Complete Chess Player [Paperback]

Fred Reinfeld (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (April 9, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671768956
• ISBN-13: 978-0671768959
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All you need to know about chess..., November 28, 1999

By 

A.J. Goldsby I "A.J.G." (Pensacola, FL (U.S.A.)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Chess Player (Paperback)

My Bible. I studied this book several times very thoroughly. I, at one time, had memorized every single one of the illustrative games in the back of the book.

I had already been through this book several times. I was stuck in a rut, so I decided to go through this book again.(My library was very small at that time.) This process took about 4 months. Every time there was diagram, I set up the position on the chess board. (I often used 3 chess sets and one pocket set.) I did not move on from one section until I felt I understood EVERYTHING the Author had to say about that subject in that particular section. The result? I went 4-1 in the Open Section of a tournament and went from 1400 to 1700 in ONE TOURNAMENT! (In the 70's.)

I have taught chess in several Public Schools and also in private schools here in Pensacola. I have always used this book as my textbook, and have designed an entire curriculum around this one book.

I also like Reinfeld's approach to writing. Some Master's seem to write to impress other chess authors and other Chess Masters. Reinfeld is writing for the average Joe. You will readily understand and absorb what he writes.

Is your rating below 2000? Do you want to improve? Then DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, you will NEVER buy a better chess book than this one!

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overlooked Classic or Obsolete Relic?, November 18, 2003

By 

"chessforfun" (Eaton, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Chess Player (Paperback)

The answer to that question depends on what kind of book you're looking for. Reinfeld clearly states in his preface that the book is intended to help you become a competent casual player. Because I play chess for fun, I consider it an overlooked classic. All the components of chess are treated in a logical, comprehensible, and concise manner. The book includes plenty of diagrams and examples, and the openings are covered in enough detail for casual players to understand without endless hours of study. The book enabled me to raise my level of play from chaotic to coherent.

If you're looking for a book to help you become a competent tournament player, you'll probably consider this book an obsolete relic (3 stars.) While its basic lessons on tactics and endgames are as valid now as ever, the fact is that it was published in 1953. It has no sample games after 1950, and the opening theory is both 50 years old and (by design) shallow. It's also written in the descriptive notation that most serious players no longer use. None of that matters if you play for fun, but it's critically important if you want to be competitive in tournaments.

This book met my needs perfectly. What are your needs?

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My first Chess book, November 5, 2000

By 

Diego Acosta (Norman, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Chess Player (Paperback)

This was the first chess book that I bought about 15 years ago. It was a great way to become addicted to chess... That's why I am giving it four stars instead of three.

However, the book tends to be dogmatic in its openings theory chapters and also to dismiss lines that are actualy pretty solid. After reading the book one ends up with the impression that having the bishop pair is almost a ticket to a win. Nonsense, each position has to be addressed individually. The endings chapter is good for beginners but non-challenging. Middle game plans are analyzed from a tactical point of view in most cases neglecting value to strategic considerations.

This book is good as an approximation to chess but, as a word of advice, do read more advanced tomes and practice. I have seen that testing ideas on the board is a way to see if you are progressing or not.