Synopses & Reviews
From America's foremost chess teacher and author comes a new standard: a comprehensive course covering all aspects of the game, to improve your technique whether you are a newcomer or a longtime fan. andlt;BRandgt; One of America's best-known chess masters, Bruce Pandolfini has helped millions learn the intricacies of chess through his acclaimed books and workshops. In this exciting volume, he presents a complete overview of the entire game and its culture. Structured as a dialogue between a beginning student and an expert teacher, andlt;Iandgt;Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chessandlt;/Iandgt; takes the student step-by-step from fundamentals to advanced, highly strategic play. Combining easy-to-follow diagrams with trenchant and up-to-date analysis, Pandolfini puts a new twist on accepted chess theory, offering a seamless beginning-to-end approach, including: andlt;BRandgt; and#149; a short introductory history of the gameandlt;BRandgt; and#149; the moves, rules, and contemporary notation formsandlt;BRandgt; and#149; the basic principles of chessandlt;BRandgt; and#149; how to develop an opening repertoireandlt;BRandgt; and#149; the art of tactical playandlt;BRandgt; and#149; pattern recognition and memory aidsandlt;BRandgt; and#149; traps and pitfalls to be avoidedandlt;BRandgt; and#149; middlegame play, strategy, and planningandlt;BRandgt; and#149; defense and counterattackandlt;BRandgt; and#149; transitions to the endgame and the endgame itselfandlt;BRandgt; and#149; computers and the future of chessandlt;BRandgt; and#149; the best websites for playing chess online andlt;BRandgt; With Pandolfini's expert insight into the history and modern world of chess, as well as several appendices to enhance play and appreciation, andlt;Iandgt;Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chessandlt;/Iandgt; makes the perfect gift for players of all ages and will be the benchmark title for chess players for years to come.
Synopsis
From America's foremost chess coach and game strategist for Netflix's The Queen's Gambit comes a comprehensive course covering all aspects of the game, to improve your technique whether you are a newcomer or a longtime fan. One of America's best-known chess masters, Bruce Pandolfini has helped millions learn the intricacies of chess through his acclaimed books and workshops. In this exciting volume, he presents a complete overview of the entire game and its culture. Structured as a dialogue between a beginning student and an expert teacher, Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess takes the student step-by-step from fundamentals to advanced, highly strategic play. Combining easy-to-follow diagrams with trenchant and up-to-date analysis, Pandolfini puts a new twist on accepted chess theory, offering a seamless beginning-to-end approach, including:
- a short introductory history of the game
- the moves, rules, and contemporary notation forms
- the basic principles of chess
- how to develop an opening repertoire
- the art of tactical play
- pattern recognition and memory aids
- traps and pitfalls to be avoided
- middlegame play, strategy, and planning
- defense and counterattack
- transitions to the endgame and the endgame itself
- computers and the future of chess
- the best websites for playing chess online
With Pandolfini's expert insight into the history and modern world of chess, as well as several appendices to enhance play and appreciation, Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess makes the perfect gift for players of all ages and will be the benchmark title for chess players for years to come.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. [357]) and index.
About the Author
Bruce Pandolfini, a National Master in United States chess competition, is the creator of the highly acclaimed Fireside Chess Library. He lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Contentsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Prologue: Chess, The Universal Gameandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 1: In the Beginningandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Moves and Rulesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 2: Arming for Attackandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Non-mating Tacticsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 3: Defining the Goalandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Mating Patternsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 4: Terms of Engagementandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Elementsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 5: Staking out Territoryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Opening Principles and the First Moveandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 6: Establishing the Neutral Zoneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Black's Responseandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 7: Determining Prioritiesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Development and the Centerandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 8: Starting the Campaignandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Comparing Minor Piecesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 9: Digging the Trenchesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Trades, Pins, and More on Minor Piecesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 10: Accumulating Advantagesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Pawn Play and Weaknessesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 11: Forming Plansandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Doubled Pawns, Castling, and Open Linesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 12: Evaluating and Calculatingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Middlegame, Exchange Values, How to Analyzeandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 13: Breaking Throughandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Strategy and Tactics, the Importance of Material, Avoiding Errorsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 14: The Beginning of the Endandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Endgame Principles, Centralization, the Active King, and Pawn Promotionandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 15: Approaching the Goalandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Passed Pawn and Pawn Majoritiesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lesson 16: All Good Things Come to an Endandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Seventh Rank, Invasion, and Simplificationandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Epilogue: Chess = mc2andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 1: Glossaryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 2: Opening Movesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 3: Chess on the Webandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 4: World Championsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 5: Significant Dates in Chess Historyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 6: Quotesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 7: Chess in Movies and Booksandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appendix 8: The Most Famous Chess Game of All Timeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bibliographyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Indexandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgments