Test Your Positional Play (Macmillan Library of Chess) (Paperback)

by Robert Bellin (Author), Pietro Ponzetto (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Designed to improve a player's middlegame performance by analyzing the strategic and tactical elements of a position, these tests also explain how to form a plan and to check that is it sound. Over 100 positions test the reader's ability to formulate the correct plan using a multiple choice format. This thought-provoking work provides a unique method of improving strategic understanding through self-evaluation.

Beginner

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Collier Books (December 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020280904
• ISBN-13: 978-0020280903
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,417,827 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have Book, October 22, 2000

By	M. Zelina (McLean, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Don't leave home (for the tournament) without this book! I am a sub 1200 player and this book is the first (for me personally) to describe the "mechanics" of positional play and game strategy. By working through the exercises one gains a true appreciation of how to analyze a position from a strategic/positional perspective. The thinking process that one learns using this book carries over into actual play--where it counts the most obviously!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Middlegame Problem Book, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Test Your Positional Play: How You Should Think In Chess (Paperback)

The core of this book is 30 tests in a series of increasing complexity where the reader is asked to choose from 3 reasonable alternative plans for each test. In one test, you may be given the following alternatives: a) Should you try to close the center and attack on the kingside? b)Double the enemy's pawns and pile up on the open file? c)Or take the initiative and prepare a central pawn advance? You're not thrown into the tests without preparation as the authors first discuss (with 7 detailed games) ways to analyze, asess, and implement a plan. I would say that this book is a positional brother to all those chess tactics books. If you can find it, well worth buying.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book!, June 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Test Your Positional Play: How You Should Think In Chess (Paperback)

An excellent book which confronts the reader with a choice of three main plans for a number of positions which arose in tournament games. The reader is awarded points based on the choice of plan, and the variations which were forseen. These points can be added up and the readers strength can be assessed! It is a uniquely challenging and addictive book as well as being highly instructional.