See a Problem?

Read more Read less. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. Customers who bought this item also bought. How to Books; UK ed. I'd like to read this book on Kindle Don't have a Kindle? Share your thoughts with other customers. Write a customer review.

See all customer images. Showing of 10 reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Excellent description of chess and strategies. This disease called Chess first infected me at age 11 or so when I found this book in a library in West Africa and having nothing better to do, read it from cover to cover.

I promptly forgot all about it. Cut to 8 years later and needing a hobby since my motorcycle stunt-driving days were over! Pritchard's other book 'Begin Chess', another great introductory book but continued searching until I found it again, after all these years, at a used bookstore. For beginners, there's really nothing better; D. Pritchard, like most British writers of yore regardless of the subject- matter, uses simple and precise prose to introduce the Chess grandmaster-to-be to this wonderful game.

Highly recommended for the beginnning player. Anyone who is either thinking about getting into chess playing or is currently getting their behinds whipped by friends would do well to pick up this book. It is a fantastic start to a chess library, as it gives the novice player a solid background as well as a few nifty moves to make one a formidable player. This book teaches a player how to think two, three, or four moves ahead and accurately predict how your opponent will fall in line. This should only be the first in a series of books any beginning player should read, but itis a highly recommended starting place.

It has been said that one becomes serious about chess when one buys their first book on the subject. I became serious when I bought this book. Pritchard's agenda is to take the absolute beginner to the standard expected of a good club player. That's quite a leap, but it's a goal Pritchard achieves with ease and style. Beginning with an explanation of how the pieces move, we move through basic concepts forks, pins, en passant etc.

All of the subjects are handled in a highly literate style that is accessible to all ages, with the sure-footedness of a seasoned master, and without condescension. The reader feels assured that the lessons being given are of the highest quality, and that the principles absorbed will always be relevant, regardless of fashion. Prior to reading this book, I knew how the pieces moved, and considered myself a chess player.

Customers who bought this item also bought

Yet I was constantly defeated by friends, and grew increasingly frustrated at the apparent ease with which they did this. Having read the book, the defeats came to an abrupt halt strangely, so did the games - a coincidence, I'm sure. I cannot imagine a better book for giving you a rock-solid foundation on which to build your chess career.

How to play chess properly

I must admit that I am only on the 3rd chapter of this book. I began reading it 4 days ago. It has helped me tremendously. I had to give it a rating before I finished the book to let those who are in a similar position see how great this book is. I have been playing street chess for about 7 years.

I must say that I was pretty good or at least thought I was. Pawns are stronger when together, such as in "chains" diagonal lines in which one pawn protects another. Try not to break this formation unless there is a clear, overriding advantage to be gained by doing so. Knights are weakest near the edge of the board, because their movement is somewhat limited there. The maximum number of spaces a knight can control from any given square is eight. If a knight is on an edge of the board, the number of squares it can jump to is cut in half. Likewise, if a knight is one row from an edge, it controls only six spaces.

If you move a knight near an edge of the board, you will often find yourself later wasting a move to reposition it closer to the center of the board. Bishops are strongest on or near the long "major" diagonals where they command the most squares. A bishop's power is diminished if the opponent places a protected piece along a diagonal controlled by the bishop. On the other hand, the protecting piece is pinned in that position if the piece it is protecting is of high value. Rooks are very powerful in "open" vacant files.

Position rooks on files that contain none of your pawns. This allows the rooks to move quickly to any rank. If the opposing king is on its starting rank, your rooks are powerful when controlling the seventh rank for white, second rank for black. Queens have the most power when commanding the center of the board.

On the other hand, they are in the most danger there as well. It is often a good strategy to position the queen one move away from a center square and to avoid blocking your queen's movement with your own pieces. Kings should always be protected. They are best shielded by lower-value pieces. Aim to control the center of the board. Pieces near the center are at their most powerful. Often a game involves a fight for control of the center. When you're in the center, your opponent has far fewer "good" places to choose from. Pawns can help with this. While your more powerful pieces are off attacking, a pawn or two can retain your control of the center.

Make a strong opening. A weak opening automatically puts you at a disadvantage for the rest of the game. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Usually it's best to open by moving the d or e pawns. This provides your other pieces with access to the center. Make only a couple of pawn moves at the start. You want to get your more powerful pieces into play as soon as possible.

The exception is your queen: Often an early-moving queen will get in trouble. Get your knights moving and then your bishops. A knight's range is limited. Whereas bishops, rooks, and queens can cross the whole board in a single move, it can take several moves to get a knight into the fray. Sometimes a knight can "sneak up" on an opponent's piece because of its "odd" pattern of movement.

Use all of your pieces. If your rook is sitting back in a corner, you are wasting a valuable tool. The beauty of chess is that no one piece can win the game.


  • Being Legally Blind: Observations for Parents of Visually Impaired Children!
  • Dietro le porte che non aprirai (Italian Edition).
  • the Wacky Misadventures of Warble McGorkle;
  • Transportation Point Summer 2012.
  • Top 5: Traditional Chinese Recipes.
  • The Garden Plot (Potting Shed Mystery series);

You typically will need your whole arsenal of pieces to "gang up" on your opponent. This is especially important if your opponent is skilled. It's important to capture pieces and to attack the opponent's king, but if your king is unprotected, you'll be checkmated, the game will be over, and that offense you were running will be entirely useless.

Chess is challenging because you have to think about half a dozen things at once. You have to protect your king while planning moves for your other pieces. It can be a daunting task, but with practice you'll find it easier to do all of these things at once. Think several moves ahead.

How to Play Chess for Beginners: Rules and Strategies

When your opponent makes a move, they have a reason for it. They're setting something up, eyeing a potential attack. What are they aiming for? Try your best to anticipate and counteract their moves and thwart their plans. The same goes for you. Maybe you can't capture a pawn on your next move, but what can you do to set yourself up for subsequent moves?

This isn't your average board game: Every time your opponent makes a move, take some time to scan the board. Are they moving into position to take one of your pieces? If so, don't allow it. Move that piece out of the way, or threaten one or more of your opponent's pieces. Even better, capture that threatening piece. It's OK to give up a piece in order to draw your opponent into a trap where you'll capture an even more valuable piece. Be aware of speedy checkmates. You can actually checkmate your opponent in as few as two moves. There are very specific instructions for a win in two, three, or four moves.

If you're curious about this, read these articles: Be ready instead for long games. Use the "en passant" rule for pawns. En passant from French: You are permitted this move only immediately after your opponent has moved a pawn two squares forward from its starting position, landing on a square in rank 5 immediately next to one of your pawns that had advanced to that rank. The opponent's pawn thus avoids the square in rank 6 where your pawn might ordinarily have captured it.

In this situation, on your very next move your pawn may capture that pawn as if it were actually in the sixth rank. After the en passant move, the resulting position would then be the same as if the opponent's pawn had moved only one square forward, and your pawn had captured it normally.

En passant must be performed on your very next move after the opponent's two-square move, or your right to do so is lost. If a pawn reaches the far side of the board eighth rank for white, first rank for black , it must immediately be promoted to any other piece except a king. The piece to which the pawn is promoted does not have to be a previously captured piece; it can be any piece.

Usually, a player promotes a pawn to a queen. Thus a player could wind up with two or more queens, three or more rooks, etc. This is a very powerful offensive move. To indicate pawn promotion in chess notation, write the square where the pawn is promoted e. Then write an equals sign followed by the symbol for the piece to which the pawn is promoted e. Use castling as a means to protect your king. This is done to get your king out of the middle of its rank where it is most vulnerable. To castle, move your king two squares toward either rook, then move that rook to the square immediately on the other side of the king.

This is considered one move. You can castle only if: There are no pieces standing between the king and that rook. The king at that point is not in check and does not have to pass through or to a square in which he would be in check. Neither the king nor that rook has made any previous moves in the game. I am a beginner in playing chess. What moves should I learn to be an expert? Expert moves takes time to learn. You need to learn the basic moves, like protecting every single piece of your chess pieces. After that, you can try to learn to focus on a side to check-mate the king.

You might want to know some openings and endgames technique too. Not Helpful 0 Helpful You need a strong defense and to be prepared for almost anything. One of the main strategies of chess is forcing your opponent into a situation where, no matter what he or she does, you are given an advantage, such as capturing a piece or securing a better position.

Not Helpful 22 Helpful These are pawns that have reached their eighth row the opponent's first row and have been converted to some other piece such as a queen. Not Helpful 8 Helpful Under certain conditions, yes. It is known as castling and is very useful. It was one of the few changes made in the last millennium. A bishop moves diagonally in any direction and as many open squares as it wants.

It must stop before coming to a square occupied by a piece of its own color. It can stop on a square occupied by an opponent's piece thereby capturing that piece. This is called a stalemate, which is a draw or tie, because neither player can capture the other's king. The game ends as soon as such a situation occurs.

Not Helpful 25 Helpful Not Helpful 26 Helpful Your pawns may each move either one or two spaces forward on their first move. In all subsequent moves, each may move only one space. Not Helpful 16 Helpful The king remains on the board until the very end of the game. If your king can be captured on your opponent's next move, you are in check and must get out of check immediately.

You can do so by moving your king to a safe spot, by putting one of your own pieces between your king and the attacking piece, or by capturing the attacking piece. If you are in check and cannot immediately get out of check in one move, you are in checkmate, and the game is over without your opponent's actually having to remove your king. Not Helpful 18 Helpful All pieces except pawns can move backwards in directions permitted for the piece in question e. Promoted pawns can move backwards in the same manner as the piece they've become. Not Helpful 17 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Already answered Not a question Bad question Other. How to Play Chess. Did this summary help you? Tips Your queen is your best attack piece, because she combines the powers of the rook and the bishop. Watch over her carefully, and don't let her get captured without capturing at least as much point value in return 9 points. Whenever your opponent moves a piece, check to see if any of your pieces are in immediate danger.

Getting good at chess requires a great deal of practice and patience. The best way to improve your game is to play against others of ability equal to or greater than your own. You can also play against yourself with the help of a computer or an electronic chess game. The pawn may move two spaces forward only on its first move.

It does not have to take that option, however, and may move one square if desired. Think constantly in two modes: Pawns are the least valuable pieces. However, don't be careless with them, because they are important defenders, and because each pawn has the potential to be promoted to a more valuable piece. Announcing "check" when you attack the enemy king is not required under modern rules but is customarily offered as a courtesy in casual games. Serious chess requires alert concentration and creative thinking.

Regular chess requires patience. It's a slow game. If you're not a patient person, try "speed chess," or take up another hobby. Speed or "blitz" chess is fun only if you're an experienced player. Made Recently View more 9 total. Add a photo Upload error. Tell us more about it? Click here to share your story. Chess In other languages: Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,, times.

Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. A Anonymous Nov It has helped me a great deal.

Have you read... The Right Way to Play Chess?

WB Willie Butler Nov 9. It seemed to complicated, but I think I'm ready to start playing. NL Norrey Love Jun 29, Someone once tried to explain it to me, but to no avail. This article is so helpful with clear explanations and diagrams which, to me, are like photographs I can imprint on my brain. Also, I can come back to the article as I make progress with the game. A very helpful article. DS Doug Stride Jun 29, Beautiful board now sitting on our coffee table! Two weeks ago l took an interest in playing. Played games so far, getting some trading from a friend.

This article is a great help. NP Nildy Polanco Jan 5, This article is the first one I read as step 1 of my goal. The article was well written and organized. A keeper for me, and one I will refer to as many times as it takes to "get it. OS Owen Sandiford Jul 25, It is good for the novice as well as an expert who wishes to teach someone to play the game.

Chess Books for Beginners

AG Aruna Guttikonda Dec 31, I forgot all about the game, but your article helped me a lot. I play with my mom, but I didn't know I play on my own. Today I am learning how to play chess. Thanks for making this understood. LA Lanisha Anusri Mar 18, It was hard finding a good website to explain the rules, notations, and loads more.