Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 17:26:31 02/11/03
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On February 11, 2003 at 18:34:39, Janosch Zwerensky wrote: > >>(...) Are books or other formal >>instructional materials worthwhile? > >If you are weak compared to the average club player, going through a book that >covers basic tactics with suitable excercises will help you a lot. Also quite >useful could be basic opening principles and a working knowledge of the most >frequent endgames (if you don't know how to do these yet, I'd recommend you >learn KQK, KRK, KPK, and the basics of other pawn endgames for a start). >Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the English literature on these topics, so >as far as concrete hints to further reading are concerned, you're out of luck >with me. > >Regards, >Janosch Since I am familiar with the English language literature, I'll try to expand the above, for "a person who is weak compared to the average club player." Chess tactics books come in easy to very hard. It is important that you avoid the very hard problem collections because you will only suffer much frustration. If you have never read a chess book, you could not do better than to start with Bobby Fischer's "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess." Another excellent first book would be "Comprehensive Chess Course Volumes I & II (From beginner to advanced player in 24 lessons)," 3rd Revised and Enlarged Edition, by Roman Pelts and GM Lev Alburt, Copyright 1992, ISBN: 0961720700 (series) or ISBN: 0961720751 (volume). Judit Polgar's father, Laszlo Polgar, produced a good collection of relatively easy tactical positions. The book is: "Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games" by Laszlo Polgar, copyright 1994, ISBN: 1884822312. A small opening theory book is: "How to Play Good Opening Moves" by Edmar Mednis, copyright 1982, ISBN: 067914109X. You should NOT use this book as a source of your opening repertoire. The opening book for your chess engine would be much better for that. Mednis's hardcopy opening book gives you ideas. An older book, "Ideas Behind the Chess Openings," by R. Fine is also excellent but it describes openings which are very much out of date. I wish to stress the importance of avoiding study of opening books. They can be marginally useful for advanced players, but a severe hindrance to anyone who has never read a chess book. If you don't have a chess program, purchase a good one such as Fritz v.8 and its companion PowerBook 2003. This software should be your only opening resource until you become a strong club player, IMHO. Amazon.com had these last time I checked. Note that you can search Amazon.com using the ISBN number, but you must not include dashes and spaces. If you are more advanced than "a person who is weak compared to the average club player" or have already acquired a few chess books, then re-post and I'll try to make more useful suggestions. My answer to the question "Are books or other formal instructional materials worthwhile?" is yes. There is also tutorial software available but I have not used it. Some people give this software rave notices. Bob D.
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