Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz [Hardcover]

Ernest F. Pecci (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

This compilation of over 125 games systematically illustrates a strategy that succeeds in beating today's best computer chess programs. With a detailed description of the steps that lay the groundwork for victory, this manual includes easy-to-follow diagramed chessboards to illustrate each move. It also contains a description of the conventional principles of chess as well as the strategic differences of computer chess.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

This book describes the steps that lay the groundwork for victory:

1)The Opening Moves

2)The attainable Barrage positions

3)The Pawn attack trajectory that demolishes the castled King's protective pawn shield before his pieces can come to his aid. You will also discover how to accomplish all of this from standard openings against standard defenses.

About the Author

A retired psychiatrist, Dr. Ernest Pecci has succeeded in finding the limitations of todays most powerful computer chess programs. By analyizing the thinking behind the number crunching of today's high tech computers, Dr. Pecci has evolved a strategy that is based upon a new perspective in playing the game of chess that beats the computer within 30-40 moves. For forty years he has studied both Western and Eastern traditions in the understanding of consciousness, intuition, and the untapped potential of the human mind.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Pavior Pub; 1st edition (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929331045
• ISBN-13: 978-1929331048
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but...., April 13, 2002

By 

"chriswillard" (Montreal Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz (Hardcover)

Create a V barrage and attack kingside with a pawn storm, this is the idea. Birds opening and variations of the English are perfect according to the author for such an attack based on the computer grabbing material on the other side. It's an interesting idea and the author pursues it through a variety of openings with every move pictured. But let's be clear, this is not a book to learn from. Readers will not gain an understanding of the game beyond Pecci's basic strategic idea outlined above. It's an idea that fails quickly if you don't mate the machine. Fritz 7 blew many of the book's ideas out of the water fairly easily so I wonder how practical the book remains given that Fritz 7 (according to Chessbase and to Kramnik) is stronger by far than version 6. Kasparov's foreward basically says, "interesting idea." but not much more.
If you are interested in computers and want to see how this guy beat them, well it's a fun read. If you are rated under 1800 and want to LEARN, then head for another book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A book just for some, December 29, 2004

By 

I. Knezovic (Croatia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz (Hardcover)

This book is written mainly for those who love to play (and beat) their silicon buddies. There are lot of unusual examples how to play vs computer programs (mainly Fritz 5 and 6, unfortunately), whitch can do the job. There is also the fine intro written by Kasparov himself, and one chapter about chess helping the mentally disabled kids, whitch is nice. But that is it! You wouldnt get any info about chess strategy and tactics that can improve your game at all. The book is of limited use.

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best chess book around...., March 12, 2002

By 

Barry B. Edison "Barry B. Edison" (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz (Hardcover)

Over the years, I have read many, many chess books. Dr. Pecci's is the first to keep me up at night - yes, just like a great thriller! This is truly a terrific book. It is extremely well thought out and brilliantly written. I was having all sorts of problems beating Fritz (6 or 7) as well as Shredder 6, on their highest levels. After reading and studying Dr. Pecci's book - I now kick butt!! The ideas put forth in Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz, also works well against opponents that eat and get angry. And they do get angry when you beat them with a King Side Attack with your entire force when theirs is split between offence and defense  on opposite sides of the board. Let me also mention that the book is put together like a $100 coffee table book. It is made of the finest paper, is heavy weighted and a beautiful book to behold, even if you know nothing about E4 or Nf3. If you like chess, get this book  youll love it!