Product Description

Starting with the very basics, this book tells you everything you need to know to become a successful chess player. Dr. John Nunn has built up a world-wide reputation for the outstanding clarity of his writings on a wide range of chess topics. This is his first book to tackle the fundamentals of chess. No prior knowledge is presumed. The reader learns step-by-step, with each new point illustrated by clear examples. By the end of the book, the reader will be fully ready to take on opponents across the board, or on the Internet, and start winning. Topics include: the rules of chess, chess notation, how to win material, attacking play, the opening, the middlegame, the endgame and chess psychology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #339069 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Dr. John Nunn is a grandmaster from England. He has won four individual gold medals and three team silver medals at Chess Olympiads. In the Chess World Cup of 1988/9 he finished sixth overall, ahead of several former World Champions. He is arguably the most highly acclaimed chess writer in the world, with two of his books receiving the prestigious British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award. He is the principal author of the definitive one-volume openings encyclopedia, "Nunn's Chess Openings".

Customer Reviews

Above average beginner's book.....
This is a very good beginner's book that covers a lot of ground in less than 200 pages. It is well-written and dense for it's size. It will take an average adult or teenager from not knowing anything about chess to being a competent beginner in a short period of time.

The rules of the game are covered first and this is followed by a very detailed section on chess notation. If you are or have ever been confused by this, Nunn makes sure you understand it inside out before moving on.

This book also has sections on winning material, attacks on the king, the various phases of the game and even chess psychology! It provides a great framework for a beginner to work off of and set goals during various stages of the game.

What I also like about this book is the numerous and extremely clear diagrams. Some chess books don't put enough in and you either need to have a board by your side or above average visualization skills. This is not likely for a beginner, so I think this feature adds a lot of value.

In addition, there are many exercise in the book that reinforce key concepts. This is very helpful and the exercises are good. They will help you to retain the material and there is enough material here that you will get your money's worth.

concise instruction from a grand-master
There are several reasons to recommend this primer.

1) - it teaches basic moves in a straightforward fashion
2) - it requires no prior knowledge of chess from the reader
3) - it presents the material very logically, step by step
4) - it covers basic strategy and has helpful general advice
5) - it is published by gambit (specialist chess company)
6) - it is good value with lots of ground covered (192 pages)

The author GM John Nunn is a player with a good reputation for sound advice. He makes sure the reader is never asked to run before they can walk. For a teenager or adult looking for a good value little guide, or refresher course on the rules, I would say this is ideal.

Shows how to play and win at chess
An experienced scholastic chess coach enthusiastically recommended this book to me (there are so many beginner books out there that for a novice the choice is confusing). My friend explained that this book is easily the best guide for an adult looking to learn - well organized and written by a grandmaster who is known for the clarity of his writing and the care he takes over his books.
My friend was right! There are no gimmicks used in this book, just wonderful explanation of how to play the fascinating game of chess. The book begins by explaining the rules and aims of chess, how each piece moves and so on, and how the object is to checkmate the enemy king. This is followed by excellent sections on chess notation, how to win material, attacking play, and sections on the opening, middlegame and ending. There is so much explanation in this book (192 pages) that I regard is as one of the best value books I have purchased in a long time. Thank you, John Nunn, for writing this book!