Tips for Young Players [Paperback]

Matthew Sadler (Author)

Book Description

Aimed at young players looking to improve their play and practical results, this book is packed with advice on every area of the game.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don't let the title fool you--Matthew Sadler's Tips for Young Players is not just for children. Anyone who wants to improve their chess game would profit from this book. Sadler, one of England's top grandmasters, has a knack for demystifying some of the more abstruse aspects of the game and presenting them in a clear and easily understood manner. In the first half of this book, Sadler concentrates on establishing general principles for the opening, middlegame, and endgame. (A basic understanding of the game is assumed--if you are looking for an introductory book for absolute beginners, try Byron Jacob's Starting Out in Chess.) For instance, the section on the opening discusses the principles of good development, king safety, center occupation, and the initiative. Each section concludes with a summary of the important points and selection of exercises to help you see how much you've internalized before you go on. The second half of the book delves more deeply into the game, discussing the development of and opening repertoire to suit your individual style and the elements of planning and strategy, positional play, and some of the subtleties of the endgame. The final chapter offers tips and exercises for improving your play as well as suggestions for further reading. Tips for Young Players is sure to improve the game of casual players or anyone rated under 1400 who wants to take their game to the next level. With his lucid and engaging writing style, Sadler is well on his way to becoming one of the top chess writers around. --Laszlo Simonyi

From the Back Cover

Britain's No.3 ranked player Grandmaster Matthew Sadler answers key questions: Which openings should I play? How do I learn to spot tactics? What do I need to know about the endgame? This guide is written by one of the world's leading players, Grandmaster Matthew Sadler and is aimed at young players looking to improve their play and practical results. It is packed with advice on every area of the game. (6 7/8 x 9 5/8, 160 pages, illustrations)

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Everyman Chess; 1st edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857442318
• ISBN-13: 978-1857442311
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #833,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, fun and exciting - for all ages, April 13, 2000

By 

Anne Parker (Amsterdam) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tips for Young Players (Paperback)

This book is full of common sense and down to earth explanations of the basic principles of Chess. Within the first few pages the author starts to demystify areas of the game that have always seemed complicated to me. Written in a fun and informal style with lots of examples I was amazed to find myself enjoying and reading it so quickly. I always knew what each piece on the board did but not what I should be aiming for to win, and thought that reading a chess book would be very hard going. Well this book is fun! The author has said that he wanted to write the kind of book that every good Chess player wished they could have read when they began. It covers everything from the general principles of the opening, middlegame and endgame, to discussing attacking, positional and endgame plays. There are also exercises to do which kept me challenged when I was unable to find anyone of my basic level to play with. Having tried Chess when young and then left it for twenty years - now having read this book, I am intrigued by the game and want to learn more! When I watch other people play I can see the principles in action and share the excitement and tension of the game. Anyway I have raved enough! If you have ever thought about learning Chess then buy this book and you will never look back.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining And Educating: You Will Finish This Book!, February 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Tips for Young Players (Paperback)

I am rated 1801 USCF and I still found the book both interesting and useful. Sadler surveys many chess themes in a style that will neither bore nor frighten "younger" (and/or newcomer) players. For instance, in the middlegame chapter, he clearly explains the dynamics of developing a plan, implementing it, changing course when necessary, and so on. I think that this slender volume will be one that you can finish without dreading it as "study." Then you'll be ready for the really hard stuff. Or not, since you'll already have enough info to crush casual players - if you're into that.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Also good for experienced chessplayers, August 11, 2000

By 

A. Ali "Harkonnen" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tips for Young Players (Paperback)

A word or two of explanation before I launch into my review. I'm an 1800 player, i.e. average to strong club strength. This review is directed at other club players.

The title of this book is a misnomer. There is a great deal of wisdom in the 160 pages of this book. Though most club players will know the tenets given here in one form or another, it is still helpful to see them in one place, given clearly and illustrated with appropriate examples. I remember that Tal used to watch chess instruction programs on television designed for beginners. His argument was that one can't sufficiently overlearn the basics. This is the way I feel about this book. It is a manual of chess wisdom, as easy to read as a book of zen aphorisms and with as much depth.

Sadler improves with age. I have his earlier books on the Slav and the Semi-Slav. I recently bought his book on the Queen's Gambit and this book of Tips. These last two are filled with insights useful to a club player such as myself.

This book (Tips) has material covering building an opening repertoire, principles of endgame play, the definition and role of the initiative, dynamic versus static advantages, weak squares,building up the strength of a position, simplifying positions to capitalise on advantages and so on. The cognoscenti will immediately recognise these topics as non-trivial and not elementary at all.

You can't go far wrong with that.