The Soviet Chess Primer (Chess Classics) Paperback – March 7, 2015

I wish I got that book years ago (many years ago). The style is typical for old (but good) school of teaching - goes from 0 to 60 quickly (or 0 to 100, if you are using metric system :)). No unnecessary fluf - if something requires deep discussion (pawn endings) it does it in a comprehensive way, but otherwise explains many core concepts quickly, with many examples on why those are important. It should give a very solid foundation on what one should work on.Some people aim books based on their Elo rating. Not certain that's the correct approach but I'd say if one wants to really excell in the beautiful game of chess (and not just win with a few friends) this book shows many areas one should be working on to become a well rounded player. Then you know "why" you need to work on something.I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the paper in the book. It's soft cover but print and paper are superb. I pick up the book with pleasure and think the game of chess receives the treatment it deserves :)I read it every day, just for pleasure. Definitely "a must" on every chess player's list of books to have.

Having ordered this book in June and now coming to its end I have seen great improvement in my understanding and playing strength. I highly recommend to beginners setting up the positions on a physical board or even two, to keep track of the main line and accompanying variations for the numerous examples. This is a great book and a concrete step to chess improvement. I would recommend this to all new chess players and for those teaching chess to utilize its rich content as well.

Love the book it has instantly improved my chess. Easy to understand and I can see why it’s a standard

Originally called simply "Chess" when printed in Russian, this book was widely used as an early instruction handbook for Soviet chess players. Far be it from me to want anything to do with the Soviet Union, but even I have to admit, this is one of the finest tools to quickly advance your chess game if you're an advanced beginner or intermediate player.Where I think some people may become a bit confused is the word "primer" in the title. Though this book does begin with the basic rules of chess--and even teaches the reader how to read the book because it takes the time to explain algebraic chess notation right at the start--it quickly moves on to more advanced tactical and strategic ideas. Beginners who genuinely are just learning the basic rules of the game could hypothetically read this book, but I think they will very quickly become overwhelmed by the more advanced ideas discussed even as early as the second or third chapters.However, readers who already have some familiarity with the game will benefit a lot from its discussions of ideas which are fairly simple to understand but often difficult to apply in real games. For example, simple tactics like pins and forks are easy enough for even absolute beginners to understand. However, where this book shines is that it provides enough examples (of increasing complexity) that reading the book will help the reader begin to recognize when those tactics might become relevant. Chess is largely a matter of pattern recognition, and this book will help you start to recognize the patterns.Ultimately, I'd recommend this for the serious beginner or early-intermediate chess player looking to deepen his or her knowledge of the game.

This was a classic chess training manual in the Soviet Union, and is now destined to become a classic in The West. The book is endorsed by three former World Chess Champions - Lasker, Karpov and Kasparov, as well as the eminent Russian chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky. While the book starts off treating elementary chess basics, it quickly becomes very challenging and advanced for the beginner-novice. In this respect it is really more suitable for the experienced player, intermediate level and above. It is designed to take one, with diligent (!) study, to at least Expert level, and perhaps beyond. If you don't yet have "Master" in your chess title, but have aspirations (or fantasies) in that direction, and are looking for a chess course to help you along the way, this would be a great one to consider. Kudos to Quality Chess for publishing this exceptional work.For the beginner-novice player, two good choices for a first chess course would be "Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini, and "Winning Chess Strategy for Kids" by Jeff Coakley. (Regardless of the title, the latter is not just for kids!)

Working through this book now along with other books. I am impressed by the explanations of various moves and tactics, along with the principles expounded by the author. I am pleased I have this in my chess book collection. It will probably be dog-eared by the time I get through with it but it's a well made book.