How to Improve Your Chess

by I.A. Horowitz

Book Overview

The perfect book for the everyday player looking to improve their skills, I.A. Horowitz and Fred Reinfeld pen "an excellent introduction to a few of the mysteries and pleasures" within the game of chess (Chicago Sunday Tribute).

How to Improve Your Chess is a book devoted to the player who already knows the rudiments of the game but strives to improve their skills and become more efficient. Designed specifically to help...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0020288905
• ISBN13: 9780020288909
• Release Date: March 1972
• Publisher: Collier Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book that teaches important principles for beginners in an easy to understand manner

I would first like to mention that I am a fan or both Horowitz and Reinfeld. While their books are not very dense, they are extremely readable and focus on the most important concepts without getting lost in a lot of unnecessary detail. I believe that to some extent, what books work best for different people depends upon how they learn. For how I learn, this is a great approach and in addition to learning new things I enjoy the process of learning. This makes it more likely that I will actually finish the book! As many other reviewers mention, this book is not for the absolute beginner. For example, it doesn't teach how the pieces move and basic rules. It is for a beginner who wants to take their game to the next level by understanding elementary openings, the principles behind various tactis and get a sense for strategic planning. The authors achieve their pedagogical goal by looking at illustrative games between amateurs for the most part. They discuss alternative lines of play, but not in such detail that it is distracting. You can probably follow most of the chapters without pulling a board out, but I recommend putting the example games in a computer and reviewing the various lines until you digest all the principles completely. As the book proceeds, it develops various themes in an overall context. I think this helps a lot with recall and integrating the knowledge so that it is useful. For example, the first game introduces the Ruy Lopez opening, pinning, tactical use of pawns, how oversights tend to occur, etc. The next chapter builds on this and looks at a different opening and some traps that can occur. All the examples are carefully chosen and by the time you finish the book you will understand a lot more about position, tactics, planning, etc. In short, you will improve your game significantly! A lot of chess books teach various aspects of the game, but sometimes they fall short with respect to getting the information across in a way that is practical for direct application. This has NOT been the case for me and I have found this book and others by these authors good. They have withstood the test of time and I have no problems with the old chess notation at all. It is quite logical and straightforward. If you are not familiar with it you will catch on quickly. This book provides integrated learning. In this sense, I think it is a simple, but ingenious approach because it gets you thinking like a better chess player without you hardling noticing the learning process. If you are a beginner, you may want to read HOW TO BE A WINNER AT CHESS by Reinfeld first. This book contains more basics and a good foundation in the game as a whole. The book I'm reviewing is a perfect follow up. If you are looking for something more modern, but that also requires more dedication then HOW TO REASSES YOUR CHESS is wonderful and well thought out. You can also get the HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS WORKBOOK, which is a useful tool to a

I recommend this book to everyone I beat!

I've read and enjoyed this book several times and keep getting new insights each time. It took me from making almost random moves that seem good at the time to playing with purpose and patience. I have started winning more often and when I lose, I can understand and analyze the reasons why. The sample game explanations are clear and entertaining.

just awesome, baby

want to improve your chess? read this book. most of the people i brutilize think they can win just because they want to. not so. these are the players i smash to smithereenes. and they do pack it up and run. you want to enjoy brutalizing your opponent? read this book.