Customer Reviews

Understanding Chess Move by Move

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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 greatest living chess author. There is so much instruction I found myself returning to the same games two or even three times.
The games are grouped by theme, for example:
1 Opening Themes
2 Middlegame Themes
with subthemes for Attacking Play, Defensive Play, Positional Play
3 Endgame Themes
On many pages there are two diagrams; useful if you don't have a set handy. Because the explanation is mainly words rather than variations, this is a book you can (just about) read in bed! Wholeheartedly recommended to anyone interested in the whole range of chess themes.

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. What is there not to like? Unlike some of his advanced books, here Nunn limits the variations he gives in favour of words... lots and lots of great words! Modern chess lucidly explained for the layman. Enthusiastic players of all strengths will love this book, and learn loads from it.

This book is not advertized for advanced players. It seems very good for advanced players. But for an intermediate player like myself I has some issues with the book.
It tends to go way into to much detail and it is easy to get lost. It doesn't consentrate on solid rules and ideas that I want. I enjoyed by Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors book much more because I didn't get lost and it gets right to the point of the matter. Yes, I am just a kid writing this, but I do think of myself as a very good player for a kid and can beat adults at the local chess club more often than not!
If you are an advanced tournament player I think this book is great. If you are not super advanced then consider the Unbeatable Chess Lessons For Juniors book first, even if you are an adult person.

This book has got very good analysis on key opening systems. It describes the major themes and strategies of key openings for white and black. It covers the whole array of openings such as the indian defences such as KID, Benoni, Queens Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav, Budapest gambit. This is one of my better books that describes in detail the strategies behind each move. Very easy to follow and understand for a Class C and above player. It also covers the e4 openings such as popular lines in the sicilian and the ruy lopez and scotch game. If you have Alex Yermolinskys the road to chess improvement, this book is similar with detailed analysis behind each move in words instead of displaying tons of computer analysis. When you finish reading this book your middle game play will improve as well as your understanding the themes and strategies in the key opening systems. After reading this great book I would like to look at other Nunn books as he is a great teacher.

Another games collection. Why buy this book instead of the other 200 games collections that are available? Thats rhetorical.
Nunn's book contains good analysis but I dont believe these books could raise your rating 10 points. Study the classics like Alekhine, not these weaker derivative 21st century faceless chess players.

This book is really good. The binding is great too. It sure has a lot of verbal explainations but a lot of very deep variations too because sometimes there isn't any other way to explain a position. At my level, it's a little hard to see these variations without a board, and moving the pieces all the time and then moving them back is a little annoying. Basically what I'm trying to say is this book is for a little advanced players.

This book of games is good, and is an excellent companion to Watson's "Modern Chess Strategy", but I think it could have been more interesting. How? Maybe some very old games where Nunn could demonstrate the more dogmatic approach in the past by masters, and how a Shirov might play an Alekhine game. There's someting unambitious about this book, but it is very good, especially for budding players.