Secrets of Practical Chess (New Enlarged Edition) [Paperback]

John Nunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2007

What is the best way to improve your chess results? Memorizing an opening encyclopaedia, learning endgame theory, solving puzzle positions ... there must be an easier way. How about making the most of your existing talent? In a new and enlarged edition of a highly popular work, John Nunn helps you to do precisely that. Drawing upon more than three decades of experience, he provides advice that will help players of all standards, playing styles and temperaments to achieve improved results. His methods take into account psychological factors and are firmly based on good common sense and the objectivity that has made John Nunn one of the world's favourite writers on chess.

This new enlarged edition (published 2007) contains 45% more material than the first edition, published nine years ago. It includes a greatly expanded section on chess computers, and how their use can assist over-the-board players in opening preparation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Nunn is a grandmaster from England. He has won four individual gold medals and three team silver medals at Chess Olympiads. He is arguably the most highly acclaimed chess writer in the world - he has twice won the prestigious British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award. In 2004 he won the World Chess Solving Championship, and repeated the feat in October 2007 with a record winning score of 89/90. He has written numerous books for Gambit, including Learn Chess Tactics and the best-selling Understanding Chess Move by Move.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Gambit Publications; 2nd Enlarged edition (April 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904600700
• ISBN-13: 978-1904600701
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #752,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice; not in-depth analysis, March 24, 2002

By 

Michael Ryan (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of Practical Chess (Gambit Chess) (Paperback)

This book is aimed at the competitive chess player. Over a third of the book is in the section titled "At the Board" and time considerations factor heavily into the presentation.

Only a dozen pages are devoted to the opening and they are mostly aimed at evaluating chess books on unusual openings. This section can be skipped entirely without much loss.

The middlegame has all of 20 pages dedicated to it, but they do manage to offer some "practical" advice once again. Most of it comes in "blurbs" - little nuggets of advice based on what has worked for a very successful GM.

The rest of the book is devoted to the endgame and although it recounts some well-known ending basics such as opposition, triangulation, and R+P vs R ending, it also contains some very good information that is not nearly so well known. Such includes: Black's ideal defensive pawn formation in a 4v3 pawn ending with all pawns on the same side; why the c pawn offers the best winning chances in a Q+P vs Q ending; and some handy rules for R vs N and R vs B pawnless endings.

On the whole, the book is quite "practical" and probably worth the price to a fair number of club players of lesser strength.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Second Edition is Expanded not Revised, March 31, 2007

By 

USCF Expert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of Practical Chess (New Enlarged Edition) (Paperback)

Notice this edition of Nunn's "Secrets of Practical Chess" is called a "New Enlarged Edition". No claim is made about revising, updating or improving exsisting material from the first edition. The [...]review of the new edition claims that the first 4 chapters are identical to the original. Only the chapters on Using a Computer and Chess Literature are expanded.

If you do not own the first edition the second is a must buy. Otherwise you can pass on the new enlarged edition.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Meditation On Chess Themes Than A Primer On Improvement, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Secrets of Practical Chess (Gambit Chess) (Paperback)

The book is interesting primarily as a example of grandmaster style thinking about calculating variations, judging opening repertoires, middle pitfallls, and basic endgame knowledge. But be warned: it is not a primer. The author has not devised a "chess study plan" for self-improvement. Anyone looking for commandments about calculating move sequences, avoiding time trouble ("just don't get in it"), opening choices, detailed strategic planning, etc., should be looking at books specifically aimed at giving a program. This book is more like listening to a knowledgeable Grandmaster lecture at a quiet chess club, sipping some wine and discussing topics.