Chess For Dummies

Description

Your quick and easy guide to chess Kings, queens, knights—does chess seem like a royal pain to grasp? Taking the intimidation out of this age-old pastime, Chess For Dummies, 4th Edition is here to help beginners wrap their minds around the rules of the game, make sense of those puzzling pieces, and start playing chess like a champ. From using the correct chess terminology to engaging in the art of the attack, you'll get easy-to-follow, step-by-step explanations that demystify the game—and give you an extra edge. Chess isn't a game you can master—it's an activity that requires patience, strategy, and constant learning. But that's all part of the fun and challenge! Whether you're playing chess online, in a tournament, or with a family member or friend, this hands-on guide gets you familiar with the game and its components, giving you the know-how to put the principles of play into action from the opening to the endgame. Grasp the principles of play and the nuances of each phase of the game Familiarize yourself with the pieces and the board Pick the perfect chess board and set Know each of the pieces and their powers If you find yourself in a stalemate before you even begin a game, this friendly book helps you put your chess foot forward! Introduction 1 Part 1: Laying the Groundwork for Champion Chess 5 CHAPTER 1: Tackling Chess Basics 7 CHAPTER 2: Getting to Know the Pieces and Their Powers 21 CHAPTER 3: Exploring the Elements of Chess 39 CHAPTER 4: Going after the King: Check, Stalemate, and Checkmate 63 CHAPTER 5: Making a Few Special Moves 79 CHAPTER 6: Got Notation? Reading and Writing about Chess 85 Part 2: Gaining Chess Know-How 97 CHAPTER 7: Trying Out Tactics and Combinations in Hand-to-Hand Combat 99 CHAPTER 8: Sacrifices: Understanding When It’s Better to Give than to Receive 125 CHAPTER 9: Building Pattern Recognition 137 CHAPTER 10: Recognizing Advanced Pawn Formations 157 CHAPTER 11: Mastering Mating Patterns 171 Part 3: Game Time: Putting Your Chess Foot Forward 189 CHAPTER 12: Selecting Your Strategy: The Principles of Play 191 CHAPTER 13: Coming on Strong in the Opening 209 CHAPTER 14: Making Headway during the Middlegame 227 CHAPTER 15: Exiting with Style in the Endgame 239 Part 4: Getting into Advanced Action 263 CHAPTER 16: Playing in Competition 265 CHAPTER 17: Hitting the Net with Computer Chess 279 Part 5: The Part of Tens 289 CHAPTER 18: The Ten Most Famous Chess Games of All Time 291 CHAPTER 19: The Ten Best Players of All Time (and a Few Others) 321 CHAPTER 20: Ten (or So) Cool Facts about Kids and Chess 345 Part 6: Appendixes 349 APPENDIX A: A Glossary of Chess 351 APPENDIX B: Chess Resources 371 Index 375