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Learning & Improvement - Complete Beginners
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Catalogue & Shop > BOOKS > Chess Books by Category > Learning & Improvement Books > Learning & Improvement - Complete Beginners

BASIC CHESS BASIC CHESS(CODE p0804)
David Levens
This book is aimed at complete beginner's and begins by explaining the chess pieces, how they move and capture, their strengths and weaknesses, how to set up the board, special moves such as castling and en passant, how to record a game and how to use a chess clock. Chapter 2, "Chess Tactics", looks at check, checkmate patterns and tactical ideas such as pins, forks and skewers. "Openings" explains the importance of bringing your pieces into play rapidly and controlling the centre of the board before showing how these principles are applied in a series of games featuring a variety of well known chess openings. "The Middlegame" shows, through example games, how good opening play can lead to successful attacks later in the game. "The Endgame" section explains what your aims should be in an endgame, endgame ideas such as the opposition, stalemate, the fortress, zugzwang and how to checkmate with different combinations of pieces. The penultimate section "Test Your Chess IQ" features 67 puzzle positions to test what you have learned from earlier in the book. Solutions at the end if needed. The author concludes by offering advice on how to get ahead in chess through chess clubs, tournaments, the internet and coaching. The author is an England Junior selector who coaches at Foremarke Hall School and Nottingham Boys Junior High School, the most successful chess playing school in the country over the last 5-6 years.
Pub. 2005, softback, 192 pages. 



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CHESS FOR CHILDREN CHESS FOR CHILDREN(CODE g0006)
Murray Chandler & Helen Milligan
This large format book is an ideal introduction to chess for younger players being illustrated throughout with cartoons and large diagrams. The lessons are reinforced by the inventive tales that the central character George is told by his pet alligator and teacher Kirsty. All the rules of chess including the moves of the pieces, check and checkmate, basic tactics and different opening moves are covered with practice positions and tests included in each chapter and no prior knowledge is required to learn from this book. Murray Chandler is a Grandmaster and Dr Helen Milligan is a former British Ladies Champion.
Pub. 2004, hardback, 111 pages. 



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CHESS PLAYER'S BIBLE CHESS PLAYER'S BIBLE(CODE b8925)
James Eade
A full colour introduction to the game of chess for readers of all ages with diagrams and clearly laid out graphical advice htroughout. The spiral bound, hard cover format ensures that this book will lie flat leaving you free to study with chess board and pieces. Learn the moves of the pieces, basic opening ideas, tactical ploys, middlegame and endgame strategies, pawn formations, how to checkmate and much more from this one volume reference. James Eade is a USCF Chess Master and author of the best-selling Chess for Dummies.
Pub. 2004, hardback, 256 pages. 



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COMPREHENSIVE CHESS COURSE VOL. 1 COMPREHENSIVE CHESS COURSE VOL. 1(CODE c2300)
Roman Pelts & Lev Alburt
Part one of the Comprehensive Chess Course is aimed at those teaching chess in schools & clubs or to themselves. There are 12 lessons here which show how the pieces move & capture, chess notation, castling, en passant, check & checkmate, the relative value of the pieces and how to open a game. There are review questions and homework tasks for each chapter and the final chapter contains a series of 20 tests on all the material covered in the book. Lev Alburt is a Russian Grandmaster and 3 times U.S. Champion. Roman Pelts is a famous Ukrainian chess teacher who taught Lev Alburt and presents his teaching course in this series.
Pub. 1996, softback, 135 pages. 



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CONCISE CHESS CONCISE CHESS(CODE p4327)
John Emms
This pocket sized book is aimed at complete beginners and introduces the reader to all the basics of the game including Getting to Know the Pieces, Check & Checkmate, Castling, Pawn Promotion and En Passant, Notation, How the Game Ends, Attacking and Defending Pieces, Tactics, Opening Play and Thinking Ahead. It's a clearly laid-out book with plenty of diagrams, easy explanations and exercises for the reader to solve. By the end of it any reader should be ready to take on an opponent over the board. John Emms is a British Grandmaster. br> Pub. 2003, softback, 288 pages. 



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DISNEY'S CHESS GUIDE DISNEY'S CHESS GUIDE(CODE b8335)
Anatoly Karpov
A colourful cartoon introduction to chess in which Goofy & co. show you the moves of the pieces, basic rules, check & checkmate and a few traps and tactics. Aimed at younger players this book includes cartoon drawings and diagrams throughout and was written with the guidance of former World Champion Anatoly Karpov.
Pub. 1997, hardback, 120 pages. 



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ENCYCLOPAEDIC MANUAL OF THE GAME OF CHESS VOL.1 ENCYCLOPAEDIC MANUAL OF THE GAME OF CHESS VOL.1(CODE x9019)
Mikhail Tal & Nikolai Zhuravlev
This, the first part of a three volume coaching course, is aimed at complete beginners, gradually bringing them to the level of a competitive player by the end of volume 1. The course contains information on the rules, checkmate, development, tactics, basic endgames and the realization of material and positional advantages and is in the format of 75 lessons with text information and examples followed by tests in the subject of the lesson. The material presented here is ideal for both study alone and for use in school and club coaching sessions and is indeed typical of the chess curriculum in many Russian schools. Text is in English and Russian but these are clearly separated. Let this book be your compass to guide you into the world of chess!
Pub. 1999, hardback, 273 pages. 



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LEARN CHESS LEARN CHESS(CODE g8330)
John Nunn
A step by step guide to learning chess by world famous author GM John Nunn. By the end of the book a complete beginner will be ready to take on opponents over the board or internet. Topics include the rules of chess, notation, winning material, attacking play, the opening, the middlegame, the endgame and chess psychology.
pub. May 2000, softback, algebraic, 192 pages. 

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LEARN CHESS - A COMPLETE COURSE LEARN CHESS - A COMPLETE COURSE(CODE p4115)
CHO'D Alexander & TJ Beach
Learn Chess: A Complete Course provides everything you need to know to get started in chess. The first part is devoted to first principles, explaining the rules and basic strategies, whilst the second develops a thorough understanding of the various winning methods, and includes a systematic study of openings, an introduction to attacking techniques, and a guide to fundamental endgame themes.
Pub. 1994, softback, 268 pages. 



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MENSA GUIDE TO CHESS MENSA GUIDE TO CHESS(CODE s1241)
Burt Hochberg
Mensa's very own beginners' guide to chess has information on how the pieces move and capture, rules and definitions and advice on tactical ideas, opening, middlegame and endgame play. There are 23 diagrammed exercises to test your progress. This is a clearly laid out book which aims to teach the reader chess in 30 days whether they are a Mensa member or not! Burt Hochberg has written several books on chess and other games and was editor in chief of Chess Life magazine for 13 years.
Pub. 2003 S A 128pp 



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NATIONAL CHESS SYLLABUS NATIONAL CHESS SYLLABUS(CODE t4542)
Charlie Storey
The National Chess Syllabus, featuring The Bandana Martial Art Exam System, is a fun & funky way of learning how to play chess. The book is the cornerstone of the World Children's Chess Academy (W.C.C.A.) an organization set-up to bring regular chess activities to all children in the world; especially disadvantaged children. The book's author is Charles Storey, 3 times National Chess Champion & winner of more than 60 open tournaments in England. A Professional chess instructor to children for over 15 years the author has defeated over 30 Grandmasters in officially rated games including Michael Adams the World's 3rd best player!!
The book is well structured and is set up as 40 simple lesson plans with the school teacher in mind. What makes this book particularly unique is the way it weaves the learning into a Traditional Martial Arts Syllabus from White-Yellow-Orange-Green-Blue-Purple-Brown-Black Belt. Each Belt (Bandana) course content is well thought out to enable a teacher or the private reading student to complete each Bandana within 5 Hours followed by a 1 Hour Test. (Tests are not included in the book and must be conducted by a qualified teacher or on-line for a £6.00 fee)
Now the real selling point of the book: Each time a student passes a test (tests have been researched to be challenging to the child's ability) he is mailed a Bandana & Certificate from World Children's Chess Academy (W.C.C.A.) Head office with the net result that kids are highly motivated to develop their chess skills. The teacher has nothing to do except apply the simple lesson plans and can quickly see each student's ability by what colour Bandana the student is wearing. Additionally any person acquiring the Black Bandana also attains the Teaching Certificate on completion of a C.R.B Police check.
Pub. 2005, softback, 240 pages. 



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NEED TO KNOW? CHESS NEED TO KNOW? CHESS(CODE c0595)
Tony Gillam
This clearly presented, colouful guide will take you from being a complete beginner to being able to play a game of chess. It features explanations of all the rules and key ideas of the game in a clear and easy to follow format with large diagrams and photographs. You learn how each piece moves, how to check and checkmate, how to win pieces and much more. The book also includes chapters on the origins and history of the game, tactics to help you outwit your opponent, game play and strategy and great players. It ends with a glossary of terms. Author Tony Gillam is a well known chess researcher who has also written several books for young beginners. Anyone, young or old, can learn to play chess using this book.
Pub. 2006, softback, 191 pages. 



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PLAY WINNING CHESS PLAY WINNING CHESS(CODE p4331)
Yasser Seirawan
This is undoubtedly one of the best beginner's books ever written owing to it's clear uncluttered style and the obvious enthusiasm of the author. After an introductory chapter explaining the moves of the pieces and how to write them down Grandmaster Seirawan introduces the four principles of force, time, space and pawn structure which alone make sense of the myriad possible moves, openings and strategies available to the novice. He shows why material advantage is important and how to gain such an advantage with simple tactical ideas; why rapid development of your forces matters; why controlling more space than your opponent is a path to victory and why pawn formation matters in chess. He also includes a section of annotated games to illustrate these ideas and a glossary of chess terms; useful for beginners. Each chapter has a series of tests at it's end and solutions are provided so the reader can check his or her understanding of that chapter. Palestinian born Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan is a four time US Champion and respected chess coach.
Pub. 2003, softback, 232 pages. 



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SECRETS OF THE RUSSIAN CHESS MASTERS: VOL. 1 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME SECRETS OF THE RUSSIAN CHESS MASTERS: VOL. 1 - FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME(CODE c2452)
Lev Alburt & Larry Parr
Based on Russian style training courses, this book teaches not just how the pieces move but where and why. Chapter one is Play Chess in One Hour and is followed up by How to Write the Moves, How to Open a Game, Middlegame Tactics and Endgame Strategy. There are test positions throughout to check assimilation of the basic ideas. This book will take you from complete beginner to being able to play constructively and try to win.
pub. 1997, softback, 284 pages. 



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STARTING OUT IN CHESS STARTING OUT IN CHESS(CODE p4226)
Byron Jacobs
A user friendly beginners book showing the moves, how to checkmate, how to win material, basic tactics, how to open a game and basic strategy. Plenty of diagrams and reasonably large print make for ease of access.
pub. 1999, softback, 128 pages. 



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SUPER.ACTIV CHESS SUPER.ACTIV CHESS(CODE h9162)
Mike Basman
Learn to play chess using this book packed with tips, cartoons, diagrams and exercises. Mike Basman explains all the rules including the moves, capturing, castling, en passant, tactics, openings and endgames.
Pub. 1999, softback, 126 pages. 



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USBORNE COMPLETE BOOK OF CHESS USBORNE COMPLETE BOOK OF CHESS(CODE u4821)
Elizabeth Dalby
A complete guide on how to play chess, requiring no previous knowledge of the game. Includes features on the history, techniques and tactics of chess plus advice on how to lay deadly traps, plan cunning moves, launch effective attacks and defend your pieces to ensure a winning result. Written in conjunction with Grand Master Jonathan Rowson. With Internet links and over 80 chess puzzles on the Usborne Quicklinks Website. Aimed at children aged 8 years upwards. (Key stage 2/3)
Pub. 2007, softback, 96 pages. 



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USBORNE LITTLE BOOK OF CHESS USBORNE LITTLE BOOK OF CHESS(CODE u7122)
Elizabeth Dalby
Please note: This is the pocket sized version of the Usborne Complete Book of Chess. The content is identical.
This colourful book is aimed at young people taking up chess for the first time and is illustrated with step-by-step diagrams and photographs. It explains all the important chess rules and terms such as how the pieces move, basic opening and endgame play, tactics and planning. There are over 80 puzzles to test the reader's progress and the book is packed with dos, don'ts and explanations of key ideas. Written in collaboration with Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson. Aimed at children aged 8 years upwards. (Key stage 2/3)
Pub. 2005, hardback, 96 pages. 



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WINNING CHESS PIECE BY PIECE WINNING CHESS PIECE BY PIECE(CODE s9970)
Ted Nottingham, Al Lawrence & Bob Wade
This book aimed at younger beginners starts off with chess notation, piece values and the moves of the pieces with a separate chapter devoted to the powers of each piece and their typical manoeuvres. Illustrated throughout with diagrams and photos this is an ideal first book for a complete novice.
Pub. 2000, softback, 126 pages. 



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WORLD CHAMPION'S GUIDE TO CHESS WORLD CHAMPION'S GUIDE TO CHESS(CODE n3653)
Susan Polgar & Paul Truong
This book for complete beginners offers a step-by-step guide to playing good chess, based on the methods learned by Susan Polgar when she was growing up and on the training techniques she has developed to teach her students over the years. You will learn how the pieces move and capture, how to checkmate, all about pins, forks and skewers, pattern recognition and key endgame positions. With plenty of test examples throughout this book is a truly interactive way of learning chess. Grandmaster Susan Polgar is a four-time women's world champion and one of the famous Polgar sisters.
Pub. 2005, softback, 380 pages. 



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YOUR CHESS QUESTIONS ANSWERED YOUR CHESS QUESTIONS ANSWERED(CODE b8406)
Susan Lalic
Agony Aunt Susan Lalic explains the moves, how to find a chess club, what to do with talented children and much more. The book is based on the many questions she has been asked in her years as a chess teacher.
pub. 1999, softback, 126 pages. 



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