Understanding Chess Move by Move: Amazon.ca: John Nunn: Books

Frequently Bought Together

Product Description

Book Description

John Nunn is one of the most highly regarded chess writers in the world. He has carefully selected thirty modern games to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that everyone can understand. Jargon is avoided as far as possible. Almost all the examples are taken from the 1990s and show how key ideas are handled by the grandmasters of today. The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games, and detailed analysis is only given where it is necessary. Each game contains many lessons, but to guide the reader through the most important ideas in each phase of the game, the thirty games are grouped thematically into those highlighting opening, middlegame and endgame themes. Anyone interested in learning how to play better chess will benefit from this step-by-step explanation of how chess games are won.

About the Author

John Nunn is a grandmaster from England. He has won four individual gold medals and three team silver medals at chess Olympiads. In the Chess World Cup of 1988/9, he finished sixth overall, ahead of several former World Champions. He is arguably the most highly acclaimed chess writer in the world, with two of his books receiving the prestigious British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award. He is the principal author of the definitive one-volume openings encyclopedia, "Nunn's Chess Openings."

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

chess(1)

Customer Reviews

27 Reviews

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult for a kid, July 16 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Chess Move by Move (Paperback)

As a (...)student and player rated 1000 by the USCF I found this book to be far too advanced for me. I got this book along with Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors. If you are really advanced then the in depth analysis would be good for you, otherwise, if you are a player rated under 1500 get Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Explains secret strategies as only a grandmaster can, Feb 14 2005

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Chess Move by Move (Paperback)

I have used this book extensively, and I haven't even gone over all of the games. I like it so much that is very worn.
Dr Nunn, is one of the best chess authors writing today. He has done a wonderful job on this book.

Let me tell you what I've gotten out of using this book, and why I like it so much. He explains the strategies behind most of the moves to reveal concepts the I as a C/B player would never consider. He explains the squares and how to look at the light and dark square strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the board. He explains prophylactic (meaning less moves are often prophylactic) moves when they are being made and explains why they are being played, what they defend and how theses same moves can be aggressive as well as defensive.

Since I have most of them in my database, I can play over the moves of the game, then replay the game to make my own notes, then read the analysis given by one of the strongest players in the world. Then I go over them again trying to annotate the games as well as GM Nunn. Afterwards, I go over the game very closely to myself for errors. This book is a great training and teaching tool.

How much have I advanced since I bought this book? All I know is that I see the game differently. I try to see how the game will evolve and how certain squares will lead one side or the other to a victory. This method makes it easier to see candidate moves, too. Since I have a better idea of what needs to be controlled or how I want the game to evolve, I can look at the pieces that will help me attain my goals for the game.

I think this is an excellent book, it is easy to read, it has ample diagrams, and it built to last.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars My personal BOOK OF THE YEAR, May 28 2004

By

"patcliff" (Lakewood, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Chess Move by Move (Paperback)

I spent four days lost in this masterpiece. It belongs to the select group of classics that really capture the spirit and excitement of great chess games, whilst really explaining what is going on.
It helps that Nunn himself is a brilliant grandmaster, who understands that games can ebb and flow. So often the result only tells part of the story!
My favorite games from the book? Well game 20, Kasparov-Shirov, is amazing - that's the one where Kasparov makes a rook for knight sacrifice purely on positional grounds. In terms on pure instruction, maybe game 18, Piket v Smirin, where establishing a knight outpost on the sixth rank proves decisive. Or how about game 25, Karpov's magnificent exploitation of an IQP - Isolated Queen's Pawn - against Kamsky. You choose!
This book can be enjoyed by dipping in one game at a time, or you can become hooked like I did. Either way, it will improve your understanding of chess for sure.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 27 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 51 reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Like having a GRANDMASTER BY YOUR SIDE
This book is certain to improve your understanding of chess. It has 30 sensational games, with each move explained by Grandmaster "Doccy" Nunn, who in my book is the... Read more

Published on May 5 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Marks for Dr Nunn
The reviewer Randy Bauer awards this book a sensational 10/10 and I have to agree. 30 great games with insightful notes by a top grandmaster, combined with quality production... Read more

Published on April 19 2004 by james carmelo