I did uncover this link tho

http://www.newinchess.com/Winning_C...

from which a PDF sample is available.

you're right...my impulse led me in buying "San Luis 2005"..a huge 442-page book.>

-lol-

i'm supposed to collect "starting out" books this coming holiday. my friend has been persuading me to buy his ten volumes of "starting out" books..

Different strokes for different folks of course - but I found them useless, just lots of dumb fillers.

They might be useful to Class E and D players - but I think even a C player would find them just silly.

Do you have some specific titles?

<<<<Attacking with the Isolated Queen's Pawn>>>

John Emms

The Isolated Queen's Pawn arises in countless chess positions, because this pawn structure can be reached via a host of popular openings: the Sicilian, the Caro-Kann, the French, the Queen's Gambit and the Nimzo-Indian to name a few. Love them or hate them, these positions are very difficult to avoid, so you really need to know what to do when you get them.

In this book, John Emms examines the key tactical and positional ideas in IQP positions, with an emphasis on how to attack and how to defend. In addition, he also explores openings which lead to IQPs, and suggests repertoire options which make sure you reach the positions you desire.

A Grandmaster's guide to IQPs
Includes practical tips on opening choices

Ideal for improvers, club players and tournament players.

Published May 2010 EU, April 2010 US |
ISBN 9781857446289
Format Paperback, 192 pages>

The book might better be called 100 Endgame Themes John Nunn Thinks You Should Know. An offshoot of a (planned?) larger book on endings, Understanding Chess Endgames is a collection of essential endgame themes that features Nunn's usual mix of clear writing and laser precision. The layout is a little strange; in the introduction Nunn even suggests that the best way to read his book is "sections 1-15, then a glance at sections 76 and 77, back to section 16 and then straight on for the rest of the book." Seems odd, but I'm not going to argue.

As with all endgame manuals I read, my personal preference shapes my enjoyment of the material. The coverage of bishop endings was useful, but a bit dry. In contrast, my love for the weirdness of knight endings meant I particularly enjoyed that section. The section on rook endings isn't much different from what you'll get elsewhere, but the introduction to that section does tie everything together nicely. Also, the discussion of tactics at the end of the book was fun.

Nunn stresses that his book is about instruction and is not an encyclopedia. I agree. If you want complete coverage, consult Lamprecht and Muller. But that is what's refreshing about Understanding Chess Endgames. It straddles a weird space on the spectrum ranging from the traditionally linear and engaging instructional manual like Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Endgames to the mind-numbingly thorough Basic Chess Endings. Understanding Chess Endgames isn't a book that you're going to read in bed, but it also isn't one that's going to go down like cough syrup (my apologies to Mr. Fine). If the strength of Mr. Nunn's previous work alone doesn't get you to check out this book, consider my endorsement the clincher.

Ashley says he has a unique approach and in this department he does not disappoint. He has a number of interesting exercises, like visualizing "landmines" or "finding the crossing points." Better yet, Ashley is great at reconceptualizing chess basics. The TRIP method of defense, for example, is a handy way for beginners to remember how to meet a threat: Take, Run, Interpose, or Protect. He also extends the standard idea of thinking of piece values in terms of money by suggesting readers understand the fluid value of pieces as something more akin to the stock market. A pawn might only be worth $1 in some positions, but on the seventh rank its value skyrockets. And that powerful bishop? Reconfigure the central pawns and its stock could tank. Ashley's approach is refreshing, but he does make some surprising decisions. Piece values are ignored until the fourth chapter. Furthermore his emphasis on the absolute basics of tactics, as opposed to the more traditional focus on first principles in beginner books (development, central control, etc.), seems a little strange, but that might be my conservative teaching style talking.

Ashley ends with "The Fabulous Five," a collection of beginner-friendly classics. Most of the choices here aren't surprising, Ashley presents Byrne-Fischer, Morphy vs. the Count and the Duke, and a couple other natural choices. Nevertheless, the commentary is well written and classic games circulate widely for an obvious reason: they're instructive. Also, I've got to give Ashley credit for including one of my absolute favorites, Boris Spassky's obliteration of Bent Larsen following the Dane's provocative 1.b3.

Ashley's book is excellent, but it did raise a broader question: how useful are chess books for beginners? When I was first learning how to play, I didn't even know people bothered to write books about chess. As a sixth grader, I learned the basics of tactical play over the board. Careless moves were met with emphatic captures. Slowly, I learned to be more careful. This is the best way to learn. That being said, if both players are absolute beginners, this process can be extremely slow and directionless, which is why the other key for a beginner is to learn from better players. The more you play and talk with other people the quicker you'll improve. I've learned a lot more from my chess friends than all of my books combined.

Now, where does my little aside leave us? Chess books are good for beginners, and Maurice Ashley's book is an example of how a beginner book can be done very well. However, I do think that books should always be an accessory rather than the center of a beginner's development. Ashley's exercises, for example, are perfect for parents to practice with children. In fact, Ashley's book would work beautifully for learning to play chess along with your child. Alternatively, if you're an adult learning the game but don't have a strong community of chess players around you, the best thing you can do--other than participating actively on chessvideos.tv (SHAMELESS plug!)--is reading a high quality beginning chess book like Maurice Ashley's The Most Valuable Skills in Chess.

+ how good is your chess by daniel king
+ danger in chess by amatzia avni
+ why you lose at chess 2nd ed. by tim harding

all Dover books...seems good for a patzer like me. :-o

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/revie...

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/revie...

Thinkers Press, Everyman, Batsford, Cadogan, Dover..

my next prospect is "New In Chess - The First 25 Years"..