Better Chess for Average Players

by Tim Harding

Book Overview

Clear, straightforward guide by noted expert coaches readers through fundamentals of attacking and positional play, as well as how to approach the endgame. Crucial processes of assessing positions and choosing moves are examined in depth; also, how to cope with difficult positions and time-trouble. 384 diagrams.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486290298
• ISBN13: 9780486290294
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Ideal chess book for the average player

This is a very good book for the average chess player who is looking to improve with a short, well rounded book. Topics covered include Attack, Defence, Planning, Positional Play, and Endings. I particularly enjoyed the sections on Planning, Positional Play, and Endings. If you often find yourself struggling in roughly level, but quiet, positions and wondering what to do next, then you may find the antidote in here. The book contains a very good section on how to assess a position and then create a logical plan based on that assessment. The Ending section is also very well done, and manages to cram quite a bit of essential endgame knowledge into very few words and pages. While this portion of the book is by no means exhaustive, or in itself a complete course, those who read it will have a better idea of how to approach the endgame and may even be inspired by it to tackle one of the many books dedicated to this phase of the game. Construction is typical Dover quality, with easy to read text and diagrams, and algebraic notation.

A lot of meat in this book, pound by pound

I read this book twice and have no doubt that I will use it in the future. It is full of experience and suggestions that would be very beneficial for any serious chess player. I will recommend this book to any one because of the following reasons: 1. It is well organized. Different topics (small topic) are divided into units. Each unit is only a few pages long. Therefore, I only need about one hour to get the idea of each unit. 2. It is well diagrammed. You must have the experience that when you replay a game, there is only one diagram for the entire game. But in this book, a diagram is given after about 7 or 8 moves so that you can play the in-between moves in your head and check the diagram. You don't need a board for most positions. How convenient! 3. It is well written. There is no deep theory, complicated analysis, nor frequent refering to other games. The author clearly explains each position and his language is like a normal human being instead of a chess machine. Occational stories about their chess clubs enhances the readability of this book. Need I say more?

My constant companion

I have a confession: I am a patzer, a fish, a knight of the grand order of Chess Dummyhood. Yes, I am that most dreaded of things: an average player. Thus, it was with trembling hands I first held this book; after all, it did say it was written for the average player (and book titles are never wrong, right??) Harding, like most British authors, has a most precise writing style that immediately and without fuss imparts the necessary knowledge and goes on its way. A sort of knowledge 'drive-by'.Sure, it covers the same things the others in this genre of books do: the checkmates, the combinations, the planning methods and all the other things the Chess aspirant should know but what is different is hard to describe without reading this paragon of instructional books. Suffice it to say it does its job very well. 5 stars.And maybe, one day, with much work and many grey hairs, I will be called to the Chess equivalent of Valhalla, handed my GrandMaster title certificate and beams of light from on-high will descend and oops, sorry, daydreaming again! ;-) Good book, ... (It's DOVER!) and worth buying!

Excellent compendium for average players wanting to improve

Correctly titled, this work will likely be of most use to players rated 1000 to perhaps 1800. However, it is so well written and includes so much valuable information, higher rated players may also benefit. The section on "Choosing a move" was particularly valuable. It includes a very organized and thorough framework (presented in a 10 point checklist) to utilize in selecting a move. These points include tactical, positional and long-range considerations. I think the incorporation of long-range considerations in the process may be especially enlightening to up-and-coming players. The example games and commentary are truly insightful into the application of the process.Other chapters include "Defensive Play" (includes some valuable pointers), "Difficult Positions", "Pawn Play" (although for the definite treatment of this subject, see "Pawn Power in Chess" by Hans Kmoch), "Late Middle Game" which addresses open, closed and complicated positions, and more.Numerous position illustrations, very few typos, very clearly written, handy size, great price. An excellent reference and a super value for the rising, competitive player.

Wide range of topics, a great book for intermediate players.

Tim Harding is one of the world's leading experts in the field of correspondence chess, and it shows in this excellent book by his amazing skills of in-depth analysis. This is a book for intermediate players, and covers all the basics of strategy, tactics, sacrifice, development, endgame, middle game... 30 chapters with a little bit of everything. The print style, condensed algebraic with plenty of diagrams, makes it very easy to read. I was very impressed by the breadth of issues he covered in the book as well. Having plenty of diagrams was a blessing, because it meant I didn't have to bring a chessboard with me to follow along in the book, which can be very inconvenient if you like to read while traveling. I highly recommend this book, and the price makes it a steal!