Winning Chess Strategy for Kids

I bought this book for my daughter who has joined a chess club. Many reviews online say that this is the best chess strategy book that you can buy for kids or adults. It does allow access to higher level thinking about the game -- not just a few strategies or aspects. I am reading it myself and am impressed. So on some level I would say this book is for anyone that wants to move beyond the rules and basics. On the other hand there is something awkward about the tone. The book both feels above and below the level that it is pitching for. By the third page the book talks in chess code (For example: "3. Bc4 Nf6? 4.Qxf7#"). The second page does give an explanation of how to read this code but it feels like it needs more of an easing in and getting the kids acclimated. So the first few pages are going to be hard for a kid to get past without the help of a chess teacher to work through it with them. However even though the content is at a very high level, the illustrations and the jokes seem sort of dumbed down for a kid that is going to be able to follow the strategy and seem disconnected from the content ("Hi, boys and girls... I am Biff the B. Welcome to the chess talk show!," random dumb pizza jokes, "darth pawn"). The illustrator is not a professional illustrator (the only other things he seems to have done is other chess books by this same author). I would love to see a new addition in which the author worked with a professional book designer and illustrator so that the cartoons seemed to add to and unlock the content (I wish the illustrations also felt like a rich puzzle themselves that gave insight into the game) instead of feeling silly and tacked on.

I bought it for my kids but I'm enjoying going through it even myself, while sipping my morning coffee. The format of the book is great. Very short chapters describing chess concepts in an engaging way. Each chapter always ends with a few puzzles. Who this book is for? I would say it'll definitely help beginners and intermediate players. What if I/my kids don't know how to play chess at all? Then start somewhere else, but come back right away when you know all the rules. If you want to teach kids chess the trick which worked for mine was to set up the board with only pawns, play a few games, and then gradually add more pieces (bishops, then rooks, then maybe bishops and rooks, etc.). Should I buy the book or use a chess website? Buy the book! If you want to truly learn and enjoy the experience it requires environment with no distractions. Just set up a board and go through one of the chapters! Savor this experience! If you need an excuse "I'm learning but maybe I'm not good at chess" - then go with video tutorials :) They give you an impression that you're learning something ("it made sense when I watched the video") but you may not flex your brain to actually learn and practice something. This is a book which you'd be (and should be) going back to regularly on your journey as a chess player. For example if you're a beginner you're going to appreciate, say, forks and some sacrifices to win material (middle game). But then your games will end up with only 2 kings and a pawn on the board, or a queen against a pawn and a king. You will realize those end games require much deeper knowledge and calculations, knowledge of tricks, practice. And some of those techniques are described in the book as well. I heard Kasparov saying: what will winning material give you if you can't turn it into a win in the end game? End games are extremely important! Actually the longest chapters in the book are the ones about some end game techniques. Don't hesitate - buy, enjoy, play!

I fall into the later category, self-taught. I am a chess novice who has received immeasurable help from this famous chess book. Obviously kid-friendly, this is very much a book for all ages. It seems to be a bit of a chess in-joke that if you don't think you're a "kid" but are a novice, then do all the exercises in this book and check your score. You might be surprised! This book is also part of a series and they all have value. Most newbies lose games due more to lack of tactical knowledge, rather than needing better opening experience, etc. This book will introduce you to all the classic tactics you need. It is a great and thorough way to begin your chess journey and I highly recommend it. Five Stars!

I really liked the companion volume to this Winning Chess Tactics which is brilliant. That prompted me to buy this one and it too is excellent. I have awarded it 4 stars only because , in my view, it it is not a systematic scheme for explaining strategical ideas to juniors. You cannot work from cover to cover. Maybe the subject precludes this. However, it has so many good ideas and examples in it, it is well worth the money. I have picked bits from all over to use with our junior club, and have found them to be instructive and useful. Maybe I should have given it 5 stars.

do you play chess, then simply you must own this book? The title is all wrong if you think it is for kids; my chess rating is not very high so i cannot speak for chess experts... But for anyone under the chess expert level this is probably the greatest chess book ever written, there are many chess books and i own around 75 (and i look at them as well, they do not always just collect dust). So as an 'improving' player this one book will EASILY add 200 points to whatever your rating is if you follow the advice and tips in this single book... It starts with basic stuff like how to play chess and also talks about 'rook lifts' and the "x-ray"; just a ton of essential chess knowledge in one book, seriously there is months or years worth of chess learning here depending upon your level of chess involvement... Please do not under-estimate this book; this is a SERIOUS book, now in its SIXTH 'revised' edition. In fact most modern kids probably would not even be able to understand this book unless they are "chess players"... This one book is simply the best introduction or refresher 'course' to the overall areas of chess knowledge, your chess development will speed along far faster if you consider this books' "contents" as you consider your chess 'moves'. Again i must say this is THE chess book to OWN; it MUST be your first, second or third chess book to follow; now just buy it, or just ' find ' the time and money and " hire " your own personal chess ' coach ' instead...

Like the other reviewers say, don't let the "for kids" in the title dissuade you. It's for kids, adults, and anyone else who's wanting to really study and improve their chess. It's full of tactics, strategies (and teaches the difference between the 2), mating patterns, and so much more! It is absolutely chock full of positions and explanations of move lines as well as variations on them. Just because it has chess cartoon characters in it doesn't mean that it isn't teaching incredibly useful stuff. Do yourself a favor, pick it up and run through it, though I would caution against this being your absolute first chess book unless you're already very familiar with how to play, algebraic notation, etc, and are just looking to improve.

Before purchasing this book I read reviews saying it was a little hard to understand so I bought it cautiously for my 7-yr-old. But, if you understand a basic grid, this book is extremely simple to understand. My son is excited to learn how to beat adults at chess :) (that's his expectation of the book) and I'm very happy to have a way to teach him chess strategies.

I teach a youth chess program and this book has been a big help coming up with lesson plans. The format of the book does feel a bit busy, but has a lot of good material. Some of the topics are a little advanced for my kids (1st-3rd graders, been playing less up to 1 year), but a lot of the material can be simplified for use with my students. I've especially used the lessons on pawn structure and checkmates with a rook (or queen or two rooks) and king against a lone king.

Goes through the moves and options very clearly. Points out the obvious "do's" and "don'ts". Goes on to take you through better stuff. It's not just for kids, but also for those who want to know and learn how to learn and play.better. I have certainly improved and learned quite a lot.. Recommended for the non-expert as well as the starter.