Chess Traps, Pitfalls and Swindles: How to Set Them and How to Avoid Them

by I.A. Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld

Book Overview

From Simon & Schuster, Chess Traps is I.A. Horowitz's exploration of chess' pitfalls and swindes--both how to set them and how to avoid them.

This is a rich storehouse of Chess 'crimes.' Sometimes the villain is thwarted: more often he gets away with his nefarious deeds. But, in either event, the tales, and their telling, will prove to be instructive and vastly entertaining.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671210416
• ISBN13: 9780671210410
• Release Date: April 1971
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

The necessary tools for extraordinary chess

I bought this book for my husband who is a chess addict. He has tons of books around the house. He coaches our 2 sons on the game (they have been quite successful). When he heard of this book from an older chess colleague, he had to have it. It came with great anticipation that it step their game up a few notches. And it has. He has used it for problems for the kids to solve and develop their game. So without having read the book I can confidently say that this is an excellent reference to the game of chess.

Written for Entertainment

This book was written long ago and was never meant to be an instructional manual on tactics. It gets 5 stars from me for its entertainment value which was the author's point in writing it. It is a hilarious comedy of chess positions with swindles and tricky tactics in them. I love the quote it has from Wilhelm Steinitz, the first world champion of chess, "A chess swindle which succeeds no matter how clever, fills me with artistic horror!" Enjoy!

great for online ratings under 1100.

this was the first chess book i ever bought, almost ten years ago. my circle of friends and i would imbibe, listen to led zeppelin, and play chess on the weekends... and worknights, too. we were all equally poor in our play, after a couple weeks of keeping track, i was within one or two games of .500 against each of my friends. it was starting to get monotonous so i went to the store to buy a book about chess and this title stood out and said, "grab me." after reading this book and applying what i learned, i went from 50/50 to winning 36 games in a row (lost my Q on a blunder, later won my opponent's Q, but sacked a B and a K in the process.) this is a book that teaches principles... my friends hated to play me, but loved to watch me play... it shows explosive techniques which will cause your opponent's jaws to drop if they've never seen a sacrifice, or 2-3 move combination.

First book I ever bought on chess!

This was the first book I ever bought on chess. It was a joy to read, and pulled me in to the richness and complexity of the game.Highly recommended. It doesn't really require much chess sophistication to read - but will stimulate and educate the reader.Bill Parr

Eternally entertaining

I've had this book for years,and every time I pick it up I am captivated.It is packed with instructive examples and humour.Good fun for players of all strengths.