Book Description
Max Euwe was World Chess Champion in the 1930s and he collaborated with International Master Kramer to write this great treatise on how to play chess middlegames. Book II of the series covers the dynamic features of the game of chess. This book also contain a fascinating section on the playing styles of the world's strongest players at the time of it's first publication, along with interesting insights on the psychological aspects of the game of chess. Thousands of satisfied customers have made this one of the most popular books on chess middlegames. Completely re-edited and translated to algebraic notation in this 1994 edition.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book.......2005-01-20
I just finished both volumes and feel I know chess a lot better.
I am currently rated 1800 and it took me over 2 years of off again on again study to complete both books. Sometimes I would play over the games twice but the time is worth it if you want to improve at chess. There are other great books on chess like My System by Nimzovitch or Chess Strategy by Pachman, but both are turgid and boring going compared to this modern classic. It covers the entire sweep of chess history and discusses most middlegame concepts like the minority attack or asymetric pawn structures or development vrs material advantage or the art of defense. I can go on and on. I would say you cannot go wrong with these 2 books. Also if you have chessbase the Ossimitz chess site has a good download site where you can download this whole book in chessbase format. Stydying chess could not get any easier.
A tremendous instructional book!.......2004-02-05
The last guy to review this book down below apparently meant to give it 5 stars, but instead gave it zero. Oops!
This book, along with Book 1 on Static Features, was a very big reason why I made it up to a USCF Expert rating.
Buy these two books. Study them. Watch your rating climb!
Customer Reviews:
Mednis magic.......2004-08-24
Here are thirty-three games annotated over 172 pages in the inimitable Mednis way. In my opinion, Mednis was the best grandmaster at annotating for the masses (not that many even attempted it). Other than the necessity of having this book for games annotated by Mednis, the independent value is that these are modern games, with lots of Sicilians (10). Along with Mastering the Strategic Game, and How Karpov Wins, this is an essential part of my collection. Each chapter oopens with a brief description of the theme to be fleshed out by the games in that section. The whole book consists of complete annotated games. Nicely produced as well.
Book Description
In this easy-to-read pocket-sized guide, Grandmaster Neil McDonald concentrates on the fundamentals of middlegame play in chess. He provides simply enough material so that readers can enter this part of the game with the knowledge and confidence required.
Average customer rating:
- A Fine Mess from Hochberg
- Great Material, Horrible revision & editing
- Lots of mistakes
- Absolutely horrible
- Insane Typos!
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The Middlegame in Chess
Reuben Fine
Manufacturer: Random House Puzzles & Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0812934849
Release Date: 2003-02-11 |
Book Description
Long out-of-print and known only to collectors and connoiseurs, this legendary work by Reuben Fine returns in a completely revised and corrected edition in modern algebraic notation. After explaining the basic elements of combinations and attacks against the King, Fine discusses how to evaluate a position; how to handle superior, equal, and inferior positions; the significance of pawn structure and space; the transition from opening to middlegame and middlegame to endgame; and much more. With hundreds of diagrams and examples from actual play, The Middlegame in Chess is one of the modern classics of the game.
Customer Reviews:
A Fine Mess from Hochberg.......2007-08-06
From what I understand, Reuben Fine's Middle Game in Chess is a classic. I believe that, although I'm having a hard time enjoying or even understanding the diagrams. I do not fault Mr. Fine for the travesty that is this "revised" edition. Hochberg, whoever he is, has ruined what should have been a wonderful experience. There are errors on every page, sometimes multiple errors. It seems, sometimes, that I'm spending more times trying to figure out what the right move should have been than actually analyzing a game. Another thing that irritates me is Hochberg's intro where he says the Index of Players and Openings have been removed, being unnecessary. The only thing that should be removed from this book is Hochberg.
Aside from Hochberg's despicable impression left on this book, if one can (admittedly painstakingly) make the necessary corrections in ink as he or she goes through the games, eventually you'll have the masterpiece in its proper form. My 3 stars rating is due to Burt Hochberg's revision.
Great Material, Horrible revision & editing.......2005-12-28
Reuben Fine had a unique, clear style in explaining the game of chess, and it shows in this work. His assessment of positions is great for a patzer like me. However, Burt Hochberg & McKay / Random House have managed to revise this on the order of John Nunn doing Bobby Fischer's 60 Memorable Games. Huge numbers of typos and errors in diagrams make for difficult reading.
Fine produced a classic work. the reviser and publisher forgot a couple of things -- proofreading and accuracy.
Lots of mistakes.......2004-10-03
Some of the diagrams and a lot of the text items have typos and mistakes as the other reviewers have pointed out. This guy who did the update to this book did a horrible job.
If you want to learn a lot about the middle game get Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors along with Winning Chess Tournaments for Juniors. These books will also help make your game stronger in the Opening and Endgame too. Also, The Middlegame by Euwe is also good.
Absolutely horrible.......2004-07-09
Obviously I am giving this book 1 star because of Burt Hochburg, not Reuben Fine. This revised edition is a complete insult to chess and chess literature. Almost every page has a typo, incorrect move, or incorrect diagram (many times several errors per page). If you are a beginner do not get this book. Get the original. And if you're someone who isn't that familiar with chess notation then do NOT get it. You will be confused over and over at all the stupid mistakes. I bought this book at a book store and after becoming more and more fed up I have decided I'm going to return it. This is a disgusting book and an insult to Reuben Fine. Mr. Fine must be rolling over in his grave right now. The cover of this book says that it's revised. So basically typos, move errors, incorrect diagrams, the removal of a game from the original book, and the removal of the unnecessary (Hochberg's words) player index and opening index make this book revised? He lists six revisions at the beginning of the book. First, the notation has been changed from descriptive to algebraic. This is the only good thing about the book (although personally, I'd rather read a chess book in descriptive without errors than in albebraic with a googol plex errors). Second, he says that in some places the text has been updated to conform to modern style. What the hell does that mean? Could he be any less clear? Sounds like BS to me. Third, he says all the diagrams are new and several have been added. Excuse me? That makes no sense. If all the diagrams are new how can more be added? Why would you even say that? More BS. Fourth, he says in the new page layouts the diagrams are properly integrated with the game moves. Since when does combining incorrect moves with incorrect diagrams make something properly integrated? Two negatives make a positive? I don't think so. More BS. Lots of these diagrams have pieces on the wrong squares and extra pieces that aren't supposed to be there. Fifth, he says the game Flohr-Ragozin, an uneventful and unenlightening draw, has been deleted. HAHAHA! Wow what a brilliant revisionist you are Mr. Hochberg. It must take a lot of skill to remove a game from a chess book. I'm sure your opinion on that game is much more respectable than the ORIGINAL author's opinion. Thank you so much for taking it out. It would have been too much to skip it if I had the original version. A true revision, if I ever did see one. Sixth, he says the unnecessary index of players and the index of openings and variations, half a century out of date, have both been omitted. What kind of idiot thinks that the player and opening index is unnecessary? Are you out of your mind Mr. Hochberg? Those two things are extremely necessary for referencing. What if a reader is trying to look up a particular player or opening? Is he just supposed to quickly skim through the 400 pages? You didn't even give a reason for omitting the player index. The only reason you gave was why you took out the opening index. And if the opening variations are out of date, then why don't you make them up to date? That's obviously the most logical thing to do. But no, to you revision means subtraction. You have added nothing to The Miggle Game in Chess, except your own countless errors. And another thing, I laughed my @$$ off when I read how he changed the original title, which was "The Middle Game in Chess" to "The Middlegame in Chess." Wow, that was brilliant. Thanks for telling us all. So let's recap: you changed correct moves to incorrect ones, you added incorrect diagrams, you took out a game, you took out the player index, you took out the opening index, and you invented a new word that doesn't exist by changing Reuben Fine's original title. Bravo. Great revisions. My recommendation? Don't buy this book. If you did, return it immediately (if you aren't able to return it then it might come in handy if you're in the bathroom and run out of toilet paper). Please, get the original if you can find it.
Insane Typos!.......2003-10-29
This is an excellent book, but the reviser needed only a chess amateur or two to clear up 99% of the errors in this book. It's truly insane and hilarious how obvious they are. at one point you see 20. Rxf8 Rxf1 21. Rxf8# and they're supposed to be talking about f1!!!!!! hahaha...There's even a diagram with three rooks (and a pawn hadn't promoted). There's another diagram with pawns on f2, g2, h2, and h4! Seriously ugly.
I wish the publisher would fix the errors and offer a recall on the existing books as an apology instead of just settling for rushing it out the door. It's ludicrous.
Book Description
Long ago Philidor taught that "pawns are the soul of chess." Today we know that understanding the pawn structure is vital when choosing a plan of action for the middlegame. Indeed, any correct middle- game plan depends on knowing how the pawns will behave - only then is it clear where the pieces should go! That is why Middlegame Strategy takes the guesswork out of planning in chess. Here NM Robert Leininger examines a single key pawn structure (seen on the cover), exploring each of its possibilities in detail. Concentrating on one fundamental pawn formation lets you cut through the clutter, focusing on how the pawns determine which course is best. With Middlegame Strategy, the art of sound planning in chess can be mastered by players of any level.
Known in Russia as the "Carlsbad" pawn structure, this ever-popular middlegame formation is famous in the Queen's Gambit after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.cxd5 exd5, but is also common in the Gruenfeld, Nimzo-Indian and other openings. The Carlsbad is a flexible and dynamic mainstay in the repertoires of many top Grandmasters, who can devise subtle, long range plans because they understand the pawn structure. Middlegame Strategy explains every aspect of this complex formation, including the minority attack, hanging pawns, the isolated d-pawn and much more. The lessons learned here will help any player make his middlegame decisions with accuracy and confidence.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT BOOK ON THE QGD.......2007-01-28
This book is right up there with Matthew Sadler's QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED. I only wish Leininger had written a book on every other basic opening structure--this book is THAT good. NB: This book is about pawn structures and overall ideas, not about parsing variations. (FWIW I'm a USCF 1800 OTB player.)
Middlegame Strategy, with the Carlsbad Pawn Structure.......2001-10-13
This is a terrific chess book! Most chess books teach you how to get through the opening and then leave you there. This book takes you into the "action". Where strategy and tactics reign supreme. You want to win at chess? The middlegame is where it happens. This book will teach you how.
Beware - it is a bloody chess book !.......1998-04-27
After reading "Killing Suki Flood" which is one of my all time favourites I ordered the new Robert Leininger Book "Middlegame Strategy" as soon a s it was out. Other than the Suki Book, which is some sort of a Tarantino-esque action thriller, "Middlegame Strategy" ia actually a chess-book with nothing but 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.c3.f6 etc. and I doubt that it is written by the same person. I do not play chess therefore I cannot comment the quality of this book.(The only reason I gave it a rating is beacuse I had to enter one - please ignore)
Book Description
This book enables keen students to improve their understanding of the middlegame. It develops themes originally discussed in Improve Your Middlegame Play.
Customer Reviews:
middlegame boot camp.......2006-05-21
excellent!! crammed with plenty of tactical and positional themes.
this compact 144 page book teaches you middlegame methods and is best for the experienced intermediate player, roughly class B and up (above 1600 Elo). no hand-holding here. the author aims to straighten your middlegame thinking.
There are Better Ways to Spend Your Money.......2002-12-07
The section showing the 26 basic mating patterns is very handy. The rest of the book does not provide nearly as much value, especially at the price.
Women are right! Good things do come in small packages..........2002-10-31
I found this book very helpful ...it starts with mating patterns (that we all should know , but of course forget...)and tactical devices. It covers pawn structures and levers(which i found especially helpful) and later goes into attack on the opponents king ( conditions and methods). What I like about this book is it's brevity. Some people may argue that it's too short, but in my opinion it covers the essential material while not making the book a chore to read. Ask any chessplayer, and he or she will tell you about their fantastic collection of chess books they HAVEN'T read. This book will be an excellent study for anyone under 1700 and because of it's smaller size, will be a good refresher course for those who have already covered the material.
Women are right! Good things do come in small packages..........2002-10-31
I found this book very helpful ...it starts with mating patterns (that we all should know , but of course forget...)and tactical devices. It covers pawn structures and levers(which i found especially helpful) and later goes into attack on the opponents king ( conditions and methods). What I like about this book is it's brevity. Some people may argue that it's too short, but in my opinion it covers the essential material while not making the book a chore to read. Ask any chessplayer, and he or she will tell you about their fantastic collection of chess books they HAVEN'T read. This book will be an excellent study for anyone under 1700 and because of it's smaller size, will be a good refresher course for those who have already covered the material.
Learn essential Middle game material.......2002-10-30
So you know all the rules. Well buy this book and get better quickly. First Dr. Danny Kopec goes through and teaches a variety of tactical positions which are simply essential. Then he talks about the heart of chess - pawns. Finally he puts strategy and tactics together to teach you how to attack. After you read this book and you play on line chess buy tactics books and an endgame book. Continue playing and you will greatly improve. Dr. Kopec has a personal way of writing which I enjoyed. For example: "When I (DK) was about fourteen I first started reading this book. It took me over a year to study this book and I still remember going to restaurants with my parents in New York City ( such as Mama Leone's) where I would read and play though this book (Pawn Power) with a portable magnetic chess set while listening on headphones to thrilling baseball pennant races..." He also talks about knowing Dr. Hans Kmoch who wrote a great book on chess. Kopec is personable, instructive and gives out a lot of "secrets" like the study of pawns. Learn from this book and you will not regret it.
Book Description
A thorough understanding of the middlegame is essential for any aspiring player wishing to improve their game. This book uses examples from practical play to develop tactical and positional skills and awareness to enable you to make the most of your opportunities in the middlegame. It explains the basic ideas of tactical and positional play, provides numerous exercises for readers to test themselves and has a revolutionary layout to help readers absorb the key ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Probably won't improve your game much.......2006-05-28
I bought this book as a start to studying middlegames. I found that while the games are interesting and I enjoyed reading the book, it didn't really teach much. A lot of the stuff it teaches (IQP, avoiding blunders, positional play), it does so very superficially. I'd recommend this book more for pleasure reading than study.
expensive toilet paper.......2004-01-03
This a terrible book.it provides very little useful (if any) information on improving your play. the chapters on playing it safe and "worst piece first" is nothing but a cluster of useless information. Also the chapter on avioding blunders is laughable. Basically it states that before mAKING YOUR move you should look at the board through the eyes of a patzer and if your move is the same as the one the patzer would make then think of another move. So if you already wiped your ass today, you won't have any use for this book. Look elsewhere!
Mixed Feelings: Enjoyable But Not Particularly Outstanding.......2001-01-17
I have mixed feelings about this book that make me hesitant to recommend it. On the positive side, the book has a conversational style: readable and not "heavy-on-variations" suitable,I think,for players relatively new to middlegame study. There are plenty of examples, verbal explanations, and chapter summaries that do not overwhelm the reader(who,I believe, unlike the other reviewer, would be rated much less than 1800 USCF). You're very likely to finish this book cover to cover. On the negative side, I would have expected to find a more (if superficial) coverage of all the basic middlegame themes. For example, the topic of pawn structures is given very little attention. Isolated queen pawns do not begin to exhaust pawn structures! I also felt that the model games do not necessarily have much to do with the associated "problems-to-solved" that follow them. Similarly, the section on "not playing by rote" gives three games that actually give the opposite impression in that the winners may have won BECAUSE of rote memory of earlier analysis of the variation played. I enjoyed the book as a review of some middlegame topics but it is not comprehensive nor especially valuable for any but advanced beginners. I am rated 1810 U.S.C.F. and I think that is the extreme high range of appropriateness for this book.
Something for everyone.......2000-07-03
Its hard to find a chess book which is at the same time easy to read and helps improve one's game. Improve Your Middlegame Play is a pleasant exception. The book starts off with a very nice Karpov game, one of those that looks so easy but we all know how difficult it really is! His advice: Try to play with a draw in hand. This is the value Kinsman brings to the book - he gives very good, commonsensical advice which is usually learned the hard way - through many painful losses!
He focuses mainly on the practical aspects of chess. Dealing with Time Trouble is another very good chapter of wisdom. Every chessplayer would have experienced throwing away many hours of hard and good work in a bitter time scramble. Kinsman gives valuable advice which would help in those critical 'big points'.
This book is well suited for anyone between the strength of 1800-2200 (USCF) and aspiring towards an international rating / national master title.
Customer Reviews:
Practical Advice: Effective And Memorable.......2000-04-06
Grandmaster Mednis concentrates his focus on practical examples such as what to do when one is unavoidably headed for or already in an inferior endgame position. He notes how most players often go from desperate suicidal attempts at counterplay or play passively, defending threats and drifting towards defeat. What Mednis provides is info on how one can balance one's play and make the opponent earn that victory. His examples are memorable - for instance, players are often reluctant to trade queens fearing it will blunt their attack, but often the opposing queen is a great defender without which the enemy's position often collapses. An interesting and rewarding read.
Average customer rating:
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Strategies in the Middlegame
Julian Hodgson
Manufacturer: Macmillan Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1857440463 |
Product Description
Taken from Keys to College Studying: Becoming a Lifelong Learner
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Books Index
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The Middlegame - Book I : Static Features (Algebraic Edition)
Art of Attack in Chess
My System (Chess Classics)
Pawn Structure Chess
Chess Praxis
