is easy to read - its like your sitting right next to him and getting the benefit of his international master experience. This is a must read for almost all players
Rating:
Summary: The One Chess Book to Buy
Review: I have read many good (and not so good) chess books in an effort to improve my game. The list includes great books like "My System" by Nimzovich and Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster". No single book I have read is nearly as approachable for the lower rated player without sacrificing substance as "How to Reassess Your Chess". And no other book I have read explains and illustrates as many useful and important concepts as this book does. Here are a few: - How to play simple pawn/rook endgames - How to spot combinations - How to judge and use the imbalances in a position. - Minor piece relationships - Weak and strong squares Once you read Silman's work, you will know how to formulate a plan, and with some discipline, you should see your game improve. After hard work and forcing myself to look at games as Silman sugests, I did! If like many of us you have limited time to study and limited financial resources to spend in chess books, this is the one book you should get and read and read and read...
Rating:
Summary: A classic every chess player should own!!
Review: The word "classic" should be reserved for those few book which fit the criteria, and one criterion is that everyone should own a copy. Silman's book fits that description. His style and detailed explanations hit his targeted audience exactly--the average chess player. The book describes his method for improving: a thinking process using "imbalances"--any difference between the white and black position (Silman's definition). Silman then devotes about eight chapters explaining in detail the elements of strategy which will likely lead to imbalances: minor pieces, space, the center, weak and strong pawns, weak squares, material, temporary imbalances (lead in development or the initiative), and open lines. He closes the book with "Three Keys to Success" and a discussion of how imbalances look in the opening, middlegame, and endgame. Any chess player who repeatedly studies the material in this book, and plays regularly against strong players, will certainly rise to Expert level of play. Silman is to be congradulated for both writing a modern treatise on chess strategy and for explaining to amateur chess players how to employ such strategies in their games.
Rating:
Summary: Three years ago 1200 + now 2200+ FIDE
Review: That's right boys and girls, I first got this book a long time ago and was about around barely 1300 blitz on many chess servers then as I got this book I not only read it but didn't leave the chapter until I mastered and basically nailed each imbalance into my head. Now given any position I figure out the correct plans and everything. I even crushed Chessmaster 9000 twice on its hardest level! (But lose the rest of the times still) As IM Silman says in the beginner he believes that whoever studys this book and masters the concepts will achieve the master ranking. Which I am about too I less than 100 points off of a master ranking at 2223 so I have to reach 2300+ to become an FM. Anyways also if you really want to read this book you must get Chessbase (or download Chessbase Light for free) then go to http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/~gossimit/c/book.htm to download the game collection from this book so you can see the board on the computer while reading the book and going through the moves on the computer as you read. Well all I have to say is read this book, study chess endings (Essential Chess Endings by Howell then Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual for PC) then don't go on until you master it! Then you should study study study tactics! By getting some great tactics books. Here are some of my games with CM9000...[Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Date "2004.5.7"]
[Round ""]
[White "GM Spassky"]
[Black "Evans personality on the Chessmaster 9000"] [TimeControl "60"] (which means one minute game)
[Result "*"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.O-O Bd6 8.d4
exd4 9.Nxd4 O-O 10.Nf5 Be5 11.Re1 Re8 12.Bg5 d6 13.Qd2 Qd7 14.f4 Nxe4
15.Nxe4 Bxb2? 16.Neg3! Bxa1 17.Rxa1 b4 18.Bh4 Kh8? 19.Nxg7!! Kxg7 20.f5 Re6
21.Nh5+ Kh8 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Qf4 d5 24.Rf1 h6 25.Qxh6+ Qh7 26.Qf6+ Kg8
27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qf6+ Kg8 29.Bxd5+ Qf7 30.Qg7# 1-0 [Event ""]
[Site ""]
[Date "2004.6.29"]
[Round ""] [White "Chessmaster 9000 - Ivanchuk personality"]
[Black "GM Spassky"]
[White ELO 2700]
[Black ELO 2223]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Result "*"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2
Nc6 9.O-O-O Bd7 10.Nb3 a6 11.Kb1 Ne5 12.Qf2 b5 13.g4 Bxg4!! 14.Bb6 Qb8
15.fxg4 Nc4 16.Ba5 Nxg4 17.Qh4 Nge3 18.Rd3 Qb7 19.Rg1? Qa7 20.Qg3 Be5
21.Qh3 Nxc2! 22.Ne2 Rfc8 23.Bc3 N4a3+! 24.bxa3 Nxa3+ 25.Ka1 Rxc3 26.Rxc3
b4! 27.Rg5! bxc3 28.Rxe5 dxe5 29.Nxc3 Qf2 30.Bd3 Nb5 31.Ne2 Nd4 32.Nexd4?!
exd4 33.Qg3 Qxg3 34.hxg3 a5 35.Kb2 Rb8 36.a4 e5 37.Bb5 Ra8 38.Nd2 f6
39.Nc4 Kg7 40.Kc2 Ra7 41.Kd3 Kh6 42.Ke2 Kh5 43.Kf3 h6 44.Bc6 Kg5 45.Ke2
h5 46.Be8 Re7 0-1 I was winning so badly that I didn't feel like playing until the 100th move giving checkmate and saw that the evalutation was that I was a piece ahead so I pretended like the computer had a resign function and did it for it. lol.
Rating: 
Summary: His one important point.. Read "The Art of the Middlegame"!
Review: This book was extremely helpful in improving my chess game. I like the vehement style of writing that Jeremy uses, ("When I say you must, I mean you must."). I see many of my fellow reviewers lambast Jeremy for his Typos (and they should be corrected in a new edition [with two indices of players and openings, might I add]), but it is very helpful and useful that he expressed clarity and freshness in explaining the most important parts of the book. (There are a lot of dry chess readings througout history and I'm glad Jeremy, Bruce Pandolfini and Lev Alburt are aware to keep things fresh and lively). I was ready to tout this book as the best right along with some of my five-star yeilding cohorts until I follwed through with Jeremy's suggestion and read "The ART of the Middlegame" by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov. This old book is MUCH MORE thorough than "How to Reassess Your Chess" in describing 1) planning in particular openings, 2)attacking in relation to the board's castled positions and 3)central pawn topography. But, it is an excellent idea to tie thoughts from these two books together; Jeremy's book does cover MANY OTHER planning issues that aren't in "The ART of the Middlegame." Bottom line: Ingest Jeremy's book and improve greatly. But, Ingest it along with "The ART of the Middlegame" and tell the world of chess to be very afraid of you. (Here's a tip... (read my Amazon review of Bruce Pandolfini's "Power Mates"). My review WILL give you some Ideas!
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Grammer and Confusing
Review: About 7-8 Years ago I picked up this book in a bookstore and looked it over. You know how we are as consumers - I said "ah I don't like it - really superficial - I didn't like the cover and I NEVER like it when the author is on the cover. So, I put it back on the shelf. Of Late I found the website of one A.J.Goldsby who rated this as possibly one of the greatest instructional chess books of all time - period! Since Master Goldsby's site is so absolutely phenomenal with the type of things (even hard work, can you believe it?) that actually make you better at chess, and since he so HIGHLY recommended it, I typed onto the web and went right over to Amazon.com and bought the book (Along with it's newest addition: the How to Reasses Your Chess Workbook - which is just beautiful!) I have to tell you - this book is it! I mean that. I am certain that I am just like a lot of you out there who read these reviews and try different chess books and really -really - for the time and brainpower put in - you just don't get enough back. Nevermind the fact that we all want the talent of a Fischer or a Polgar NOW! How To Reassess Your Chess has - and this is honest - increased my understanding of the board, the function, strategy, and as I discovered from this book Planning!!! I had never planned before. My 7year old daughter and I are going through it slowly and carefully and she has beat me with me playing my hardest - twice! and - we are only 63 pages into the book!!! She could never beat me before. I am a high class A - she is 7yrs old! This book will change chess for you completely! If I could recommend one book regarding chess it is this one! Jeremy Silman could easily have earned his Grandmaster norms by now - actually long ago!!! But he is on a different path than just getting titles (please - - - there is nothing wrong with getting a title - I do not want even one Grandmaster offended) But Mr Silman has taken a road less traveled - he "TEACHES" chess. Surely this is his Magnus Opus - How to Reassess Your Chess could have a better title! Something along the lines of the absolute lessons in reality which will make a real chess player out of you (sorry -too long!) If you buy this book, and go nice and slowly, at your own pace, FORCE yourself to do some of the hard work which is completely suggested (nothing is left out leaving you wondering!) IF YOU DO THIS YOU COULD EASILY BECOME A MASTER !!!!! And it is not ALL hard work, it is fun - just think of what my daughter is doing with the text provided, at 7yrs old. IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A BOOK WHICH IS LIKE HAVING A MASTER AT YOUR SIDE SAYING "NO,NO,NO - STOP AND DO IT THIS WAY" IF YOU REALLY INTEND TO PLAY CHESS AND WILL DO THE WORK TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN --- THEN BUY "HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS AS SOON AS IS POSSIBLE!!! My game and my 7 year old daughter's game improved at least 100% due to this one book (and believe me I have bunches and bunches of chess books. Most Everyone of them put together does not equal this one book !!!!! BUY HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS AS SOON AS YOU CAN !!!!!
Rating:
Summary: worst book ever
Review: It is a good book for someone who wants to improve their chess. All of the concepts, however, were already covered in books by Nimzovich, Euwe, Znosko-Borovsky, Keres, and many others. The advantage of this book is its plain (albeit verbouse) language and algebraic notation.
Note that if you are a beginner then this book may not be what you need.
Silman uses a lot of his games to make a point. Generally, it is not a big deal, but seems that many folks prefer to see illustrative games by top world players.
If you are about 1400 and have problems with middle game then this book is a good starting point. I gave it 4 stars because this book can be used as a guideline to what to do when you reach a middlegame and may help you choose the right course of action, however, some of the examples have flawed analysis and may not contain the best moves.
Finally, a note to those who plan to check Silman's games with a computer program. Yes, computer will find better moves than the ones Silman chose. But guess what? At least in one game where Silman, playing black, chose not to accept a sacrifice and won, Chessmaster 7000 (when I set it to play against itself) accepted it and... lost!!! So, all that negativism toward Silman and his book does not seem to be justified.
Rating: 
Summary: very, very had and doesn't always explain
Review: First, there are no more than 3-5 typos in the whole book (3rd edition). Right after finishing this book, I beat the highest rated Chessmaster opponent I ever have before. But what's impressive is that I played the game in a third less time than usual! Thanks to Silman's teaching style I have learned the thinking mechanics good players use to break down a position and see what to do with minimal effort (thru the early middlegame, at least). I know intuitively whether to initiate or allow a trade, alter the pawn structure, etc. Now my mental energy goes to analyzing variations, finding weaknesses in my opponent's camp, and planning toward a winning endgame.
It's so much easier to create and build on imbalances than to obsess on material gain or waste time in the middlegame constantly trying to find a checkmate that isn't there. I used to be terrified to sacrifice even a pawn. Now I know that pawn was taking a useful square from my knight or blocking a now open file for my rook. The improvements in my thinking are too numerous to cover them all.
This was the fifth chess book I have read, and it opened my eyes to ideas I wasn't exposed to nearly as well before. Books crammed full of variations don't teach me anything I would retain, and put me to sleep. This book teaches how to break down a position so you can recognize what your aim should be, how to get there, and preventing counterplay. You learn how to strengthen your own pieces AND weaken your opponent's. A dedication to preventative rather than reactive defense is a skill I was sorely lacking until I read this book. I finally understand how to gain a winning position without a material advantage. I know now whether I must strike immediately or if I can afford to take a few moves to strengthen my position first. In short, I feel like I'm in control of the whole game now, rather than only planning my moves and playing wait-and-see with my opponent's.
If you're an intermediate player, buy this book. You will never regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Desperately Seeking a Good Chess Book
Review:
It's hard to understand why this book has so many positive reviews. My husband and I are getting little out of it -- literally, we're getting a little and not more.
It's so poorly written that, at times, the grammar makes the meaning of sentences ambiguous. This becomes irritating; we're not only trying to learn to improve our games, but we have to figure out what Silman is trying to write.
The chapters are short and, in my opinion, incomplete. There are many chapters in this book; it covers a lot of material but in minimal ways, sometimes to the point of - huh? - then the chapter is over. Or, for example, the end-game chapter: it shows a couple ways a game can end--this piece and that piece, these three pieces or those three pieces--very specific pre-planned & diagrammed examples of only a few different endgames and that's it; that's the whole chapter.
Silman's "What would you do if...?" examples are under-explained and no alternatives given. As well, I find it difficult that a diagram and the start of notation are often on one page, and the rest of the notation is on the next page; I need to go back and forth between pages to see diagram, notation, diagram, notation.
Others have pointed out that many examples of games in the book are Silman games (Silman-won games). I, too, would have preferred to see other players' games, given the approach of showing tournament games.
It comes down to this: we've read it; we learned a few new ways of thinking, after deliberating what Silman meant when he wrote [x], but the book's high points are few and far betewen and the writing style is annoying.
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