Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good, but Very Advanced, September 26, 2004
This review is from: Excelling at Positional Chess (Everyman Chess) (Paperback)
About one-third of the book is positional instruction by the author. I enjoyed this portion. It includes some good insights into the game. The heart of this book is 108 positional exercises. I like these types of books. I have found that chess puzzles, whether tactical or positional, are the most effective way to improve my playing strength. There are unfortunately not many chess books with positional puzzles (as opposed to tactical). Among the ones I know of, this book is certainly the most advanced. I believe the puzzles are geared toward players with a playing strength of 2100 USCF/FIDE and over. For example, some of the problems are from Grandmaster games in which the GM failed to find the solution! My major complaint with this book is that the problems are not organized by difficulty. So some of them will be fairly simple, while others may stump Grandmasters. This can make training with the book difficult, because I don't know how long to devote to a particular exercise. I don't want to waste 30 minutes on a single puzzle if it's one of the GM stumpers. If you are looking to improve your positional play in chess, I would recommend selecting a book based on your playing strength: 1400-1600: "It's Your Move", by Chris Ward 1500-1900: "The Reassess Your Chess Workbook", by Jeremy Silman 1700-2100: "Can You be a Positional Chess Genius", by Angus Dunnington (this one is my personal favorite!) 1900-2300: "Test Your Positional Play", by Robert Bellin and Pietro Ponzetto 2100-2700: "Excelling at Positional Chess", by Jacob Aagaard (the book reviewed here) So, for advanced tournament chess players looking to improve their positional playing strength, I recommend this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great by Aagaard, March 22, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Excelling at Positional Chess (Everyman Chess) (Paperback)
"I can see the combinations as well as Alekhine, but I cannot get into the same positions." - Rudolf Spielmann This book addresses exactly that problem. If when a position breaks open, you're on the wrong end of nasty tactical shots, your position must have been weak to begin with. This book teaches you to spot the weaknesses and strengths on the chessboard. In a sense, it preaches what Silman does in Reassess Your Chess or Dvoretsky does in Attack and Defense and his other books. The difference is this is a concise, understandable shot-in-the-arm for those with positional malaise. (Silman's information is excellent, but his here's-where-the-patzer-screwed-up approach is distracting. In contrast, Mr. Aagaard says here's where I screwed up ... and what I should have seen on the board.) The writing style is conversational and involving. The positions are adequately diagrammed and well-chosen, for Aagaard chooses understandable positions, which are, nevertheless, crucial moments that lead to the outcome of the game. While Aagaard's previous book Excelling at Chess was all instructional text, more than half this book is positional exercises to study and solve with detailed solutions. (No mate-follows-in-20-moves notes.) The previous book Excelling at Chess won a book of the year award at a chess website, and this book really should, too.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, ... one of the better hits of Jacob aagaard, November 27, 2008
This review is from: Excelling at Positional Chess (Everyman Chess) (Paperback)
This book is grea, but the games insert this games, has a very positional approach. i like positional chess, but for player who love tactics, then will not enjoy the book. For begines or any player around 1800, will enjoy this book. there are nice games. Intermediate layer, could help only like prositional chess.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
