More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 (Fireside Chess Library) [Paperback]

Bruce Pandolfini (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fireside Chess Library | Publication Date: December 3, 1993

Pandolfini, who will be the commentator for the 1993 World Chess Championships in Los Angeles this fall, illustrates 200 new and effective moves for the challenging first phase of the game, explaining strategies and principles in a clear and understandable way. 200 line drawings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (December 3, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067179499X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671794996
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 159 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as Traps and Zaps 1, August 30, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 (Fireside Chess Library) (Paperback)

This is the book that continues beyond the 1.e4 e5 type openings with the traps from the first book. I thought that the first traps and zaps book was "OK" but the second volume takes the three problems the first book had and made them worse.
Let me explain:
The problem with both books is there is a lack of analysis of the moves. When a trap point is reached, then, and sometimes only then does the book tell you the ideas. The opening is certainly not covered, even briefly. You are not told what alternative moves are available and when a terrible blunder is made the book often gives a question mark (bad move) or two and does not tell you what should have been done it its place. This is bogus quality.
Now, are learning opening traps useful? VERY much so!!! You can improve your tactics and openings and see what leads up to the tactics and actually have in your mind what the ideas are in certain openings. This is great. But the Traps and Zaps books fail to teach by leaveing out so much. A little better I found was "101 Chess Opening Traps" by Giddins. But he often does the same stuff by not explaining details. I found "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors" by Snyder to be very detailed on traps and the openings. I will leave that up to you to look up those books reviews. I am just not happy with the Traps and Zaps books lack of detail. The second book is even less detailed than the first.
I hope this has been helpful to you finding the Opening Traps book that suits your needs best!

138 of 139 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent book on traps - there just isnt much out there on this subject, May 8, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 (Fireside Chess Library) (Paperback)

There just isn't much out there when it comes to books that cover traps and tactics in the openings. But, knowing the major pitfalls and traps in the openings is very important. And this and the book before it by Mr. Pandolfini do a decent job. True, as some have said, "Winning Chess Traps" is better, but then again it is so old it has long been gathering dust but still a good book.
If you are getting "More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps" then get the one that comes before it first, or better yet get them together. What a lot of people complain about is that this book is very basic and doesn't cover as much as it should, buy hey, show me better!

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Trap and Zap your money(again), April 13, 2006

By 

Thornbut - See all my reviews

This review is from: More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 (Fireside Chess Library) (Paperback)

This book is as bad as the first book. I can't believe they published a sequel to the first one. Fireside was created by Pandolfini, so I guess they pretty much have to publish any piece of trash he writes. This book is telling you how to win in hte opening, but it assumes that the opponent is a complete idiot!! Also, it has so many typos and stuff like that. Both the prequel and this book are wastes of money. I'm sure the person who gave this to me as a gift will be sorry they did after I tell them how worthless this book is.