Test Your Positional Play (Macmillan Library of Chess)

Designed to improve a player's middlegame performance by analyzing the strategic and tactical elements of a position, these tests also explain how to form a plan and to check that is it sound. Over 100 positions test the reader's ability to formulate the correct plan using a multiple choice format. This thought-provoking work provides a unique method of improving strategic understanding through self-evaluation.

Beginner

Test Your Positional Play (Macmillan Library of Chess)

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Play 1 e4 e5!: A complete repertoire for Black in the Open Games

There is no doubt that playing the Open Games is one of Black's most reliable and yet aggressive ways of meeting White's favourite opening move, 1 e4. Experts also agree that playing these fundamental openings is a crucial step in the development of a chess player, while moving up to the highest level it provides the battleground for countless duals between the likes of World number one Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. It's true that some Black players are put off by the seemingly endless number of variations they can be faced with, as White can choose a between the King's Gambit, Vienna Game, Scotch Opening, Bishop's Opening and a number of wild and offbeat gambits. However, in Play 1 e4 e5! Nigel Davies provides a complete answer to this perennial problem by offering a concise and practical repertoire for the Black player, whilst crucially including a dependable defence to the Ruy Lopez – White's most popular attacking try in the Open Games. Davies is the perfect choice for this subject, having been battle-hardened by years of international competition in these openings.

* A complete defence to 1 e4
* Written by a 1 e4 e5 expert
* All of White's tries are covered
* Includes White's main weapon, the Ruy Lopez

Play 1 e4 e5!: A complete repertoire for Black in the Open Games

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How Not to Play Chess (Dover Chess)

One of the outstanding chess expositors of the 20th century presents the basis of analysis in a disarmingly simple way. Sticking to a few well-chosen examples, he shows how to avoid playing a hit-or-miss game from move to move and instead develop a general plan of action based on positional analysis. Includes 20 problems from master games.

How Not to Play Chess (Dover Chess)

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How to Play Chess Endgames

In this companion volume to Fundamental Chess Endings, Müller and Pajeken focus on the practical side of playing endgames. They cover all aspects of strategic endgames, with particular emphasis on thinking methods, and ways to create difficulties for opponents over the board.

Using hundreds of outstanding examples from modern practice, the authors explain not only how to conduct 'classical' endgame tasks, such as exploiting an extra pawn or more active pieces, but also how to handle the extremely unbalanced endings that often arise from the dynamic openings favoured nowadays. All varieties of endgames are covered, and there are more than 200 exercises for the reader, together with full solutions.

Major topics include:
* Basic Principles and Methods
* Activity
* Schematic Thinking
* The Fight for the Initiative
* Prophylaxis and Preventing Counterplay
* The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame
* Domination
* The Art of Defence
* Typical Mistakes
* Rules of Thumb

How to Play Chess Endgames

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Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players (The Pandolfini Chess Library)

From the author's Introduction of the first edition: Chess is by far the most popular board game in the world. There are millions of players of all ages and the number keeps growing. Maybe it's because you become a general who directs an army against your opponent in an exciting battle of wits. Whatever the reason, chess is challenging and fascinating. This is my attempt to lure you to the royal game. It's based on the very same lessons I have given to thousands of beginners. Their questions and problems have shaped it. Moreover, some of the best ideas in the book were actually suggested by new players! I have tried to be as direct as possible. To make your journey a smooth one, the fundamentals have been broken down into short, logical statements. Each idea is numbered, ordered, and clearly stated. For the most part, statements are linked in graded sequence with the easier ones preceding the harder. The format is unique and easy to follow. You should feel yourself learning step by step. You will see how chess players think about their moves. Where desirable, explanation has replaced calculation. The stress is on understanding, not memory. There are plenty of diagrams for almost every idea.

Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players (The Pandolfini Chess Library)

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Chess: How to Play the White Pieces

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Chess: How to Play the White Pieces

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School of Chess Excellence 2: Tactical Play

In this second book in his School of Chess Excellence series, Mark Dvoretsky looks at combinations and tactical techniques and suggests methods for developing a player’s ability to calculate. Using a number of fascinating examples, he also analyzes methods of attack and defense. The book also includes special test positions and questions to engage and instruct the reader.

School of Chess Excellence 2: Tactical Play

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How to Play Good Opening Moves (Chess)

How to Play Good Opening Moves features the principles of starting strong and executing quality chess moves.

How to Play Good Opening Moves (Chess)

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Play the Nimzo-Indian

The Nimzo-Indian is one of Black's most universally popular and respectable answers to 1 d4. It could be said that no other opening allows Black to play for a win from such a sound positional basis, while its flexibility gives rise to a multitude of different positions rich in tactical and positional play. The list of Nimzo-Indian admirers runs like a who's who of the chess world: Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand, Anatoly Karpov, and Michael Adams are just a handful of top Grandmasters who have utilized it with great effect.

Play the Nimzo-Indian

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Chess for Children: How to Play the World's Most Popular Board Game

With this charming book, children will delight in learning the basic moves of chess - the most popular and challenging strategy game of all. All the rules of chess are clearly explained, step by step, assuming no prior knowledge. The lessons are reinforced by the inventive tales that George is told by his pet alligator Kirsty, self-proclaimed Grand Alligator of chess.
Chess is recognized in many countries as a useful tool for developing creative thinking in children. Although chess can be regarded as a rather complex and mysterious game, the rules themselves are straightforward. It doesn't take long to learn how the pieces move, and even children as young as five can enjoy exciting games.

Chess for Children: How to Play the World's Most Popular Board Game

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