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Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess (The Complete Idiot's Guide) Paperback – April 16, 1997

by Wolff (Author)

103 customer reviews

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, Third Edition
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You're no idiot, of course. You've seen people play chess in movies and even on the computer. But when it comes to actually playing chess, you can barely distinguish the pawn from the rook. Don't throw in the towel yet! Whether you want to play chess fo pleasure or sport, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess will teach you everything you need to know! In this Complete Idiot's Guide you get:

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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: ALPHA (April 16, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0028617363
ISBN-13: 978-0028617367
Package Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 103 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,221,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4064 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Chess
- #93315 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy

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For Real

Decent guide but only if you already know how to play

October 4, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book, published in 2005 and never updated since then, is okay for an introduction to chess. I say okay because it doesn't really explain the basics well but gets quickly into openings, mid games and end games. For a pure beginner this book is too confusing, but if you already know the basics of chess this book can help you understand the game better. Overall though it's still a little hard to read for a beginner. It is old so the author's website no longer works. It seems he hasn't played professional chess in a long time and instead manages investments. Some of the other websites mentioned in the book also don't exist any more. Could really use an update, but I don't know if the Complete Idiot's series is still an active brand..

7 people found this helpful

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Dayton Lavon Kitchens

Too Much "Idiot", Not Enough "Chess".

June 29, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Not at all what I expected. While the book it interesting in what it gives you about the history of the game and the greatest players, it doesn't really provide you with enough information to help you win against any kind of serious opposition. Little more than a description of the pieces and their allowed movements all of which you can get from the simplest of game instructions that come with a set. I expected much more about winning strategies and tactics to use.

2 people found this helpful

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Norbert

Think twice before buying the kindle edition.

March 11, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This e-book explains the basic rules of chess as well as some basic tactics, however the kindle version with it's below average format just kills this book. With diagrams you can't look at while reading a tactic, and diagrams so small you migth get blind trying to make sense of them. The kindle version for this book just earn a 3 star rating. The first chapters teach you about moving pieces and pieces value and later you start learnig tactics and advanced tactics. It has plenty of puzzles to start practicing. If the diagrams are not an issue for you this e-book has good material for starting chess.

2 people found this helpful

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July 23, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The last line of the first chapter states, "Anyone can easily learn how to play chess, and this book teaches you how."
The Idiot's Guide to Chess is designed to take anyone from zero to competitive in easy steps.
On reaching 40, I realized that I could no longer compete in physically exerting sports and started looking for other interests, especially something I could share with my young son. Chess took my fascination. And so started my search for a book that can go beyond explaining the rules to demystifying the first and most important elements of tactics and strategy.
If someone was looking for a book that could take any ordinary Joe off the street and prepare them for competition, this would be the book I recommend. Or at least, it would be a good place to start. For probably no one book could take you there. Chess is so profound that to properly understand it, you need the input and advice of several people and much thought and practice.
The strengths of this book are:
* It's thoroughness. With over 400 pages, it will eventually hit on every question a beginner through to an up and coming or intermediate player would ever ask. It also contains interesting anecdotes, history, and asides.
* Well organized. 21 chapters covering the range of subjects such as rules, history, tactical motives, weak squares, computers, etc. It is a good reference book. You can skip certain sections if desired, such as the rules if you already know them, and look into your areas of interest.
* User friendly. Plenty of diagrams; plenty of chess puzzles to test you and stretch your understanding; a language that is patient and easy to follow without talking down to you.
In other words, it is everything that the legendary Capablanca's `Fundamentals' is not. So if you are already chess minded, Capa's book is more compact and might get you there quicker. But it is dry and hard work to plough through. The Idiot's guide is the book I'd recommend for mere mortals.
Some weaknesses of the book:
* More effort could have been put into putting diagrams and their explanations to which they refer on the same page.
* There are no complete games to work through.
* Some chapters might leave you wanting more (this might not be such a bad thing). I found the chapter on openings useful but not satisfying. This may be why I see that the Idiot's Guide series has come up with a book specifically for chess openings.

16 people found this helpful

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March 24, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is definitely NOT for us idiots. This author has us studying Grandmaster moves in the first six chapters. This book is just too much data for a person of average ability. By the time you get done turning pages back and forth to study diagrams and exercises, the point is lost. After trying to tackle this book, I thought about giving up on Chess altogether.

One person found this helpful

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August 10, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Love this book. It, along with Chess for Dummies which provides a slightly different explanation process, has really helped me understand the game better. Glad I bought it.

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June 20, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Excelente

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