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NSCF Chess Book Recommendations


BEGINNERS TO INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS

General Instruction
Tactics
Openings

(Click on the title to order at Amazon.com)
 
Logical Chess Logical Chess - Move by Move   by Irving Chernev
 
Irving Chernev explains 33 games in detail, explaining the moves of the masters and showing readers where to place the chess pieces in order to make powerful, telling contributions. A continual best-seller!
Note: The original was in descripive notation, but the 1998 edition uses algebraic notation (e.g. 1.e4 e5), which is more familiar to today's young players.
  From the reviews: One of the true Classics! The book is a series of (mostly master-level) games, in which every single move, from both sides, is commented on. The reader is never left wondering, "Why did he do that?" An incredibly effective and powerful teaching tool. ... one of the few books you can read without a chess board handy! Before reading it, I just pushed pieces around without understanding why. After, I was able to focus on the characteristic strategy of each opening, find my way around the middle game, and handle an endgame. The games are exciting! I never knew so much deep strategy went into each move. This book should be everyone's jumping off point in learning chess. I recently started playing with a friend of mine who was slightly better, ... after reading through the commentary and study of only three of the games in Logical Chess, I soundly beat my friend. Study of this book will have a great effect on how you think when you play chess. What a pleasure to read; Chernev really knew how to write. Chernev really drives home the important themes. I have seen and read literally hundreds of chess books. Whenever someone asks me what is the best book to start with while learning serious chess, I give them the name of this book without hesitation. The best elementary chess book there is. A must read for chess beginners.

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess   by Patrick Wolff
 
Patrick Wolff, the current U.S. Chess Champion and International Grandmaster, teaches readers quick and easy strategies for learning chess basics. From essential information on openings and basic endgames to tips on reading your rival's moves, readers will be armed and ready to take on their next opponents.
 

  From the reviews: Deepest Beginner's Book Yet! Outstanding....suggests ways to play effectively. There are many excercises at the end of each chapter that really contribute to your understanding of the subject. What was really helpful for me was that it actually described and categorized moves that I've always used, but never knew the names of. The book is extremely easy to follow. I usually pick it up and read a little before I play my computer... It's becoming easier and easier to beat the machine! For a good understanding of chess basics, tactics and strategy you cannot go wrong with this book. If you are just starting out and just learned the moves a few days ago ... or you have been playing tournament chess for a couple of years and you still are not where you want to be; THIS IS THE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! ...this is not only the best beginner-type book I've come across, but one of the better chess books, period.

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Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess   by Maurice Ashley
 
(Software - Windows® 95 and Windows® 3.1 CD-ROM)
Master the grandest board game of all through the innovative coaching of one of the highest-ranked International Masters. Experience, one-on-one, world-renowned Maurice Ashley's proven method for creating tournament champions. Learn to excel at every facet of the game, from basic moves to advanced strategies, with this next-generation, multimedia teaching program. Maurice's trademark use of sports and other real-life analogies brings the game of chess to a lively new level. And through extensive video coaching, interactive challenges, and progressive exercises, your playing will reach a whole new level, too!
 
First, learn everything you need in order to think and win like a seasoned player...
  Maurice teaches you chess in a fun and non-intimidating way -- from beginning moves to advanced strategies
  Thousands of fast-paced, interactive challenges sharpen your game skills and board visualization
  Interactive video coaching prepares you to play killer chess
  Classic Master Games -- analyzed with our exclusive "video chalkboard" feature -- put you inside the minds of chess
  Learn strategies you can use to slam-dunk your opponents Now, practice and play with these exceptional features:
  Five 3-D-rendered sets of chess pieces and thematic boards
  Adaptive chess engine that assesses your ability and challenges you at your skill level
  Intuitive user interface and controls, including customizable play level, tournament clock, and expert help
  Import and export of games in a variety of formats   From the reviews: Chess Master Masterfully Teaches How to Think Like a Master.
Maurice Ashley is a superb chess teacher. Anyone who wants to learn or already plays chess will love and benefit from this title. In an intelligent, inviting, engaging, and entertaining approach, Maurice Ashley explains basic and intermediate strategies for playing and thinking like a chess master. He provides loads of varied practice and down-to-earth advice in clear and accessible language. This is the BEST chess teaching software I've experienced.

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Winning Chess Exercises for Kids Winning Chess Exercises for Kids   by Jeff Coakley
This wonderfully entertaining book also happens to be quite effective. Everything any child will need to know about chess strategy and more is here in this book, which is well laid out and easy to follow. Part of the fun factor for kids is that the book is replete with cartoon images of chess characters to help make the learning experience more exciting. A bright and colorful cover, as well as the large workbook format and algebraic notation make this a book which will occupy your child's attention for many hours.
From the Reviews The main part of this book consists of 100 pages of exercises with nine diagrams on each page. Three diagrams are devoted to checkmate problems; three are win material type of problems; one is a defensive problem ("White to move and not lose"); one problem is more general; and one problem is an endgame problem. The solutions are in the back of the book and are very detailed. They often give not only the winning line, but also the reason why other moves don't work. As a chess coach, I've looked at a large number of books which teach tactics, IMO this is perhaps the best I've seen for students.

You will not find this book up at your local B&N bookstore. Rather than be disappointed, I am actually glad. I feel that anyone who gets rewarded with a treasure like this ought to have looked around or taken a little effort to know of its existence before they laid their hands on it!!!

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How to Beat Your Dad at Chess How to Beat Your Dad at Chess   by Murray Chandler
Easy-To-Read Guidance On Beating A Stronger Opponent! This is a chess book for everyone, from eight to eighty, beginner to master! In a clear easy-to-follow format, it explains how the best way to beat a stronger opponent (be it a friend, clubmate - or Dad!) is by cleverly forcing checkmate. Delightful and instructive positions from real games are used to show the 50 Deadly Checkmates that chess masters use to win their games.
"How to Beat Your Dad at Chess" makes improving easy and fun, and is full of helpful explanations and practical advice on how to approach chess games with confidence and success!
From the Reviews Not for kids only. ... Kids will benefit, but so will anyone with a USCF rating below ~1500. This is not a book about how to move the pieces. It doesn't outline basic strategy such as controlling the center, developing your pieces, or castling early. Instead, almost the entire book is devoted to "The 50 Deadly Checkmating Patterns." .. The text is easy to read with clear, well-annotated diagrams (the key move is indicated by an arrow as well as the text), and the hardcover version withstands abuse in your gear bag. This is a superb book to glance at while you're waiting for the tournament to start.

(Click on the title or image to order at Amazon.com)
 
Chess Openings for Juniors Chess Openings for Juniors   by John Walker
 
From the Reviews Best Chess Book for Competitive Players. Text book openings are described move-by-move including justification and capitalizing on error The first 51 pages is the reason you should buy this book. I have not seen much better on the subjects of space, development, and time. I have used this book to coach many chess players and they quickly become much harder to beat. I think it is a great buy.




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