Customer Reviews

How to Win at Checkers

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book to be a very good introduction to checkers. It covers, in depth, sacrifices (pitches) to set up two-for-one exchanges, and the "five positions" that most commonly occur in the endgame. The analysis of openings is thorough, and a major plus for me was the section on forcing draws from "losing" positions. Only two things stopped me from ranking this book at 5 stars - the pictures of the boards are just too big, and are sometimes two pages back from where the written analysis takes place. Also some sample historic games would have been nice. The author has used an appendix to describe different versions of checkers around the world and this is, frankly, useless. That space could have been better used by a couple of analysed historic games. Other than these minor peeves, it is an excellent book. I would not hesitate to recommend it to a checkers enthusiast from beginner to intermediate level.

Reinfeld has truly excelled in this book about checkers. This is the most complete book on checkers you will ever find, in or out of print.

The book covers tactics such as traps and shots and then goes on to cover just about every important opening to at least some degree, often with main-lines and numerous variations. Finally, the section on endings is quite complete; nowhere else can I find the four kings vs. three situation covered.

Whenever I have a question I turn first to this book and almost always find an answer.

Be aware that information is packed tightly into every page and you will need to study each situation carefully, playing through the variations on a second board. For instance, opening variations are often contained in a few lines of commentary; you will lose out if you don't pay attention to these variations. It is clearly not a book for dabblers, but one which requires substantial effort, which will be well rewarded.

This book does not get a lot of attention from the experts, perhaps because Reinfeld's is known primarily as a chess writer. In fact this book is a must-have for serious beginners and intermediates. If you combine this with The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Checker Puzzles you have enough study material for months, and your game will improve rapidly.

(Don't be put off by the cover photo, which is full of errors and serves to trivialize and stereotype the game of checkers. The contents are what matters.)

Reinfield's book is a must for the serious checker player. He covers various situations, openings and endgames, and provides the reader situation problems to solve on his/her own. My game was improved by reading this book.

A great book for intermediate level players or determined beginners. Won't make you a Master, but you'll still be better than everyone you know.

BUYER BEWARE!!! THIS BOOK IS GREAT. IT BASICALLY TEACHES YOU ALL YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PLAYING CHECKERS. BUT THE BOOK ONLY COSTS $10.00 AND AMAZON FOR SOME REASON IS LETTING THEIR VENDORS CHARGE EXORBITANT PRICES FOR IT. SO WHILE I CAN HEARTILY RECOMMEND THE BOOK, MY ADVICE IS TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK FROM SOME OTHER BOOK VENDOR THAT WON'T RIP YOUR EYES OUT ON THE PRICE. I'VE BEEN ORDERING ITEMS FROM AMAZON FOR 12 YEARS NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT AMAZON WOULD ALLOW PRICE-GOUGING LIKE THIS. I FREELY ADMIT THAT I ORDRED THE BOOK WITHOUT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE AD. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO RECEIVE A HARD-COVER BOOK FOR THE PRICE I PAID ($36.00).AND I DID RECEIVE THE BOOK TIMELY AND IN PRISTINE CONDITION. BUT IT WAS A PAPERBACK AND THE $10.00 LIST PRICE WAS RIGHT ON THE COVER. SO I HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT MYSELF, AND THAT'S O.K. I JUST WANT TO WARN ANY OTHER PROSPECTIVE BUYERS OUT THERE THAT YOU SHOULD USE SOME OTHER VENDOR TO PURCHASE THIS REALLY WONDERFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE BOOK.