A World Champion's Guide to Chess: Step-by-Step Instructions for Winning Chess the Polgar Way!

When I decided to learn to play chess, I looked carefully for a good instruction book and read many reviews of available books. I highly recommend this one by Susan Polgar. Her introduction to the game and the various strategies is very clear. There are puzzles at the end of each chapter with solutions and explanations for the solutions as the puzzles become more complex. Rather than begin the lessons with opening game strategies, she first gets the learner accustomed to seeing patterns on the board which will be helpful as they progress.I’m 78 years old and had given my granddaughters a chess set for a Christmas. My daughter and I wish to learn along with them, so I sent her a copy of the book. She is also finds it to be a good choice.

The reviews here have been confusing to me. On the one hand there are two Kid's Reviews, one telling «Good if you know some basics - Not a starters book» and another telling «This book is more at an adult's level of learning» but on the other hand there is the reviewer Liyong telling just the opposite, «Good book for beginners, This book is really for beginners only.»I should, but I didn't trust Liyong or my own learning skills, so I bought Pandolfini's  Beginning Chess: Over 300 Elementary Problems for Players New to the Game  first, in order to prepare myself for the present one. Well, while I did learn something from that very simple Pandolfini's book, I could probably have learned the same from this book, which also has much more to give, is put together with much more care and offers progression, a learning curve. If you buy this book, and it happens to be too difficult for you, then you can be advised purchasing Beginning Chess, and solve the 300 problems there at least three times. However most beginners can wisely save their money getting the present book only, which probably will be a perfect introduction to the next book by Polgar,  Chess Tactics for Champions: A step-by-step guide to using tactics and combinations the Polgar way , a book I haven't got yet.

I read this book cover to cover, and I think the title is misleading. It is not a step by step instruction for winning at chess. First, there is no such thing. Second, for all the emphasis in the cover on Susan's multiple championships, the book is geared towards fairly entry-level players.What you will find in this book:- The rules of chess, and how pieces move, with exercises.- A nice inventory of chess tactics, with exercises for you to practice.- A nice set of mates in 1, 2 and 3 moves for you to practice.It is my estimate that these exercises may be challenging for <1000 players, but are trivial for >1400 players, while they will be fun to do for those around 1100-1300 (my range).What you will not find in this book:- Any decent introduction to openings. For that, look elsewhere.- A clear exposition of the basic endings. Although some attention is paid to endings, the explanations are often lacking and the reader is given dozens of moves with no guidance. For that, look elsewhere.In short, this book might be better called A Chess Primer, Tactics and Mate Exercises for <1400 players.

My wife and I are interested in learning chess, and we thought that learning from a champion would make the most sense. Susan starts with the very basic information needed, then progressively takes the student through the learning steps necessary to become a very competent chess player. She shows all the strategy of planned attacks, protecting your pieces and getting out of trouble when it happens. I love her training exercises where she asks you to identify how to attack or capture the opposing piece, and the answer explains why her choice is the best action. After a while, you choose the correct action more and more often; and that is what this book is designed to do. What a totally great book !! I can't praise it highly enough. On a slightly different note- I wish she had written a book on how to fix computers!!

I bought this book for my 6 and 8 yr. old children who had just started playing chess and had a basic understanding of the way the chess pieces moved . The book breaks down various facets of the game in small and easily understood lessons. My kids really love this book, and it has greatly helped improve their playing. I have also learned many things from this book. I had always been a casual chess player who could think through different situations as they unfolded in the game, but after reading this book, I now have a more structured and intentional approach to playing and can visualize patterns much better. I think this book is great for anyone who would like to improve their playing above the basic level.

Its good book to understand the game play.

She is an excellent teacher, and this book is very good for beginners. I didn't realize how "beginner oriented" it was. Lots of good excercises on the basics, but I think her video lessons are much more comprehensive for more advanced players.If you are a more advanced player, you will probably be disappointed.The book listed as used was in excellent condition.

'Practice' before you 'Play'This book teaches the game in small steps, such as how to checkmate if you have specific pieces, how to avoid a loss by using perpetual checks etc.This book helped me in developing a "radar system" that scans for various parameters such as identify the vulnerable pieces, finding the pins and at the same time protecting your pieces from opponent's attack.I have taken a printout of dos and don'ts section and keep it with me while practicing with my chess simulator program.I feel confident with basics and ready to read advanced material.Great book for beginners. I give 5/5.

Simple set up, easy to follow.

Great Christmas present for someone who is learning chess

Excellent book. Well written and well laid out.

Well packaged.best for beginners

著者はチェス界ではかなり有名な女王です。英語は日本では中校生レベルで難しくなく、くどくない。とにかく、この本はバランスがよい。著者の子供の頃の訓練方法を追体験しているようです。・駒の動かし方から始めます。・十数種類の基本Tacticsについて各20問題ほど取り組みます。・チェス盤と駒を出して、３２種類のエンドゲームの基本形を　動かしていきます。ざっと確認です。・１手、２手、３手のメイト問題を解きます。・学びがいのある２つの実戦を検討していきます。問題の数が豊富で、入門を終えたら、土台を築くのに最適の本です。この本の続編も購入してください。