The Mammoth Book of Chess (The Mammoth Book Series) [Paperback]

Graham Burgess (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Mammoth Book Series | Publication Date: May 1997

Written by a formidable chess pressional and containing hundreds of illustrated game plays, this Mammoth guide will bring even the novice to good club level or better. A comprehensive handbook on all aspects of chess at a mammoth value. Illustrated with more than 1,000 diagrams.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Graham Burgess has been a World Chess Federation (FIDE) Master since the age of 20. He has written more than 20 highly acclaimed and award-winning books on chess and edited more than 200. He lives in Bristol, England.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 537 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786704314
• ISBN-13: 978-0786704316
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Many great books in one, September 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Chess (The Mammoth Book Series) (Paperback)

"The Mammoth Book of Chess" contains all aspects of modern chess playing. Chess Openings sections explain the main chess openings that, in my opinion, are superior to the legendary "The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings" by Reuben Fine. Solid sections on endgames provide the key endgame principles definitely enought to understand (not memorize) and play well on at least class A level endgames. For the midle games, the book explains about mating, tactics, combinations, and attack & defence. Chess strategies are demostrated throughout the book. Tactics and Combinations sections are as good as "Winning Chess Tactics" by Seirawan and Silman. Attack and Defence section blows away some of the books written on that subject.

If you are new to chess, sections such as Beginning Chess, How to Play Chess, The Chess Clock, The Basic Mates and Chess Notation will be great help. Excellent explaination on computer chess and on-line chess playing can also be found in the book. A Brief History of the World Chess Championship and Chess Demographics are absolutely fascinating.

Graham Burgess, FIDE Master and experienced chess writer, has written the book exceptionally well. From the begining to the end, the book is of pure interest and excitment. Even the glossary section teaches you many things about chess such as 'Saavedra Position' and 'Time'. I own more than 50 chess books and have read about 50 more. But if I were to own only one chess book, this one would be it.

So, such a great book must cost a fortune?
It's only $8.76!!! (Amazon price)

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The price is right!, July 11, 2003

By 

Eric P. Medlock (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Chess (The Mammoth Book Series) (Paperback)

For the price this is an excellent introduction to Chess. Its not for absolute beginners, you should have read at least one other book on beginners Chess (Chess for Dummies is a good one) but its not for "intermediate" players or advanced players only either. If you know enough of the basics (basic endgames, algebraic notation, etc), you will get a lot out of this book. I love the puzzles, they really make you think and it feels great to get a particularly hard one right. This book will make you a better chess player, if your just starting out (with the caveat above) or have been playing awhile. I would recommend this book for beginners and intermediate players. Advanced players might like this in their library, if only to loan out to friends that are trying to get up to speed. Buy it, at this price you won't be disappointed!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly executed Kindle edition, October 25, 2010

By 

etaoin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Mammoth Book of Chess (Mammoth Books) (Paperback)

This seems like a pretty decent book for intermediate players. Nevertheless, the Kindle edition is useless. The illustrations are so small on a reader that they are kind of hard to make out, especially if you use your phone to read, e.g. when you are waiting at your child's swim meet. Also, the problems and their solutions are in different parts of the book. I just couldn't use the Kindle edition because there is no good way to flip back and forth between sections. The board diagrams, the solutions and their discussion should be on the same page, otherwise the Kindle edition is useless. Stick to the printed edition.