The Game of Chess (Dover Chess) [Facsimile] [Paperback]

Siegbert Tarrasch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Chess | Publication Date: November 2, 2011

Dr. Tarrasch begins with the endgame — because it's easier for a novice to deal with a few men than the entire 32. An important and extensive discussion of the middle game follows. Finally, the author deals with openings and offers enlightening comments on many historically important variations. Over 340 diagrams and 12 complete games.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation)

About the Author

Dr Tarrasch was one of the most famous of the old school of chess masters. He was one of the original five first Grandmasters of the game. His works have been revered and recommended by chess masters throughout the twentieth century. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (November 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048625447X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486254470
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great General Book By A General of Chess!, July 3, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Game of Chess (Dover Chess) (Paperback)

Want to gain a deep insight into a book written by one of the better writers and players of all time? Tarrasch was a top notch tournament chess player. He wrote this book to help the intermediate player really learn about the game without just trying to make a buck off of a book! If you are an adult reader, who wants to gain an insight by an oldtime, but smartimer, then enjoy this book! I can certainly recomment "Understanding Chess" by Nunn, both "Unbeatable Chess Lesons for Juniors", "More Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors" and "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors" by Snyder, and "The Art of Checkmate" by Renaud, but this book is right up there with them as equals.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Instructional Book for Players Rated 1000 - 1500, September 12, 2000

By 

M. H. Smith "chessmansmith" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Game of Chess (Dover Chess) (Paperback)

This is quite possibly the best single volume on the game of chess for advanced beginners to early intermediate players. The book covers all three phases of the game - ending (first), middlegame (second), and openings (last).

Tarrasch's writing style is very clear and easy to understand. The section on the endgame starts with basic mating patterns (most players could skip this assuming they already have them down) and works into the the "essential" endgame theory quickly; square of the pawn, philidor and lucena positions in rook endings, etc.

The middlegame section leans heavily toward tactical ideas rather than strategic, but this is a good thing because tactics are the most important thing to study for an improving student. One major difference in his presentation is that some of the tactical devices are presented as larger ideas, not just mechanical executions. For example, instead of running through the usual pins, forks, skewers, etc. Tarrasch works through ideas such as the attack on the f7 square, the attack on the g7 square, the attack with the h-pawn down the rooks file, etc.

The openings sections is excellent, but very dated. He begins with a nice discussion on time, space, and force. He then follows by examining most major opening systems and the associated ideaa. The weakness of this part of the book is that the specific lines are somewhat dated (improvements have been found since the book was written), and certain relatively recent systems such as the pirc/modern complex are not even discussed.

Even with the limitations, most of the ideas he expresses still retain a great deal of relevance.

The final part of the book walks the reader through some very good illustrative games with lots of notes to expalain what is going on.

All in all, this is a really good book. Another bonus is the incredible price (this is the case with most Dover Books.

The only downside to the book is that it is written in the older descriptive notation. I personally have no problem reading through the notation (I even slightly prefer it), but for younger readers it may make for more work.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best way to get out of the rut of being a beginner!, December 23, 2003

By 

K. Jazayeri (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Game of Chess (Dover Chess) (Paperback)

Even though I've never wanted to become a serious chess player, I enjoy the game and I always wanted to be a decent player.

Over the years, I had bought a number of books - e.g a classic by John Nunn, one about openings, a couple on strategy and theory, another "compilation" of grand master games). I had spent many an hour reading, thinking, and playing through the games in these books.

Somehow I was stuck essentially at being just a "beginner". I knew the "rhetoric" of the game, but somehow I didn't understand things - I couldn't "see" the board!

Whatever is published as "beginner" material is limited to the hopelessly trivial stuff. And, then all of a sudden there is a myriad of overwhelming material on openings, end-games, strategy, etc. It's like trying to read about advanced physics with your high school knowledge!

Finally one fine day last summer I decided to face my frustration! So I embarked on a mission to find a "teacher"! It took some time before I came across Siegbert Tarrasch's book, but I knew I had found the book I was looking for!

He uses an absolutely inspired and uniquely brilliant (and common sense, when you come right down to it!) approach. He starts by what he calls the "elements" of the game - only a few pieces at a time - i.e. the end game!

Next, he teaches the building blocks of the middle game. This is where he carries you over the chasm that lies between a beginner and an intermediate player! Even some intermediate players are likely to learn something. The last part of the book, as he himself points out, is really just to send you off towards the more advanced material on openings and strategy.

Finally, most remarkable of all, his passion for the game of chess and his knack for "teaching" it comes across each and every page!