Chess Thinking: The Visual Dictionary of Chess Moves, Rules, Strategies and Concepts (Fireside Chess Library)

PANDOLFINI AT HIS FINEST!! This book is GREAT and HIGHLY INFORMATIVE!! A MUST BUY FOR PLAYERS TRYING TO GET BETTER! Especially if there is any interest in Queen Pawns! Available USED as well!!

First of all, let me address the many negative reviews for this book.Newcomers and advanced beginners, just ignore those -ve reviews,go ahead and do yourself a favor by either buying this book or borrowing it from your local library. I am a advanced beginner with a online chess rating of 1300+, so I think I can safely guess or understand as to what beginners are looking for in a book. This book certainly helps improve the understanding of your game to a significant level from a beginner point of view.I wonder if all those who gave -ve reviews are some 1600+ rated players who picked up this book with the expectation that this would bump up their rating by another 200 points. If you are an intermediate player or anyone above 1400+,then you are at the wrong place.Having said that,it can still be a quick refresher to such players returning after a long hiatus. Else,this is not your book and instead get the Jeremy Silman's ,"How to reassess your chess 4th edition".Coming to the book itself, I like the way Pandolfini, explains those concepts in simple words and sentences instead of just usual algebraic notations, which is not exactly friendly for beginners or someone who's still new to chess visualization. It reminds me of another classic by Ward Farnsworth's ,"Predator at chessboard" which employs a similar style. The other thing, I liked about Pandolfini's book is the way he's mixing strategic and tactical elements in the positions he's trying to teach or explain. He tries to drive home the point that tactics and positional skills are mutually dependent and cannot be separated.Coming to the definitions or the lingo of chess world, it's helpful for beginners in a way that they can enjoy or understand the commentaries of live or recorded games.

Best intro book I've ever read!!

After reading all the negative reviews of this book, I have to put in a good word for it. It's a good thumbnail review of concepts you've probably learned in other books, and will jog your memory regarding lessons you've learned in your games. I'm a "developing player," rated about 1300-1400, and I gained a lot by just skimming through, following the diagrams, and figuring out the puzzles. Give it a try!

Of all the chess strategies and tactical books out there it is so great that the average layman chess player who is not a "club Player" has a reference of terms and axioms used by the "royal" game society to be presented to the general public and the "society".Can you imagine trying to learn the english language without a dictionary.Well,this is a chess dictionary and I commend the author in an age of "strategies and tactics."(For the sake of sales)

This book contains an A to Z listing of chess terms, definitions, concepts, slang terminology, names of special checkmating positions, amongst other things.I have the sense that this book was a hack job, slapped together in order to make a quick buck. (Look, writing chess books for a living is a tough job.) This book is adequate, but not much more than that.I bought this book from the "remainder" section of my bookstore, and paid well beneath list price for this book. Had this book been sold at list price, I would not have bought it.This book may very well be available at your local library. It's the type of book that would seem to fit the needs of a general library population. I would recommend inquiring at your library before buying this book.'Chess Thinking' might be useful for beginners who are not conversant with chess terminology. Also reluctantly recommended for chess instructors (to have as a ready reference for students.)

By now Mr Pandolfini must know that his chess playing skills and success as a chess coach will never carry over to his writing skills. He throws together random lines of useless material...gets it published by Fireside Chess Library and gets a nice paycheck...he has this down to a science. The purpose of his books is to transfer money from your pocket to his. If you don't agree with me, do a search of just his books here on Amazon and read the reviews.If you click on my name you will get my personal information and see a recommended study list. I put together this list of books and software with only one thing in mind...to improve your game without wasting your money. If you want to get better at chess this list will give you the most bang for your buck.

The name is a bit deceptive to say the very least... More of a book explaining terms and filled with useless things... Maybe Pandolfini has a few good books, this is not one of them... Perhaps someone that is very new to the game could learn something from this... Yet they will not get better from or because of this book... If you want something with chess thinking this isnt the best book... Maybe Art of Attack, Art of Middlegame, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Zurich 1953, Advances Since Nimzo, Tal Life and Games and Botvinnik one hundred selected games... Would help you more with that aspect of the game just to name a few books... Well it is your money so if you wanna spend it on this book... Nobody is gonna stop you, just remember you were warned... Do not get this book thinking its gonna help you formulate an iron clad strategy... Nor that it will help your tactical or positional play... Basically all this will help is lesson your bank account... Perhaps waste some time of yours reading it as well...