Customer Reviews

Chess: A Psychiatrist Matches Wits with Fritz

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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.

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.

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!

I am class A USCF (around 1900) chess player who is usually crushed by Fritz. Yesterday, I picked this book up in a bookstore and looked at it for about 30 minutes. I found it quite interesting.

Today, the first game I played with Fritz 6 ended in a crushing 25 move defeat for the Silicon giant. I am running a very fast computer with a gig of RAM. I haven't played any other games yet....

Fritz 6 - ,T
Level=Blitz:5'. MyTown, 27.11.2002

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Nbd7 4.e3 e6 5.Bd3 Be7 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.Ne5 c5 8.c3 c4 9.Bc2 Qa5 10.g4 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.h4 Qb5 13.Rb1 Qa5 14.g5 Qxa2 15.h5 Nc5 16.g6 h6 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.gxf7+ Rxf7 19.Rg1+ Kh8 20.Qg4 Bg5 21.f4 Rg7 22.fxg5 Rxg5 23.Qf4 Rxg1+ 24.Kf2 Rxb1 [24...Rg7 25.Qf8+ Rg8 26.Qxh6#;
24...Nd3+ 25.Bxd3 cxd3 26.Rxg1 Bd7 (26...Kh7 27.Qf7+ Kh8 28.Rg8#) 27.Qxh6#] 25.Qf8# 1-0