Chess in a Nutshell [Paperback]

Fred Reinfeld (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671735136
• ISBN-13: 978-0671735135
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,782,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My first book on Chess, May 6, 2000

By 

Terry Newton (Los Angeles USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chess in a Nutshell (Paperback)

This book was the first book I ever read on Chess and it hooked me on the game. Although other books have more detail or are more comprehensive, this book gives the basic concepts of the game. It is quite readable. It is suitable for introducing a novice to basic strategies before they are committed to learning serious Chess. I still use concepts I learned from this book 30 years ago to teach kids chess today.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chess in a Nutshell: An Appropriate Title, March 16, 2003

By 

William M. Vaughan "Vaughanster" (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chess in a Nutshell (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first book about chess I ever bought. By studying it, I taught myself how to play chess when I was still a child. It contains a complete list of the rules, and explains them so that anyone who reads English can understand them.

If you just want to learn how to play Chess, and don't have anyone to teach you, this is the only book you need.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the beginner, a fine introduction to chess, April 1, 2010

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: CHESS IN A NUTSHELL (Paperback)

4 stars for a beginner, not so many if you are more advanced. However, I read this when I was in college as I became more interested in chess and it served a useful purpose for me.

First, it simply notes the "basic rules of chess," such as the pieces and the board, rules of moving, captures, and so on. For a starter book, this serves well. Chapter 2 is how one records chess moves. I used to chart some chess matches, since it might get later at night and we would complete the game the next day; having a record of moved was most helpful!. The third chapter focuses on "winning methods," basic checkmates, relative value of pieces, etc.

For me, Chapter 4 was critical--openings. Pawn to King 4 (or, as noted, P-K4) was my norm, whether Black or White. Other rules here: develop pieces quickly; don't waste time; avoid self-limiting moves; don't neglect safety of the King (page 75). One way of accomplishing these goals is to understand basic openings. Some that I used when I was White--Evans Gambit, Giuoco Piano, and Ruy Lopez. When Black? I often used the safe and cautious Caro-Kann (as Reinfeld says, "safe, stodgy, and respectable. Play it against formidable opponents."). Sometimes, I would use the Sicilian. Very occasionally, the Nimzoindian. . . .

There are also chapters on middle game play and the endgame.

All in all, this was a fine resource for me as I first started trying my hand at chess. . . .