Customer Reviews

Chess Traps: Pitfalls And Swindles (Fireside Chess Library)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a book that will really help you improve your tactics in a fun, fun way. I agree that this book is entertaining. But, maybe a chess book that coverst traps, tactics and swindles should be? I just got "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors" and found it to cover a wonderful number of tactics in the openings. I also go "1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations" and though not all are easy to solve (and I think some mistakes in the book) it also has done me a world of good. I simply suggest getting these three books and if you study them carefully, you will be a big winner at chess!!!!

I found the strong point of this book to be that it contained a lot of interesting tactics and swindles. Not so much on opening traps and the tactics and swindles are no really arranged in what I would call a learning order. This book is more to entertain, and as long as that is known then there is nothing wrong with it. "Winning Chess Traps" covers opening traps if that is what you are looking for. The opening tactics are better in that book. But, if you want a good variety of tactics and especially the swindles (that makes this book unique) then this is what you are looking for.

"Chess Traps: Pitfalls and Swindles" is a decent book on general tactics. The examples of some of the swindles are enjoyable, and instructive. But when I think of a book on chess traps I think of a book like "Winning Chess Traps" that focuses on traps and tactical ides in the opening. This book doesn't really focus on the opening. But if you are looking for an interesting book on general tactics, then this is certainly a decent book. If you are looking for a book on traps in the opening look elsewhere.

When you see a book like this with 4 1/2 stars and it says based on 6 reviews don't believe it! Try to look at and read the reviews. I purchased this book many years ago and it is a very poor book. When I saw a 4 1/2 star rateing I just about fell out of my chair. If you are just looking for something to read then you won't be too upset with this book. If you are looking to improve your chess skills then don't bother. This book may have some entertainment value but not much educational value. You will never find this book on a recommended reading list. This is just another in a long line of poor chess books from Fireside Chess Library.

I have over 100 chess books (sickness) and this is one of the worst. It took me a couple years before I figured out a good method of buying new books. I made many poor choices and wasted hundreds of dollars. I have a huge book collection but only about 20% of the books are worth the paper they are written on.

If you click on my name you will get my personal information and see a recommended study list. I put together this list of books and software with only one thing in mind...to improve your game without wasting your money. If you want to get better at chess this list will give you the most bang for your buck.

Reinfeld, though an excellent writer on many chess books, had a tendency to put out books just for the sake of doing it. This is one of those books. I fear that Horowitz may also be culprit here, too, as his slipshot approach to writing is evident here.

All the traps are taken from master games, with a number of them showing the master swindling an amateur. Most of the 'traps' are taken from middle-game positions, with only a dozen or so showing opening traps. Also, even though the book has 223 diagrams, some of the traps take up several diagrams leaving much less real substance to this book than one might think. The layout of the book is reads like a novel, but is poor for studying. Each 'trap' often covers several pages, having much prose and anecdotal filler accompanying each throughout the book, as well as having very superficial analysis. There is no index or contents revealing players, openings, etc., so you can't use this book as a reference of any sort. It reads like a disorganized version of Chernev's 'Combinations: The Heart of Chess'.

I originally bought this book some 15 years ago on the recommendation of a friend. I was hoping for something like Chernev's 'Winning Chess Traps', which is a classic as far as opening traps books go. Ultimately, this book fails in the role as an opening traps book and middle game puzzle book for all of the above reasons. As a result, it has remained on my bookshelf in virtually unused condition. This is not a book one reads to improve their game, and hence, can't be recommended.

I fail to see why some reviewers think that every chess book has to be a masterpiece of instruction. Chess is a game and games are supposed to be fun. This book probably will not add many points to your rating, but it is entertainingly written and charms you with some classic examples of "the sting" among which even history's best players can be found "led down the garden path."

Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if it did improve your chess. There is a good deal of psychology in chess, and it isn't always just about the objectively best move but the best move to play against the necessarily flawed human being who is your opponent.

Anyway, I first read this book many years ago and it is still fun.

It is a little over-priced, but, since most of us tend to buy over-priced yet less permanent things every day without concern. In the long run, it should be more economical in than that last latte.

this was the first chess book i ever bought, almost ten years ago. my circle of friends and i would imbibe, listen to led zeppelin, and play chess on the weekends... and worknights, too. we were all equally poor in our play, after a couple weeks of keeping track, i was within one or two games of .500 against each of my friends. it was starting to get monotonous so i went to the store to buy a book about chess and this title stood out and said, "grab me." after reading this book and applying what i learned, i went from 50/50 to winning 36 games in a row (lost my Q on a blunder, later won my opponent's Q, but sacked a B and a K in the process.)
this is a book that teaches principles...
my friends hated to play me, but loved to watch me play...
it shows explosive techniques which will cause your opponent's jaws to drop if they've never seen a sacrifice, or 2-3 move combination.

I read this book about 21 years ago when I was in 8th grade. It really changed the way I play chess. I never got in to competition play because I'm not that much of a goober, so I can't rate it as the other expert reviewers. It helped me be much more clever and inventive in my midgame and using the tricks on my opponents was loads of fun for us both.

I give this book five stars because of the profound influence it had on my game.

I only recommend this book to players that are starting to play tournament chess. If you have not joined the United States Chess Federation (or your country's similar organization) and are not playing under strict tournament conditions, then this book is probably too advanced for you. Likewise, if you have been playing tournament chess for several years, then this book has little to offer that you haven't already seen.

However, if you have recently embarked on tournament chess play, then this book can change the way you think. I found that it made me assess chess positions in a new light, always looking for ways that I could lay a trap for my opponent, or ways that he might set one for me.

Chess Traps, Pitfalls and Swindles is also entertaining, for those of you who like obscure chess stories, as most of the examples come from actual play.

I read this book cover to cover 40 years ago and still feel its impact on my game. If you fall into this narrow demographic, then I think that, you too, will benefit from its influence.

I bought this book for my husband who is a chess addict. He has tons of books around the house. He coaches our 2 sons on the game (they have been quite successful). When he heard of this book from an older chess colleague, he had to have it. It came with great anticipation that it step their game up a few notches. And it has. He has used it for problems for the kids to solve and develop their game.

So without having read the book I can confidently say that this is an excellent reference to the game of chess.