- Chess Fundamentals

This is not the book you're looking for if you've never played a single game of chess in your life but are interested in becoming a player of the timeless game. There are other books for that, which will guide you through learning the fundamentals. This IS, however, the book you need once you've graduated beyond that introductory level, when you have an understanding of how the game works. This IS the book you need to help unlock the mystery of what chess is, how to analyze the game, and how to grow as a player while you gain experience and a deeper understanding of what's happening on the board in front of you. This book superbly walks you through the game, in both overall and subtle ways. This book presents you with various setups, problems, solutions, and teaches you strategies that will help strengthen your abilities. Each chapter of the book covers different topics, from the strengths and weaknesses of each piece, to how your pieces can and should work together as one coherent team, to building and maintaining a solid defense while running an effective offense, to how your strategies ought to change as the midgame graduates to the endgame. Not only is each individual topic illustrated by example and a step-by-step explanation of what's happening in each move, but an entire section of the book is dedicated to descriptions of actual games to highlight the concepts introduced in this book, so you can see for yourself how the lessons taught here translate into real-life application. I very highly recommend this book for anyone who's looking to improve their chess abilities. This is a book worth reading, worth studying, and worth returning to time and time again to help you internalize strategies that will prove invaluable as you gain practice and experience.

This is NOT a beginner book IMO. I got it due to it being considered one of the best books written on chess principles. While I DO think it an amazing book so far (only 25% the way through it), Capablanca sometimes skips steps and it does challenge those trying to review game positions and alternate moves to mate. Still a worthy addition to anyone's chess library!

What I like is that is written in simple language, so anyone can understand it. Besides, this book covers all the stages of a chess match. It is ideal for a beginner who wants to learn how to win.

Good information

Great read

I bought this as a gift for my father for his birthday, and he says he really enjoys it. He finds it to be a great book for beginners, although having a chessboard nearby is essential to grasp the fundamentals. While the lingo and specifics might be a bit confusing at first, the book excels at breaking down chess and making it a game for anyone.

I got three books, Modern Chess Openings 15th ed., My Great Predecessors by Garry Kasparov, and this. I HIGHLY recommend all of them, this one especially! Its a thin book, much thinner than most other chess books Ive ever seen, and its wonderful. You can take it anywhere, and its a PERFECT bedside companion. Its size has one drawback though, it doesnt cover any specific openings. It DOES cover everything else to know about chess theory, and because of the internet there are a LOT of resources for learning about openings in a MUCH deeper way than any book could hope to replicate(chess.com, lichess.org to name two examples). As far as important tactical knowledge goes, this book has everything you need.

Too hard for a beginner.

Great book and good quality my 12 year old is loving it

This short book, written by a chess legend, is the fastest way for anyone who knows a little chess to become a better player by teaching the principles of chess through practical problem solving but not in a step-by-step progression from beginning to end. Consequently, the important aspects of chess such as the opening, middle, and end game are explored early in the book and then latter revisited which flattens the game's steep learning curve before the reader loses interest. Beginners may or may not benefit from this book as they haven't experienced the dismay of trying to understand this complex board game without the benefit of a teacher because success in chess requires a trained mind and a disciplined approach developed through practical problem solving but also, and perhaps more importantly, inspirational guidance to lighten the load. This book is far more valuable than it's nominal price and I would recommend it over the popular Fisher book which bears his name but not his words.

Too basic. Written for Americans

Short tactical introduction by Capablanca and a description of some of his games. Don't expect too much, but worth it for every sub-2000 rated player.

Not recommend. Smaller than it is seen on the internet. Poor quality paper and print. Half of the pages are ridiculously pressed upside down. It is going back!