CurtisR.Thacke r 02/18/2009
This is the only chess book I have ever seen that was written by a woman. She has impressive credentials and has written a book that does not give a great deal of advice, but let's the reader discover for herself how to evaluate chess positions and through sound tactical reasoning, become a better player or even as the title suggests, a champion. The book mostly comprises a great number of puzzles to be solved to better one's position, advantange in manpower or to put your opponent in indefensible positions. Don't buy it if you're not a "good" chess player.
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bravesoul 04/28/2008
This is an incredible chess book!!! You want to improve your chess?? Read this book and solve the puzzles, but solve them seriously! Dont look for the answer at the end of the chapter, some of them are not easy, but keep practicing, every day solve some puzzles, you will not notice your improvement while you are reading but after some chapters if you play against your friends again, you will see it and they too!! In less than two months practicing you will see results!! This book start from easy problems, you will solve them easily, next chapter you will think "Oh c'mon give something better than this!!", but after a few chapters you will be playing much better and solving puzzles that never before you could solve... in just seconds!!. I play against my computer and also online in yahoo chess, my rating usually is around 1400 to 1500, and never more than that. This night I just beat a 1600 guy!. He couldnt see what I could!! Even I offer him a queen sacrifice!! (unfortunally he didnt take it because it was mate, but he lost a knight instead!:) Amazing book!! Thanks Susan!! I will buy all the Polgar family books!!! Here are some of them: A World Champion's Guide to Chess: Step-by-step instructions for winning chess the Polgar way (Chess) and Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games Some Advices from just a (still) regular player: 1. When you find a puzzle that you cant solve after 15/20 minutes thinking, just leave it and go to the next one, dont look for the answer!. Later, next day or next week try again and you will find the right move for sure! 2. May be I shouldnt say this, but just in case... dont be tricky with yourself! Make the moves in your mind, do NOT touch the pieces until you find the moves just thinking. If you dont do this, the excercise will be useless for you and a waste of time because you will not improve your game doing this.
MatthewMorine 04/15/2008
This is another excellent book by Susan Polgar. Her first book is similar to this one, but with the major difference being the difficulty of the chess puzzles. The first book was elementary compared to this one. This book really tested my skills and eyes for the correct move. It basically deals with developing the art of seeing the tactic or creating the winning move with little instruction. The chess puzzles help the speed player. This book is great practice in using the art of tactics. It has helped my play by supporting wins over a high 1400, 1500, 1600 this week. An excellent book for the intermediate player.
RobertD.Crouch er 03/25/2008
This book has a perfect combination of variety and quantity. Problems are broken down by type. Each type is introduced and explained step by step, then 50 or 100 practice problems of that type are provided for drill. The solutions are at the back of each section. There are separate sections for Mates in 1, 2, 3, and even 4 moves, as well as pins, discoveries, double attacks, etc... I have her father's massive collection of mate problems. This book is less overwhelming and will be approachable to a wider audience.
Loverofbooksan dlearnin 03/10/2008
Susan Polgar's book intrigued me from the start as it focused rather like her father's book on prolems and working to figure out what your first move. The only drawback is that it is heavily influenced towards the White pieces. Overall, though, Polgar's book really helps you develop an idea of playing 'for the future and not just for the now' (i.e. you need to play smarter and not just better). The idea is also to develop the ideas about looking 2-3-4 moves ahead and that will benefit all players enormously!
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