Improve Your Chess Now [Paperback]

Jonathan Tisdall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1997 | Series: Cadogan Chess Books

In this strikingly original self-improvement manual, Jonathan Tisdall draws on his own experiences to explain why erratic results and painful setbacks occur, and shows how to institute a training program that can lift the reader's game to new heights. Tisdall's improvement ideas will fire the imagination of players at all levels. In the course of writing this book, and by using the very techniques he recommends here, Tisdall made a quantum leap in playing strength and achieved his life-long ambition of gaining the prestigious Grandmaster title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The question of how to improve is one that vexes many players, so a practical guide dealing solely with the topic is very welcome. GM Tisdall himself has an interesting chess C.V., having been an active U.S. professional player for some years, before settling in Norway and devoting much of his time to coaching. It is only in the past few years that he has made the final jump to the Grandmaster title, despite long being held in high regard as an opening theoretician and analyst (he was Speelman's second for his 1988 Candidates match with Short). So, this extremely thoughtful and well-planned out manual (which took three years to complete) is clearly borne out of playing and teaching experience.

Tisdall takes as his starting point Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster", praising his tree of analysis for its usefulness as a training exercise, but questioning its value in practical games. To quote GM Anatoly Lein, which Tisdall does at the very start, "I don't think like a tree - do you think like a tree?" so we are given a more practical guide on how to calculate. Many of the methods advocated are, of course, not entirely new (the idea of pattern recognition is a well-known example) but there is often a refreshing twist. For instance, in the section illustrating strategical themes, the minority attack (as in the QGD) is examined from various angles, including where both sides have castled *queenside*. There are also exercises to develop calculation skills: playing through games blindfold (an idea borrowed from Alexander Beliavsky), and the use of 'stepping-stone diagrams' (a Tisdall original - while trying to visualise a position some moves hence, a player fixes a half-way position in the mind's eye, then, when this is secure, continues calculating).

Another pet Tisdall scheme is piece value, where he sinks his teeth into a few more myths. He quotes with delight Steinitz's approval of the Staunton piece count: knight 3.05, bishop 3.50, rook 5.48 and queen 9.94, and adds, "Surely the scientists of Staunton's day had better things to do with their time?" Positional sacrifices, 'playing for the king' and the much-maligned bad bishop are themes all given a thorough re-working. He also discusses opening variations which lead to a 'difficult' material imbalance such as rook and pawn versus two minor pieces.

An admirable effort has been made to really get to grips with the learning process; Tisdall even takes up the Japanese game shogi, in order to 'begin again' on the learning curve. His enthusiasm is infectious, and one has the feeling that in a few years' time this work will take its rightful place as a recognised classic in the field of training manuals. -- Tim Wall, The British Chess Magazine, December, 1997

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Everyman Publishers (November 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857441567
• ISBN-13: 978-1857441567
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill Instructional Book, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Improve Your Chess Now (Paperback)

I agree that this book is not really for novices or players below, say, 1700 USCF. I was reluctant to purchase this book at first because how many times can we go over the same concepts and practical advice ("Study master games. Study your games. Read books on positional play. Solve combinations." And so on...)? But Tisdall writes engagingly about the confusion we all experience once we leave the sterile, analysed positions in our texts (Chapter 1). He offers a way to develop that "vision thing" through blindfold chess (Chapter 2). And if we mess up? Playing bad positions (Chapter 3). When we're at the board, can we recognize patterns that will give us ideas on how to proceed? (Chapter 4). Chapter 5 shows how piece values change during the game. The last chapter is concerned with various practical tips that every chessplayer could use now and then. This is not your standard, "here are the laws of chess" text. It does not treat you like a child and say, "Study x hours, read y books, etc."

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Book, January 22, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Improve Your Chess Now (Paperback)

I'm a little over half-way through this book, so maybe I'm not fully qualified to review it. However, let me say this: I am a USCF Expert, I've been playing chess for over thirty years, and I've read at least three hundred chess books. This is, quite simply, one of the best chess books I have ever read. If you're looking for an instructive chess book with some new ideas in it, this book is for you. If there's a bad part, I haven't found it yet.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for slight advanced players, May 11, 2001

By 

Frederic Woodbridge "Fred" (ID, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Improve Your Chess Now (Paperback)

The noted author International Master Jeremy Silman calls Grandmaster Jon Tisdall a more "human" Chess master than the stars such as Morozevich, Kramnik and Leko who seemingly don't have to work as hard. One does indeed get that feeling from reading "Improve Your Chess Now" in that it details what the ordinary joe can do to improve, with much work, their Chess abilities. Tisdall has put a lot of work into the production of his book almost to the point that we can say it was a labour of love. It is filled with insightful observations and numerous tips on how to get better. Particularly interesting are his theories on blindfold Chess and to what extent it can help improve one's game (read the book to find out!). Unfortunately, your average Chess player may not be able to adequately utilise the material in the book but for those more advanced players who can, it will become an indispensible manual for how to play Chess and still be human.