Customer Reviews

Chess For Beginners

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Actually, not a bad first book for someone who wants to just learn how the pieces move and some pointers on getting you started with strategy. However, a better organized beginner's book with lots of detail getting into the game is "Learn Chess" by Aleander and Beach. Not so much that there is anything wrong with "Chess for Beginners", it is just that there are much better beginner's guides to chess available.

This is not a book for beginners, trust me I am one. There are different types of chess notation and this book uses an earlier type. Its hard enough for me to remember what e4+? means without having to figure RKB7 is. After the first chapter this book turns into alphabet soup.

I gleaned a few valuable pointers from the text and this may be a wonderful book. Unfortunately I will have to wait until I learn the proper notation system to determine that.

The greatest teaching tool I have read so far. Horwotiz is obviously a great teacher. Chess is a logical game. It needs to be explained in a logical manner. This books tells you what needs to happen and why. After that, it shows you simple examples of how to make it happen. This book explains in detail, why each move is being made and how it corresponds to the symantics of the current subject matter. The particular version I have is written in the old notation (KN -> KB3). This certainly did not hinder it as a superb learning tool.

I used to have a copy of this book, many years ago. I think I gave it away. To a student who craved the basics.

This is a very good book, no let's say a great book. There are chapters on tactical chances, sections on the opening, basic endgames, etc. I could go on, but by now you should get the idea.

If you have a friend, a student, or someone who just learned chess, this is the ideal book to give them!! Need I say more?

This book is very simply written, & would be excellent were it updated to algebraic equation rather than descriptive.

If you are a chess fan,like me,you may want to improve skills.This book,is one good beginner's book.My brother reads it a lot.It tells the good standard openings,like P-K4,P-Q4,N-KB3,and so on.
If you want a good chess book,Chess For Beginners by Isreal Al Horowitz is a great start for improving your chess skills.But one disadvantage:the descriptive notation.It's pretty hard to learn without this book.You'll be able to understand notation well,as well as being able to play the wonderful game of chess well.I guarantee it!

for me this book helped, but at the same time hurt. my class it turned out needed a different style of chess then this book showed. it did however help me with the basics and teach me some new tricks! i was able to complete the class just fine between the book and teachers worksheets he handed out.

This book is an excellent introduction to the ideas of chess. It is a wonderful book for individuals who are interested in enjoying chess. The notation is explained and the only real drawback to it is that it is not the notation used by competitive FIDE and USCF chess players. That being said, if you want to learn enough to be able play competently and develop your own style, this book is wonderful. In fact, I'd advise you read ONLY this book and avoid other books. Part of the joy of chess is finding your own way once you've grasped the big ideas!

The title says it all. If you are a beginner you would do well
to follow the well-justified guidelines in this book. I wish I
had read this book when I was starting!

I am surprised with the other reviewers' concerns about notation.
All chess board notations I have seen are fairly self-explanatory.
If you can learn the intricacies of chess, then the notation should
be a no-brainer.