Many chess players seem to love books and I am no exception of that. So what could be better than a good chess book? As I started to play chess in January, I simply could not imagine that I would ever be interested in playing through other people's games. After a couple of weeks, however, I gave in to all the recommendations of going over games played by chess masters and got myself a copy of "Logical Chess: Move By Move: Every Move Explained New Algebraic Edition" by Irving Chernev, a classic collection of annotated chess games that is specifically written for chess beginners. I have to admit that I completely changed my mind: After playing through the first game, I was hooked and just finished playing through all the games.

The book contains 33 well annotated chess games played by various chess masters in the years 1889 to 1945. The complexity of the games increases towards the end and the comments frequently refer back to previous games. Therefore, it is advisable to go through the games in the order they are presented, although the annotations are comprehensive enough to start with any game if you are particularly interested in one of them. The book starts with a short general introduction in the ideas behind kingside attacks in chess and then continues with 16 games as examples for such an attack. This is followed by 7 games giving some insight into queen's pawn openings. The final section "The Chess Master Explains His Ideas" containing 10 chess games focuses more on general strategic concepts.

The annotations are not only comprehensive but the book's subtitle "Every Move Explained" literally means that. Each move starting from the very first "1 e4 This move accomplishes a great deal: A pawn is fixed in the centre of the board. ..." to the last "36 ... b5 passed pawns must be pushed! This clinches the win, ..." and even beyond that explaining possible continuations because most games do not end with checkmate but resignation. The latter is particularly important for the novice reader, because many other game collections are annotated with more advanced readers in mind that may struggle or possibly fail to find out why one side resigned. On a first look it seems to be a bit of an exaggeration to write so often that 1. e4 is a good move to start with. However, Irving Chernev's lively writing style together with the use of citations from famous chess players makes reading this book very enjoyable. But aside from that, does it help a beginning chess player to improve?

It is often said, that chess beginners should concentrate on studying tactics. However, there are many occasions when a position is "quiet" and no tactical opportunities or direct threats seem to exist. This is a good time to make a plan and strategy comes into play. "Logical Chess" shows many examples for making plans and gives general strategic guidelines. Giving some strategic knowledge in no particular order and hidden within 33 chess games does not replace studying strategy. But for me, playing through the games and reading the annotations was enough to get a general idea on forming a plan for chess games. This gives me now the opportunity to concentrate on improving tactics - after all the vast majority of my plans end up in a tactical disaster only few moves later because I did not realize some tactical constraints. Nevertheless, it was reading this game collection and not studying tactics that showed me how to make plans and even though most do not work out as planned I still enjoy making them.

In conclusion, I recommend Irving Chernev's book to every chess novice. May be not as the very first book but it is great for chess novices that already know the rules and basic tactical motifs. My only misgiving with the annotations is that it is often clear from the beginning who will win the game, which takes the "suspense" out of the reading experience, but after all, it is no novel. The book is available from Amazon.com or Wholesalechess.com for around $15, but may be you are as lucky as myself and find a copy in the library!

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Great book indeed!
written by R.A.Matheson, October 06, 2006

It is true chess players love books! I have over sixty now, and have only read a few cover to cover. However, each tidbit from various books help. This book was great. I would say I've gone over about half the games within this great piece of chess literature, and it is GREAT for beginning players that are beyond learning how the pieces move and other basic rules.

There needs to be more books like this. Another great book is Understanding Chess Move by Move by John Nunn. It has the same format, with more modern examples of games, but is a tiny bit more advanced. "Logical Chess..." is probably for players around 1000 and up USCF rating, while Nunn's book is probably more for 1200 and up. I myself am about 1400.

Re: Great book indeed!
written by Sciurus, October 07, 2006

Thanks for recommending John Nunn's book and particularly for your information on the rate of difficulty. I read somewhere that Nunn's game collection is rather advanced. Therefore, I already bought Max Euwe's "Chess Master vs.Chess Amateur" but did not spend much time with it (yet).

LOGICAL CHESS MOVE BY MOVE
written by L B V PRASAD, April 25, 2007

Dear Chess Enthusiasts,

Logical chess move by move or fondly called in chess circles as LCMM is a great reference books for opening the eyes of the chess mind.

Starting from chapter one please go through patiently & the ideas behind each opening move dissected of games played by masters.

After going through,your chess may have taken a great leap.

Also pls buy FRITZ-10 for practical training & exposure.

Another way of learning chess is through pitting of 2 great softwares (fritz-10/rybka latest version)& guess moves before the software plays.

As you do this for 1 year-your game will jump manyfolds.

best regards/prasad lbv

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written by ziad, July 30, 2007

very good indeed book >>>> and thanks

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written by RoostH, February 27, 2008

This book is also available somewhere in the sharing world in electronical format, with an application displaying the movements in a board and beside the movement explanation, and the PGN format also.

The Book contains also a database to find positions and Crafty engine to analyse the position you're reading at that moment.

I found it in Spanish, I understand it's also in English somewhere.

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written by Sciurus, February 27, 2008

RoostH:
An electronic version, especially if it is interactive, seems like a great idea to me. Do you happen to have some information on where to get it?

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