Everyone's Second Chess Book

Rating:
Summary: You Really Will Get Stronger With This Book
Review: Great begginer book. Explains what is missing from many begginers training. Loved the feature on board vision. I now have a plan to improve mine. Unique suggestions for improving, playing in tournaments, and in clubs. Become aware of all the most important rules and what and when to take action when you belive they have been broken. What to expect from tournament play is clearly explained. Also were to find chess resources. The only draw back I saw in this book is it didn't explain specific concepts of play. Instead it focused on explainig what you should spend your chess time doing ex. Learn endings, and work on board vision. It was a little more specific than that but you get my point. This book is good for some one who is just starting to think about taking the next step in chess.

Rating:
Summary: It Really Is A 2nd Chess Book
Review: I am an adult beginner player. After reading a few beginner's books I felt I was ready for more serious work. I had no idea there were so many chess books from which to choose. I was lost. I came across some of Heisman's articles on chesscafe.com and was struck by his clear writing. I immediately went out and purchased Everyone's 2nd Chess Book and read it cover to cover.

The book assumes you have basic knowledge of how to play, and that you wish to improve. It provides the basic principles you need to master in your play before you truly improve. I particularly liked that each principle was clearly explained. The ideas for developing a sound thinking process for choosing a move and "board vision" have helped me immensely. Heisman also explains well the transitions from lower level play (Hope Chess) to higher level play (Real chess). After reading this book, any beginner is ready to start playing Real Chess.

My play has already improved and I'm keeping up with players who used to eat me alive. In short, this book will fill in any cracks in your foundational knowledge AND help you to make full use of what you already know. It is accessible to younger readers, too (ages 8 and up), and written in a very caring tone. Heisman wants you to win, but also to have fun. I'll be buying this book for my niece (as soon as she remembers how to move her knights). A worthwhile purchase if you are ready to improve but don't know exactly how to begin.

Rating:
Summary: This book will help beginners
Review: I'm a beginner and I believe Heisman's advice will improve your game. He understands the beginner's chess-mind and makes you aware of how you go wrong.

He writes a column for chesscafe.com. Taken togther, all his columns cover 90% of what's in this book. Since I've read all the columns (and previously purchased his "A Parent's Guide To Chess") I felt as if I got little extra for the price. Nonetheless, I don't mind supporting the guy since I think he is doing chess a great service.

Rating:
Summary: Not very helpful for the price
Review: The information kind of jumps around a bit. Not very consistent. Offers some insights, but overall you can get this info for free in most chess web sites. Seems to cater more to the beginning tournament player. I find it more of an advertisement for Dan Heisman, chess coach extraordinare! If this book sold for 9.99, I would give it 3 stars for the information provided, but at this price - even one star is one too many.

Rating:
Summary: You Really Will Get Stronger With This Book
Review: This book is for the chess player who knows how the knight moves (but keeps getting forked), gains a piece (but can't win the game), and thinks 'en passant'is a cheap attempt to steal a pawn. Heisman teaches practical skills you'll need to progress beyond a novice level: instant pattern recognition; making a material advantage count, and other 'stuff' more advanced books take for granted and therefore never explain.

One of the most practical (and immediately effective) skills the author teaches is developing board vision - the ability to see tactical opportunities quickly. If you're having trouble, for example, 'instantly' seeing squares a knight can reach, you're going to wander into knight forks and lose games. Practice with a lone knight and empty board, visualize moves, add some pieces and then practice knight forks, the same way a basketball player practices freethrows. I've done it with every piece: drilling myself on pins, skewers, and double attacks. It really works, and it's not just for beginners either!

Another skill the author teaches is the art of making material superiority payoff. Since most beginners frequently lose pieces without compensation and yet don't resign as they know their opponent will probably return the favor, you'll need to know how to finish that SOB off once you're a bishop ahead!

You'll enjoy chess more fully (and win more games) once you've studied these basic fundamentals. You'll also be able to benefit from the really hard 'stuff' in more advanced books because you're proficient in the easy stuff.