or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
Sorry!
More Buying Choices
54 used & new from $0.11

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library)
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

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

~ (Author) "This is a chessboard..." (more)
Key Phrases: algebraic name, checkmate puzzles, checking attacker, Answer Diagram, White King, Black King (more...)
2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Price: $17.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Monday, November 16? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
24 new from $6.89 29 used from $0.11 1 collectible from $30.00

Frequently Bought Together

Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library) + Beginning Chess: Over 300 Elementary Problems for Players New to the Game + Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Price For All Three: $37.64

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library) by Bruce Pandolfini

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Beginning Chess: Over 300 Elementary Problems for Players New to the Game by Bruce Pandolfini

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess by Stuart Margulies

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

by Stuart Margulies
3.3 out of 5 stars (253)  $7.99
Chess Tactics for Kids

Chess Tactics for Kids

by Murray Chandler
4.6 out of 5 stars (27)  $12.20
Simple Checkmates

Simple Checkmates

by A. J. Gillam
4.4 out of 5 stars (16)  $12.82
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit chess)

How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit chess)

by Murray Chandler
4.3 out of 5 stars (127)  $12.20
Chess for Children

Chess for Children

by Murray Chandler
4.7 out of 5 stars (33)  $12.20
Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Fireside (December 1, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0671884247
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671884246
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,065,015 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Pandolfini
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Bruce Pandolfini Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

Citations (learn more)
This book cites 1 book:



What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library)
52% buy the item featured on this page:
Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Beginners (Fireside Chess Library) 2.7 out of 5 stars (7)
$17.95
Chess for Juniors: A Complete Guide for the Beginner
13% buy
Chess for Juniors: A Complete Guide for the Beginner 5.0 out of 5 stars (190)
Simple Checkmates
12% buy
Simple Checkmates 4.4 out of 5 stars (16)
$12.82
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, Third Edition
12% buy
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, Third Edition 4.1 out of 5 stars (14)
$12.89

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars The most basic chess book ever written, December 23, 2005
A Kid's Review
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!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not the most basic book written on chess, but almost!, January 11, 2006
A Kid's Review
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for it's intended purpose, see review for details, January 26, 2007
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Stay at Square 1.
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. Read more
Published on January 10, 2002

1.0 out of 5 stars He REALLY means beginners!
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... Read more
Published on February 3, 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Belongs in the top 10 list of any beginner's chess library!
I have highly recommended this book to all of my beginning students. Excellent preparation for all wanting to learn the basics & beginning strategy. Read more
Published on September 10, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good chess-drills for beginners
Considering I could not defeat my Microsoft Computer Chess program at the Intermediate level, I decided to act. Read more
Published on December 29, 1996

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.