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Nevertheless, I've found my rating rise from somewhere around 1200 to just over 1500 in the reading of these pages. Some of the lines he explores definitely were over my head (wouldn't have seen that 5-move trap) but that's OK. Now I realice that this comes not only by getting used to read the variations but also because of the better understanding of what's going on in the board. The moves are shown in the book using algebraic notation (e4, Nf3, Qxh8+ as examples) though the piece identifiers are shown as symbols of the pieces rather than R, N, B, Q, K, which I guess some would prefer.This is no dry theoretical tome (it's a regular sized paperback) that makes you feel like you're back at university wishing you hadn't chosen this elective.

Because there are few books aimed at beginners, but which will still entertain you as you get stronger. I think, without being sure, when I read in my book, Silman-The Amateurs Mind I only move the mainlines, but reading all.

I remember someone pointing out that the era the games are from makes them easier to umderstand than some more modern games.

This all being said, I wouldn't recommend this book to beginners really - I think it could be nice for people trying to learn more games and learn about the masters though. After reading this you don't feel you have to be really intelligent or highly educated to play an enjoyable game of chess. In that respect, again flaws and all, showing the moves and some of the simple ideas behind the moves, even the repetition of some bits of advice, was perfect for me.When describing a move similar to one previously described, most books do not repeat the analysis previously given. Chernev was extremely well-read in chess literature, and shares insights of many grandmasters, as these insights are illustrated in the games in this book. In this much loved classic, Irving Chernev explains 33 complete games in detail, telling the reader the reason for every single move.

Weak players instinctively try and free up pawns, anxious against a pin, but it is better to leave the kingside pawns protective and close than get exposed after castling. My instruction has been: this book, the ChessMaster game academy tutorial by Joshua Waitzkin, a lot of youtube videos from Ben Finegold and commentary on games by other players. Even if you know what the symbols mean and even if you are actively following every move on a material chessboard, reading and comprehending statements like 'If (a long line of symbols), then (again a litany of symbols)' can get real frustrating real quick. Chernev presents classic games by players such as Capablanca, Tarrasch, and Alekhine to repeatedly demonstrate the advantages gained by efficient development and strong positional play. If one might wonder if this book is difficult to read, one does not need to worry since this book is simply written and is packed with information that in a short time one will see by how he plays others that he has improved quickly.

For those who didn't grow up in the era of descriptive notation, Irving Chernev wrote books that mostly appealed to the mainstream player. Plenty of diagrams, clear text (for a chess manual), and it's useful for players up to medium-strong club strength, and all the way down to pure beginners (though some of it may be over their heads at first. Chernev is wrong in his analysis of Black's move 8, in Game 1, von Scheve - Teichmann, Berlin 1907, Giuoco Piano.