The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, 2E

by Wolff, Patrick

• ISBN13: 9780028641829
• ISBN10: 0028641825
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-09-01
• Publisher: PENGUIN BOOKS

Summary

Confused by esoteric chess terms like castling, forking, and making Luft? Can't tell whether you've got your opponent in check or checkmate? This book will tell you everything you need to know to become a budding Kasparov, from the names of pieces and their movements to tactics and strategies, from advanced maneuvers to setting up chess tournaments and clubs where you can test your skills. Also covered: a history of chess, from its beginnings in ancient India to how it became the world's most played game; all the basics of the board and the pieces; elementary rules and object of the game; famous openings and well-know tactics; sneak attacks and other tricky plays; exercises that explain strategies and chess-move annotations (often found in newspapers); and advice for using the Internet and computer programs to better your game and tips on starting a chess club or tournament.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Let's Play Chess	1	(64)
Why Play Chess?	3	(8)
The history of chess and its popularity today
Drawing the Battle Lines	11	(20)
An introduction to the board, pieces, and rules of chess; plus how to read and write chess moves
Rules of Engagement	31	(18)
The rest of the rules, so you can start playing chess
How to Win with Just One Piece	49	(16)
Checkmating the lone king with just the queen or rook
Part 2: Tactics	65	(184)
It's a Material World	67	(20)
Making sure your army is bigger than your opponent's
Tricks of the Tactical Trade	87	(24)
The most important tactics for capturing your opponent's pieces
Dirtier Tricks	111	(16)
Some more important tactics for capturing your opponent's pieces
Hunting Down the King	127	(18)
Using tactics and material to attack your opponent's king
Part 3: Strategy
In the Beginning	145	(16)
How to play the opening phase of a chess game
Making the Most of Your Pieces	161	(18)
Strategies for maximizing the power of your pieces
Pawan Shop	179	(20)
Special strategies for using the pawns
The Final Frontier	199	(16)
How to control more of the board than your opponent, and what to do if you control less of it
Weak Squares	215	(14)
Recognizing when certain squares are more important than others, and how to use them to your advantage
All Good Things Must Come to an End	229	(20)
How to play the endgame phase of a chess game
Part 4: Beyond the Basics	249	(112)
Training Camp	251	(10)
Tips for continuing your chess study beyond this book
Hall of Fame	261	(22)
The chess superstars: The World Champions throughout history and today
Getting Competitive	283	(10)
Everything you need to know to find new opponents, and to play in chess clubs and tournaments
Chess in Cyberspace	293	(12)
Everything you need to know to find chess on the Internet or to find the right computer chess product for you
How Computers Play Chess	305	(16)
An explanation of the ``thinking process'' of the machine
How to Beat the !?%@&?>!# Computer	321	(40)
Tips for using the different ways that humans and computers play chess to your advantage
Appendixes
A Your Chess Rolodex	331	(4)
B Other Chess Notations	335	(2)
C Answers to Exercises	337	(20)
D Glossary	357	(4)
Index	361