Pandolfini offers a systematic overview of the game, based on fully revised and updated lessons from previous titles, as well as brand new material.

Autorentext
Bruce Pandolfini, a National Master in U.S. chess competition, is the creator of the highly acclaimed Fireside Chess Library. He is a renowned instructor, a consultant on chess for the media, and a frequent commentator on the Radio.

Klappentext

Most chess books cover some aspects of the game, be it the opening, the middle game, the end game, or strategy. A few have tried to offer comprehensive approaches to the entire game, but today, these efforts are mostly obsolete and hastily compiled. Bruce Pandolfini has provided a new, unified approach to the game, one good for beginners and experts alike. Pandolfini provides: a short introductory history of the game, the moves, rules, and notation, the basic principles of the game, pattern recognition and memory aids, traps and pitfalls to be avoided, a method for playing in any situation, defence and counterattack, famous positions and players, a resource guide to the best websites for playing chess online and loads more.

Inhalt

Contents

Prologue: Chess, The Universal Game

Lesson 1: In the Beginning

The Moves and Rules

Lesson 2: Arming for Attack

Non-mating Tactics

Lesson 3: Defining the Goal

Mating Patterns

Lesson 4: Terms of Engagement

The Elements

Lesson 5: Staking out Territory

Opening Principles and the First Move

Lesson 6: Establishing the Neutral Zone

Black's Response

Lesson 7: Determining Priorities

Development and the Center

Lesson 8: Starting the Campaign

Comparing Minor Pieces

Lesson 9: Digging the Trenches

Trades, Pins, and More on Minor Pieces

Lesson 10: Accumulating Advantages

Pawn Play and Weaknesses

Lesson 11: Forming Plans

Doubled Pawns, Castling, and Open Lines

Lesson 12: Evaluating and Calculating

The Middlegame, Exchange Values, How to Analyze

Lesson 13: Breaking Through

Strategy and Tactics, the Importance of Material, Avoiding Errors

Lesson 14: The Beginning of the End

Endgame Principles, Centralization, the Active King, and Pawn Promotion

Lesson 15: Approaching the Goal

The Passed Pawn and Pawn Majorities

Lesson 16: All Good Things Come to an End

The Seventh Rank, Invasion, and Simplification

Epilogue: Chess = mc2

Appendix 1: Glossary

Appendix 2: Opening Moves

Appendix 3: Chess on the Web

Appendix 4: World Champions

Appendix 5: Significant Dates in Chess History

Appendix 6: Quotes

Appendix 7: Chess in Movies and Books

Appendix 8: The Most Famous Chess Game of All Time

Bibliography

Index

Acknowledgments