Customer Reviews

Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library)

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

 

 

I was amazed. Simply amazed that such space was given to these huge diagrams. Almost nothing except the very, very basics is covered. If you know how the pieces move and the very must basic strategy you could possibly learn you are already past where this book goes.
It isn't a nice picture beginners book like "Starting Chess" (good for parents to read to small kids) or a quality introduction to chess with lots of material like "Chess For Juniors". Get one of these instead.
You will be shocked when this book arrives if you order it!

If you want very simple, and I mean a very, very simple introduction to the very basics of chess, then "Square One" is ok. But don't plan to learn much from it beyond the most basic rules and most basic starting strategy.
I want to point out that there is a book that is even more simple called "You Can Play Chess" that teachings the basic rules with cool drawings for little kids that can be coloured (use crayons!). I liked it for that when I was just learning. Like the other review said for a serious older kid "Chess for Juniors" has the most instruction in any beginner book I have seen.
I hope that I have given some good advice for you to find the right chess book for you.

This book is targeted to someone who is very new to chess. It allows them to quickly learn the rules, notation, how pieces move, elementary tactics and elementary checkmates.

The added value of this book over other similar ones is that it is extremely well-organized, logically arranged and set up so that a beginner can make rapid progress. There are many questions, exercises and drills of various types that reinforce important ideas and plenty of review material. This book is ideal for a parent helping a child to learn chess partly for that reason.

I saw a lot of low ratings for this book and didn't think that was quite fair because perhaps they are not judging it for it's intended audience. For the target audience, however, I really haven't seen anything better.

At one time I was a Director of Education and part of my job was putting out courseware and course materials. In my judgement this book is designed to teach and it takes the shortest path to the goal and present material in way where it is likely to be retained in long-term memory.

If you already know the rules, elementary tactics, elementary checkmates, etc. you still may appreciate the review or you may want to pass on this. One of my favorite beginner books for a general for play for a beginner is HOW TO BE A WINNER AT CHESS by Reinfeld. It's an older book, but very readable and a good next step to this one.

I am sorely disappointed. I consider myself a beginner because my rating is somewhere around 1000. By the title ("Drill Book") I thought there would be lots of problems that I could puzzle over to determine what white or black's best next move should be. And thus I would learn more about how to play the game. Instead, I discovered that when Bruce says "Beginners" he means "people who do not even know the rules!" Of course, a lot of books start out covering the rules, but the purpose of this *entire* book is nothing more than to teach you the rules! To wit, the ending chapter has questions such as "Is this position stalemate?" "Is *this* position stalemate?" and so on! So the book teaches you nothing about how to actually play. What a profound waste of money.

I have highly recommended this book to all of my beginning students. Excellent preparation for all wanting to learn the basics & beginning strategy. I add commentary to this book in going over it with my students in the section with example problems a)what is/are the BEST move(s) for the opposite color (opponent) & why and b) what moves would I NOT want to make & why.

"Chess Lady" (name given to me by my students): 1994 PA Women's State Chess Champion; 1997 WV Women's State Chess Champion; 1998 coach of PA Scholastic Chess Champions

Considering I could not defeat my Microsoft Computer Chess program at the Intermediate level, I decided to act. I purchased Square One chess-drill book by Bruce Pandolfini and upon having completed it, I dashed for the PC and within two games I had conquered the intermediate level. The real surprise came when I tackled the Advanced level, although I have not defeated it , I am approaching victory. One of my major problem areas are my openings. I aquired myself The Chess Doctor - Surefire Cures for What Ails Your Game. My objective is to defeat Advanced upon the completion of this book. I intend to keep purchasing Mr Pandolfini's chess books as long as my game improves. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Basically after you buy this book you will end up on square 1 if your lucky :)... All it does is ask you questions basically does not teach you a thing. I was amazed that a book this bad actually got printed. I don't know why they keep printing awful books from the same author. Did someone lose a bet to this guy and have to print these things? Maybe he owns the publishing company that would seem the only way. If you read the review about the guy rated 1000. If this book did not help him, don't expect it to help you. What makes me laugh is a few morons give this book decent review. Those are the people when I play I look over to see Im up a Rook and Knight. Not to mention 2 pawns without any pieces of mine off board. All this under 10 moves, thats where this book will take you to. If you wanna get this book as a joke, maybe its worth money. Yet if your thinking of learning anything, hahaha the jokes on you :)...