Customer Reviews

The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played: 62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a book that contains a variety of different games that are supossed to be instructive. Some of the games are interesting and some are rather boring. The author takes on the side of the winner, showing with exclamation points the brilliant moves, but not the weaker moves when they are made, except by the losing side. Often a good defense or better move was available that is not pointed out. Personally I like this author's other book "Logical Chess Move by Move" and "Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors" much better that show the ideas behind every move and doesn't seem to take sides.
This is still a good book, but very biased toward the winner of each game that effects the quality of the analysis.

Easily one of the best books ever written. This is one of the first books I purchased over 30 years ago. I am sure it helped start me on the road to Chess Mastery.

Chernev, like Reinfeld, did NOT write chess books to impress other Chess Masters. He wrote books simply and with great care. He also put his tremendous love of the game into this book.

I simply cannot convey what a wonderful book this is. This book will especially appeal to the average player, especially someone who wants to improve his game.

I usually don't rave about books. This is an exception.

Here is what I say about this book on my web site:
<< The next book is by Irving Chernev. I met this man several times, and he had a real love for the game that few players today demonstrate. He would look at games by the hour with anyone. I personally believe Chernev was at least IM strength. (I believe he played in several U.S. Championships.) The book is:
"The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played."
[62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy.]
It contains 62 true masterpieces of chess by various different players. (Masters such as Fischer, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tal, etc. Plus many more of the all-time greats!!) Each game is carefully and lovingly annotated. This book had a tremendous impact on me and the way that I viewed and looked at chess.
{I studied it many, many, many times.}

Chernev provides games with an almost blow-by-blow commentary. His ideas are simple, fresh, insightful, and expressed with great clarity. He explains all the basic ideas of the game in a manner that ANY chess-player can follow. The variations are perfect. Not too much to overload the senses. I have had players who were almost beginners to players who were accomplished tournament players ... tell me that they profited from a careful study of this book. I think one should study this book, as I did. Every time your rating goes up 100 points, you should work your way through this book from cover to cover! You won't regret it and you definitely will improve!

Another unique thing is he finds one idea or theme in each game,
and just hammers away at it. It is a VERY good study method.

It also contains some of the classics of Chess, and Chernev brings you a fresh insight and analysis to each game. (Indeed - his comments and analysis may differ greatly from the ones that may have been published in the {chess} press when the game was first played.) Chernev was one of the greatest all-time teachers and writers in the chess field. This book is a true pearl!!! I think it belongs in the library of every real chess aficionado. >>

I also rate this in, "The Ten Best Chess Books Ever Written." Need I say more?

After reading through most of these reviews that are for the most part extremely favorable I feel it's necessary to add this slightly less favorable review to complete the picture.

The book is a collection of annotated games, and the author wrote it for instruction. So far so good. There are several problems with this book, however:

- The analysis is sometimes misleading, or outright wrong. Chernev tries to explain everything with general principles, but often the chosen move just had to be played for tactical reasons. This gives the reader the wrong impression that just about any position can be played according to generalities, which is wrong.
- Many of the selected games are fairly dull games where both sides just trade down material and then one side wins in the endgame after a mistake by the other player. This is not a fault per se, but the potential buyer should be aware of this. You won't find many interesting attacking games in this book.
-Chernev provides very one-sided annotations. Often average moves by the player who eventually wins are marked with exclamation marks, while excellent moves by the loser get no mention.
-Chernev typically doesn't explain the plans for the side who eventually loses.
-Bad moves by the winner are typically not marked as such.
-The annotations are often irrelevant. Often Chernev gives long, non-forcing side variations that have absolutely nothing to do with the game played. Reading through these variations doesn't help you to understand the underlying game in the least.

In conclusion, I would say it's a decent book, but nowhere near the quality of Chernev's "Logical Chess", or other collections of annotated games by authors such as Euwe or Nunn. It is certainly not a "must-have".

This book, along with Chernev's "Logical Chess Move by Move" is clearly the authors Magnum Opus.

The book features 62 chapters (i.e. games) played by the "older masters" like Tarrasch, Lasker, Capablanca, Rubenstein, Fischer(I know - not that old), Botvinnik, Nimzowitsch, Petrosian, etc. etc.

The games are dissected at a level comfortable for club level players. Each game focuses on a theme (i.e outpost, weak square, bishop pair, rook ending, Occupation of 7th rank, isolated pawn, etc.

I highly recommend this book (along with the other book mentioned) to anyone rated between 1100 - 1600. I can think of few other titles that will return as much value for the modest time investment to read them!

Chernev has an infectious love for the game of chess paralleled by few (if any) chess writers, past or present. He was probably around International Master Playing strength. Each game hammers on one particular positional theme. This book is incredibly instructive.

Chernev's "The Most Instructive Games of chess Ever Played" is quite simply one of the finest games collections ever for players rated under 1800.
In it, Chernev gives enough comments so as not to leave the less experienced adrift, but not so many as to bore readers in the 1500-1800 range. This book offers games with clear plans; logically developed and well executed. It's just what players need to feed on before hitting more advanced collections. You'll see examples that clearly illustrate advanced themes, but presented in a very approachable and enthusiastic style. Chernev's enthusiasm and love is infectious. His choices are great and also serve as an introduction to famous players and chess's rich history.
It's a perfect book for players who want to start studying but might be discouraged at trying to get through more complicated works. The only drawback is that it is in descriptive notation. However the book's high value and the low price of the Dover edition make it easy to overlook this.

Irving Chernev is, along with Fred Reinfeld, Edward Lasker, and Al Horowitz, one of the great popularizers of chess. None of these fine chess writers have much to teach the elite classes of players rated 1900 and above, although even strong players will enjoy the sparkling wit and breezy style for which these authors are admired. What these writers offer is their infectious enthusiasm, and their talent to entertain, inform, and instruct painlessly.

It has been pointed out by other readers that this book falls short in the accuracy and bias of its annotations. If accuracy and unbiased annotation is what you need, then perhaps you should pass on this title. But, if you are like me and enjoy a little drama and color and yes, even one-sided praise for the winner, then this book should delight you.

Monsieur Chernev writes for the average player, and he understands the fine art of chess annotation. He doesn't burden his reader with deep ramified variations. Such ponderous analysis tends to do little more than suggest to the reader that the Master is omniscient. Instead, this author strives to present only the salient points; the strategic themes, the immediate tactical considerations, and sometimes the missed opportunities in the game. By sticking to the main ideas, the reader is better able to grasp the material and to enjoy it, for enjoyment is the real point, and Chernev never loses sight of that fact.

The games in this collection are chosen especially for their strategic instructional value. Strategy implies a closed game (usually a d-pawn or hypermodern opening). Consequently, these games are not fulminating with wild tactics and dazzling combinations. The tactics tend to lie under the surface but nonetheless influence the play. To call any of these games boring is to miss the whole point. From a strategic viewpoint all these games are beautiful, exciting, and instructive. The introductory text for each game gives a sense of the human element; a mix of history, personality profiles, time, place, and event, and an overall description of the struggle about to commence. I have a lot of games collections in my chess library, but I have not been able to finish many of them. I couldn't put this one down. Have fun while you improve. Read this book.

Just a 1300 player who took his time going through this one. Definitely worth it. I had been through Capa's Best Chess Endings by Chernev previously and his deep love for the game shines through just as much in Most Instructive Games. What I really appreciate about this author is his ability to turn every game into a fairly gripping story. There are prescient variations given in the annotations but also a fine introduction to prominent chess players and happenings from before the turn of the century through the early 60's. This book is made-to-order for the beginner to novice as it introduces important strategical motifs with excellently (one might say perfectly) chosen games. It also gives each individual an idea of different players' styles and therefore which one they might like to study further. After every game studied I came away with the feeling that I had really learned some important concepts and ideas that would help me in tournament play. The only negative for some would be the descriptive notation but if you let this keep you from this book then it's your loss. Where else can you get 62 annotated classics for under ten bucks?

This book is truly a gem of chess literature. The book as you may already know, is a collection of master games wich demonstrate how a small advantage is exploited in the hands of masters. You will find the games very instructive, and will have no problems understanding the motives behind the moves. This because Chernev does an exceptional job in his antations. I have found no mistakes in his notes or the games theselves. Chernev worked real hard on this book and his love for the game of chess radiates from the pages. A warning to those who expect wild attacking games. This is a collection of games from the late 19th century to the 1950's, when positional and strategic style of play was more popular. These selected games show how an opening, middle game, and endgame should be treated. "The best way to learn endinds as well as openings," says Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, "is from the games of the masters."
Some reviewer of this book goes on to say that, " The games in this book are boring, and only won by the winner because of some mistake on the losers part. To wich I reply, what chess game is not won on the account of the opposition making a mistake. In reality all chess games if properly played out should end in a draw. There are also people who complain because the book is in descriptive notation. Some thing I didn't have a problem with, it just adds to the mystique of these chess games of the past.
This is a great book and a must have. I have spent many pleasureable hours with this book, a cup of joe, and some Motzart or Beethoven in the backround. You will not regret buying this book. I didn't when I returned Pandolfini's Traps and Zaps for this copy.

Isn't it about time this book was reprinted in algebraic notation? I agree completely that this book is a masterpiece, very helpful and a real eye opener for most club players. But please - publishers - get with the program!

I have read many excellent chess books, and I think it's safe to say that this is one of the best of them. Never before has a chess book captivated me like this one. Each time I finished a game, I teemed with anticipation at what the next held.

This is not just another loosely compiled collection. Each and every game has a clear theme, and Chernev keeps focus on it. From cover to cover, this book is jam packed with chess virtuosity. Some of the greatest chess geniuses ever are featured in here, namely Capablanca, Tarrasch, Petrosian, and Botvinnik, just to name a few. Game by unique game, Chernev provides the reader with well-annotated instruction and entertainment (some positions made me laugh out loud at the brilliance of one player and the helplessness of his opponent). We even see the ever-illustrious Fischer lose to an insidious trap by Olafsson. Furthermore, history surrounding the games is often provided that makes it all the more interesting.

In summary, this book should prove to be a wonderful teaching tool to just about any player who studies it; I imagine even 2000+ players will learn something. And, perhaps best of all, this masterpiece of chess literature is a joy to read.

Hats off to Chernev. *****