Starting Chess (Usborne First Skills) [Paperback]

Harriet Castor (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This exciting book, aimed at 5-8 year olds, covers a range of popular children''s activities. The step-by -step explanations and helpful pictures make it easy for a b eginner to acquire all the necessary skills and to have fun improving technique. '

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Educational Development Corporation (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0746013868
• ISBN-13: 978-0746013861
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,690,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Games > Board Games

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 173 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Short introduction to chess, September 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Starting Chess (First Skills) (Paperback)

"Starting Chess" is written at about a high school reading level and designed to give you a quick introduction to how the pieces move, elementary rules and a little bit of strategy to get you started.
The order of presentation is not the best in my opinion. I personally liked "Learn Chess: A complete course" a lot more for organization and the completness of the material necessary to make a beginner into a decent player. Even the junior chess guide for the beginner is far more complete. If you just want to learn how the pieces move and the very, very basics, then "Starting Chess" is satisfactory.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice pictures and graphics - but not the best beginner book, March 4, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Starting Chess (First Skills) (Paperback)

I got 3 books on chess for my 12th birthday. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Chess For Juniors and Starting Chess. I give most of the stars because his book has great pictures and graphics. But, the amount that I learned from the written text was where this book was not so good. I do like this book a lot more that the Fischer Book, but my Chess For Juniors book was the absolute very best for a kid my age.

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for kids, November 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting Chess (Usborne First Skills) (Paperback)

I've been reading this book to two kids in the family, ages 7 and 9, and they love it. Also we have a 3-year-old who likes the pictures and has slept with this book under his arm--what other endorsement do you need?

The drawings are fun, with lots of animated characters. Chess notation is described but not required for learning the moves (drawings are shown instead). The book covers all the basics for each piece, discusses exchanges (and points per piece), special moves (castling, en passant), opening moves and tricks, and endgames. Plus there's some chess history and simple puzzles. High recommended.