A Primer of Chess

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Summary: Insights Into A World Champion's Thoughts On Chess
Review: Although originally written as an introduction to chess - and for which it is still quite useful - it also is an opportunity for intermediate players to read the great Capablanca's annotations to twelve games he played against some of the strongest players ever known. We spend a lot of time studying chess books by modern masters and grandmasters and neglect the ideas of a chessplayer regarded for a time as practically invincible. An inexpensive, interesting primer that will repay study for players like myself (ELO 2023) and lesser rated.

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Summary: not as good as capablanca's Chess Fundamentals
Review: Capa's previous book Chess Fundamentals is a much better book. This book does include 12 games played and annotated by Capa and is essential reading, but if you just want one book then Fundamentals is the one to get. The two Capa books taken together can displace all other Capa game collections in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: not as good as capablanca's Chess Fundamentals
Review: Capa's previous book Chess Fundamentals is a much better book. This book does include 12 games played and annotated by Capa and is essential reading, but if you just want one book then Fundamentals is the one to get. The two Capa books taken together can displace all other Capa game collections in my opinion.

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Summary: capablanca's good....
Review: It is difficult to share the insights with my daughter. She has only learned the algebraic notation. Each of the other books we purchased have been translated into this format and it is much better for learning!

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Summary: I had hoped for algebraic notation
Review: It is difficult to share the insights with my daughter. She has only learned the algebraic notation. Each of the other books we purchased have been translated into this format and it is much better for learning!

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Summary: Great book, by the greatest!!!!!
Review: Solid info is contained in this book. but like the title says its a primer. From the material contained in the book i think it would benefit the beginer to someone rated around 1300.
if you dont have a book on chess this would be a great first book!! its definetely comparable to silman's HOW TO REASSESS YOUERE CHESS. though the content is more in silman's book. its mostly rules about how to think like him. and capablanca tries to help you develop youre own style.
i know people put this book down because its in descriptive notation, but it has a small section in the begining that shows you how to read it. Plus youll be able to buy other great books that are descriptive too! like botvitnik and alehkhine's books.
why not study with the greatest? i know people devate alot about who is the greatest. But he was in an era where he played against some of the best ever! like alehkhine, lasker, Nimzowich, tarrasch, and more. if youre a beginer theyre is no reason you should not have this book!

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Summary: capablanca's good....
Review: The guy is grand, but I only gave 4 stars not 5 stars because this version is a shortened version which contains little writing by Capablanca. The book mostly consists of steps taken in different games. Personally, I like to be able to feel an author's style in his book. I would prefer it if there's a version whereby Capablanca takes time to explain his thoughts of chess.

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Summary: a masterpiece of chess instruction
Review: Without question, this is the one book for a beginner to get. The book not only is written by what some consider to be the greatest chess player ever, it offers a ton of excellent advice. Capablanca shows what to do in the opening, middlegame and endgame. The end of the book offers his best games for instructional purposes. The best part of the book is his excellent advice and honesty. He does not hide knowledge from the reader. He is open and candid about everything. For example, some have wondered how Capablanca became so good. The answer is in this book. He writes that one should play over the games and examples in the book, and think of similar positions himself and keep going over this again and again. This is the "secret" to Capablancas success as he writes in the book;practice, practice and more practice. That is the key to chess wizadry. This book is excellent because it teaches the truth about chess mastery. It takes the reader from begginner to chess master and beyond. A great, great book.