Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

Well done deductive introduction to chess from
Beginners to major examples of complicated moves and
Strategies . Will not help much in planning the three phases of
Game or how to plan sequetial moves, but that is not main purpose

This book is excellent for introducing new chess players to the various phases of the game (e.g. opening, midgame, endgame and mates.) It is an introductory level book. For more detailed/depth on tactics and strategies there are many other selections.

This book is excellent for introducing new chess players to the various phases of the game (e.g. opening, midgame, endgame and mates.) It is an introductory level book. For more detailed/depth on tactics and strategies there are many other selections.

The book actually shows the answers to challenges with a full "picture" of the board AFTER the move, instead of the long complex "text" explanation. One of the best books chess EVER! [Like what else would you expect from Fischer]

Excellent book for beginners such as myself. I am consumed by chess. I am addicted to it. I can't even put it down. I purchased two copies of it. One for my wheelchair, one for my room at my house.

For the right person at the right point in learning chess I believe that this is the best book. I am a USCF correspondence chess master and over the board expert. I credit this book to getting me a good start.

Chess is a skill. Learning a skill requires practice. This book helps develop that skill and the pattern recognition that goes along with that. It does so in a way that is not intimidating. It does not teach all chess tactics. It just gets you started on the path to tactical mastery, but it is a good start.

It has a unique programmed instruction format that does not require learning chess notation. This is significant as "learning a new language" just to learn chess is off putting and creates obstacles to learning the game. After an introduction to the rules the reader practices chess tactics in a variety of positions of increasing difficulty. This book helps to build a strong foundation of tactical skill.

If you can routinely solve simple "mate-in-two" problems quickly you probably already have the skill this book can teach. If not, I think this book will improve your game.

Fun format with a unique problem, solution layout and front to back to front arrangement.
This is a basic chess tactics, themes, and strategies book, slightly more advanced than beginner but not for the strong chess player - but if your were a strong chess player you have probably worked through this already.
BFTC will earn a warm spot in your chess heart for its unique design, clear explanations, and puzzles with just the right amount of challenge without being so frustrating you toss it.

It explains the ways to get out of checkmate, how to checkmate the opponent, but not so much the strategy in how to create the situations he is explaining. I guess he leaves that up to us to work on, but I was hoping for a more in depth detail. For what it does explain, it is a very good book.

This book does exactly what it says. Teaches chess! I am expert player 1900+ and will say that anyone below 1500 or beginners will learn something about chess they didn't know before. Other reviews , I noticed, gripe about how little they learned. The point here is that Bobby Fischer seemed to think back-rank checkmates are of major importance, and if that is his priority, then this is something beginners must master! This book is sharp and to the point where the ideas are obvious once the solutions are read. Very good explanations for each problem. There are 300+pages with puzzles on each page. Lots of practice is key. Thoroughly enjoyed and for those who didn't understand the point of the book, now you do!

At the outset it should be understood that (despite the title) the book is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject of chess. Its purpose is to teach the absolute beginner the basics of one aspect of chess, and that is - tactics. It is simply a beginner's introduction to basic chess tactics, and nothing more.
The value of the book is that this is precisely what the beginner needs to focus on when first learning the game. It is essential to have a firm grasp of fundamental chess tactics before moving on to other aspects of the game. In that sense, this is an excellent book to begin your chess education.
The format of the book is that of a structured learning course, using a series of exercises or puzzles to solve (one per page) which reinforce the concept under consideration. The exercises increase in complexity in order to enhance the reader's comprehension and level of tactical sophistication. The book is easy to read (it does not use chess notation) in the sense that it should take on average less than 60 seconds to complete an exercise (i.e., a page). It took my eight year old daughter only 3 or 4 hours (over several days) to complete the book. Because she was able to quickly and successfully absorb the concepts, it also increased her enthusiasm for playing the game.
I have recommended this book to many players new to the game, and to a person they all agree that this was the best book to begin learning tactics.
Bottom Line - It is said that the three most important of elements of chess to learn first are - Tactics, Tactics, Tactics! If you are a chess beginner who doesn't know a pin from a fork from a skewer from a double attack, then you need this book. Upon completing it, you should not only be able to employ effective tactics against your opponents, but also be able to quickly recognize the potential for tactical threats against you.

This is a book of mates written with kid friendly gloves. If you want to see a few guided examples of basic mating technique, this is a great way to help you start to get serious about studying chess. If you're already comfortable with the basics, I'd instead buy a decent piece of chess software and practice mates in 1, 2 etc. for roughly the same educational value.

For younger learners, this is a great book, and also a great way to decide for yourself what kind of chess learner you are. The book is quite visual with very concise discussion/explanation.

This book does exactly what it says. Teaches chess! I am expert player 1900+ and will say that anyone below 1500 or beginners will learn something about chess they didn't know before. Other reviews , I noticed, gripe about how little they learned. The point here is that Bobby Fischer seemed to think back-rank checkmates are of major importance, and if that is his priority, then this is something beginners must master! This book is sharp and to the point where the ideas are obvious once the solutions are read. Very good explanations for each problem. There are 300+pages with puzzles on each page. Lots of practice is key. Thoroughly enjoyed and for those who didn't understand the point of the book, now you do!

At the outset it should be understood that (despite the title) the book is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject of chess. Its purpose is to teach the absolute beginner the basics of one aspect of chess, and that is - tactics. It is simply a beginner's introduction to basic chess tactics, and nothing more.
The value of the book is that this is precisely what the beginner needs to focus on when first learning the game. It is essential to have a firm grasp of fundamental chess tactics before moving on to other aspects of the game. In that sense, this is an excellent book to begin your chess education.
The format of the book is that of a structured learning course, using a series of exercises or puzzles to solve (one per page) which reinforce the concept under consideration. The exercises increase in complexity in order to enhance the reader's comprehension and level of tactical sophistication. The book is easy to read (it does not use chess notation) in the sense that it should take on average less than 60 seconds to complete an exercise (i.e., a page). It took my eight year old daughter only 3 or 4 hours (over several days) to complete the book. Because she was able to quickly and successfully absorb the concepts, it also increased her enthusiasm for playing the game.
I have recommended this book to many players new to the game, and to a person they all agree that this was the best book to begin learning tactics.
Bottom Line - It is said that the three most important of elements of chess to learn first are - Tactics, Tactics, Tactics! If you are a chess beginner who doesn't know a pin from a fork from a skewer from a double attack, then you need this book. Upon completing it, you should not only be able to employ effective tactics against your opponents, but also be able to quickly recognize the potential for tactical threats against you.

This is a book of mates written with kid friendly gloves. If you want to see a few guided examples of basic mating technique, this is a great way to help you start to get serious about studying chess. If you're already comfortable with the basics, I'd instead buy a decent piece of chess software and practice mates in 1, 2 etc. for roughly the same educational value.

For younger learners, this is a great book, and also a great way to decide for yourself what kind of chess learner you are. The book is quite visual with very concise discussion/explanation.