Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

Has very limited material

In reality "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" was not written by him - he allowed his name to be used. "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" is NOT a book that teaches you how to play from the start (you would be best in getting an introductory chess book such as "Chess for Everyone" or "Learn Chess"). It is a book that will teach you simple one move checkmate patterns, without the actual use of notation (actually, not a good thing for a newcomer who needs to learn how to read and write chess to grow). However, once again, there are better books on basic checkmates that cover far more material and provide instruction in the area of checkmate and tactical patterns (such as "Art of the Checkmate" and "Winning Chess Tournaments"). Certainly do not judge a book by its cover and especially by its title in this case!

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

All in a name!

A better title should be, 'Bobby Fischer Teaches one move checkmates!' That is completely what this book is about. Nothing on rules, principles of the opening or endgame, or any other tactics other than 'find the checkmate in one move.' And, for that (checkmate patterns) you would be better off with 'Art of the Checkmate' because it breaks down the checkmates by type of pattern and takes you more than one move deep! If you are a beginner looking to learn the basics then you would be better off getting a well-rounded book such as 'Chess for Everyone' that covers all the rules and strategies in an easy to understand format. If what you want is a book that covers a very narrow part of what it takes to improve your game (one move checkmates) and you don't want to learn chess notation (this book does not teach chess notation or use it - players should learn it if they want to improve) the 'Bobby Fischer Teache's Chess' covers a limited number of one move checkmates.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" really teaches the basics

This book is an oustanding primer for the novice or nearly novice chess player. It teaches the basic moves and then takes the student through basic combination moves and tactics and techniques for mate. If you have a killer instinct in you at all, as far as chess is concerned, this book will bring it out in you. I have not seen another chess book that causes such a rapid improvement in an inexperienced players game. A great teaching tool.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I really like this book

I bought this book in 2010 to replace my old copy that disappeared (Mom, I'll never forgive you for whatever you did to it!) when I joined the Air Force in the early 1970's, and I'm glad I did. I've played chess most of my life, and while this book didn't actually teach me much, it did bring together in one place several things I already knew, thus bringing them into much sharper focus.

This book is a good, thorough introduction to the great game of chess. It is aimed primarily at people who know how the pieces move, and have at least some idea how to construct an attack, but it can also be used by complete beginners, and will sharpen the skills of intermediate players. It is too introductory for advanced players. It repeatedly reinforces the idea that you must count the number of attackers and defenders, and keep careful track of the locations of all of your opponent's pieces, not just plunge wildly into an attack just because it feels right. The authors provide some good tools for doing so, and their method of teaching is excellent.

On the negative side, the book does not spend enough time discussing specific techniques like pins and forks, and there is no index at all, so it really can't be used for reference.

Nevertheless, this is a very good book, and I recommend it.

BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS: ROTTEN!

Rating: 52%

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess focuses mostly on one-move checkmates and so fails to teach novice chess players any new information. Those that are interested in the game should join a chess club, where they will be able to practice their skills and learn from their mistakes.

BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS - MY BOOK REVIEW!

I must admit that I was quite disappointed with Bobby Fischer's guide to chess strategy, considering that the book mostly teaches one-move chessmates and is quite unfriendly towards novice chess players. Although the book did cause me to improve slightly in my game performance, I fear that many beginners will find the book difficult to use as an aid to improving their chess skills. The book also fails to teach much chess notation and movements and focuses mainly on the elements of chess. The book, however, is at times helpful, as it teaches various methods of checkmate (back-rank mates and variations, displacing defenders, etc.) Nevertheless, I feel that no book will ever help one become an excellent chess player. The key is constant practice and competition by playing the game, perhaps by joining a chess club.

Only teaches very simple checkmates

The title implies that this is a book on the basics of chess when infact it is a very basic checkmate problem book. It doesn't teach you any basic strategies beyond a very narrow part of the game (basic checkmates). This is certainly not the type of book a beginner should start off with. And after you go through a basic introductory book you will have learned all of the checkmates in Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess anyway. You would be better off getting one of the other basic checkmate books anyway if that is what you are after because the number of examples is rather limited here and there is a failure to use chess notation (something a beginner should learn!).

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Best instructional book for Children Ever written

I have been a chess teacher and coach for over thirty years and use this book as a chess bible for teaching children in Elemetary school. It is the single most complete source of chess basics presented in the most logical and precise manner that children can comprehend. I started my four year old on this book and over a two year period he became one of the best elementary players in the nation. I also recommend the back half of the book for chess playing adults that do not understand the full concepts of chess play and have inadequate understandings of how to put together an opening, middle and end game. This book is uniquely qualified for children because the majority of content '75%' is represented pictorially and not just in annotation and in a descriptive manner. I would highly recommend that every chess teacher keep a copy of this book around for instruction and example. I have given away hundreds of these as prizes at Chess tournaments and required all my students to use this book. I cannot overstress the importance of using this book for younger players ages 6-9 to give them a complete knowledge of the structure of a chess game.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Limited to very basic checkmates/Not a lot of material at that

This is a book of the most basic possible checkmates that can be put into problem form. Actual chess notation isn't used. It doesn't have structured instructional lessons like the title seems to imply. Each page consists of one checkmate problem. If you have any knowledge of chess strategy at all the book can be completed in about 15 minutes. If what you really want is a book on checkmates get one of the numerous books that have a lot more material. If you are a beginner consider getting a good beginner's book instead.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

good for novices, wouldn't recommend beyond that

BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS shows late in the game checkmates but nothing else. This is not a book for serious chess players. I recommend this for beginners and slightly intermediate. Anyone above that is just wasting their time. It did, however, improve my checkmating strategy and endgame somewhat and the book comes at a reasonable price.

Easy format to get introduced to checkmate patteres

BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS has got to contain the most elementary checkmate problems of any book on chess. This is good for the beginner, that is someone who has just learned how the pieces move, and is ready to start working on strategy. For anyone beyond being a beginner BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS is useless. The 'programmed' learning approach does not encourage a beginner to learn what is important to move on to more advanced book: Chess Notation! That is because it doesn't use notation at all. The 'general' appearance by the title, 'Teaches Chess' is that it covers a variety of strategies, when in fact it only works on checkmates. There is a lot more to learning chess stategy then that! Therefore, in conclusion this book has limited use for a limited audience.

Simple Checkmates: Not much material

BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS sets up one simple checkmate problem per page. Other than learning the most basic checkmates, which can be gained from many other books with a lot more material, you will learn nothing else. I can recommend, 'Art of the Checkmate' as a book that has a lot more material, and covers the checkmating patterns in a well organized way along with 'Winning Chess Traps' to learn opening tactics/mates. Overall, BOBBY FISCHER TEACHES CHESS is disapointing when compared to what is available today in the chess book market.

I was indeed disapointed

This is a skimply little book and I wish I read the reviews on it before ordering the thing. I cannot seriously believe that the title includes the word 'Teaches' when in reality there is no stuctured lesson format. The book contains a very narrow field - checkmate problems using arrow, etc... as if a play should not learn chess notation. I give it two stars, not one. And, this is only because it is not very expensive and has a minimul use for a beginner.

Got a used copy and read it in an hour

I was given a used copy of this book. It took me an hour to go through the easy to solve checkmates. Really, BOBBY FISCHER wrote this was my question? I have never played in a tournament, but fancy myself as a half way decent player. My advice is to buy a book on tactics that contains more material.

Horrible book

This book uses an entire page to cover just one checkmate problem. Each page is just like that. I have it from more than one reliable source that the famous Bobby Fischer didn't even write this book (it was ghost written). Look at some of the better books containing tactics.

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

This book has an entire simple, simple problem take up an entire page!!!! The title says 'Bobby Fischer' teaches chess. It only asks you to find a very simple checkmate and this take up a full page!!! Chekmate may well be the end result of the game, but before checkmate is reached the Great Bobby Fischer does nothing to show you/teach you how to get there.

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess

BFTC provides you with a checkmate puzzel on each page and doesn't require you to know chess notation. The book should have had puzzels that require you to win material as well since most games are won or lost, not due to finding a checkmate, but because of material loss. Therefore, if you want a book that covers checkmates that are very easy to solve then this book is ok. If you are looking for a book that covers a variety of tactics or has concrete lessons then look elsewhere. This book was certainly ghostwritten as Bobby Fischer is far deeper than this book.

A book on simple checkmates

There are no lessons in this book. It has a oversized diagram on each page and uses 'arrows' to relay moves (doesn't even teach how to read chess notation). Each page has only one problem to work on - a simple checkmate. If you want a good book on checkmates get '1001 Brillant Checkmates' by Reinfeld. If you want a beginning level book that really teaches in good lesson format get 'Chess For Juniors' by Snyder.

Good for beginners

I really like this book for beginners. Many players get to the end of the game and do not know how to mate their opponent. This book teaches them how to finish the game. Players with a solid endgame have will not get much from this book.

One of the best chess books available!

This book is great for beginners and intermediate players. It is one of the only books I've ever seen that allows you to solve a chess problem without setting up a chessboard. The diagrams are excellent and they make the book very enjoyable to read. This book teaches basic techniques that really work well! Every chess player should own a copy. Read it over and over again and you get better each time.