Chess

Rating:
Summary: A Revised Opinion
Review: After I wrote my initial review, in January 2003, I received a chess board with the algebraic notation on its borders. This removed the problem with trying to follow games on a board without notation, and I decided to give this book another chance. Now, I'd have to revise my opinion - this book's deeper analysis is well worth the slight additional effort I've spent studying it. I'd have to say it has replaced my Reinfeld book as my favorite, and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Reprint of first edition of Mammoth Book of Chess
Review: Such a low price for a hardbound book made this too good to pass up. However, on close inspection, it appears to be a reprint under a different title of the first edition of "The Mammoth Book of Chess." I'm a casual chessplayer, so I'm not really able to render a meaningful opinion on the technical merits of the book. For that, I'd recommend you read the reviews of the current edition of "The Mammoth Book of Chess."

I own only two chess books, this one and Fred Reinfeld's "The Complete Chess Course." Personally, I prefer Reinfeld. However, this may be because the analysis is more basic and one-dimensional - exactly what I need as a casual player without much time to devote to study. (I just want to be able to hold my own against the other casual players in my circle.) However, if you're a "serious" tournament player, this Burgess book may be better for you; the analysis appears deeper and more up-to-date. I'm also old enough that I grew up with the descriptive notation used in Reinfeld, and have never gotten fully comfortable with the Algebraic notation used in Burgess' book. These two facts made the Burgess book, for me, a little too difficult to be useful or fun. Overall, "Chess" by Burgess isn't a bad book, it just doesn't fit my needs well.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Single Reference Book - Great Value
Review: This book is a hardcopy word-for-word reprint of "The Mammoth Book of Chess".(TMBOC)

Therefore, go check out the reviews on that book - they apply equally to this book.

The reason I gave it 5 stars (besides the fact that it is great) is that this hardcopy edition is actually several dollars cheaper than the paper edition of TMBOC!

This book has it all; history, rules, basic mates, lessons in tactics and combinations, positional concepts, endgame principles, overview of virtually every opening, traps, classic games, use of computers, internet resources, etc. etc. etc.

I have a few pet peeves regarding the book, but at "such a good price" for such a spectacular book there is nothing else to say, but BUY IT!

P.S. just so you know what one of my pet peeves is- the book is somewhat unbalanced in it's coverage of the openings. For example, in the section dealing with the King's Indian Defense (a very popular opening, to be sure) he gives a number of really great illustrative games.

However, when discussing the Nimzo-Indian Defense (probably equally as popular), the illustrative games are rather sparse.