How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit Chess)
by Murray Chandler
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Book Summary Information
Author: Murray ChandlerBrand: Books
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-08-01
ISBN: 1901983056
Number of pages: 127
Publisher: Gambit Publications
Book Reviews of How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit Chess)
Book Review: Superb Explanation of thematic checkmate positions
Summary: 5 Stars
Although many books are available that claim to teach tactics and combinations, this is the best around for explaining how to attack the enemy king. I know that this book makes perfect training material for a chess teacher, as I have several friends who routinely use it as standard coursework for their pupils.
The examples are presented in a light-hearted yet educational way, and the checkmate positions illustrate the themes well. You hardly notice that you are learning some pretty intense stuff!
After reading this book I had the feeling that I could attack and checkmate just about anyone, given certain types of formation! I like the way the author has taken all the positions from real international games too, none composed.
The rationale is that "in real life pieces and pawns often lurk in inconvenient places, and you have to learn to take them into account with each combination."
This approach could backfire and make the book too challenging, but not here. A lot of thought has gone into grading the puzzles, and there is an inspirational mix of easy puzzles and hard puzzles.
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess is compartmentalized into 50 sections (hence the "50 Deadly Checkmates) with a typical example being "Morphy's Mate" or a "Rook Sacrifice on g7."
Occasionally if a deadly checkmate theme is a very popular one, it will be spread over more than one section. I think the biggest section was for the commen Greek Gift sacrifice, when white sacrifices a bishop for a pawn with Bxh7 check (four sections).
The book is hardback which is useful as the extra weight of the covers means it opens nice and flat.
One other feature than must be mentioned is the introductions to each of the motifs. They provide instruction and background, especially when the motif has adopted the name of a famous player who first used it.
A good example of this is the amazing Bobby Fischer trap, where Bobby played a two piece sacrifice. With the moves Bxf7 check!! followed by Ne6!! the black king was forced into the center of the board, where it was ruthlessly hunted down and checkmated by Fischer.
Some experienced players might know that game and trap, but I had no idea that it was Siegbert Tarrasch who fell for a very similar motif long before that game. And I was pleased to learn that with other variants of the same theme you can often win the enemy queen by force.
I can recommend this unique book as an unbeatable tool for any player. The pattern recognition it teaches is amazing, and I am very alert to new attacking opportunities in every game I play now.
Summary of How to Beat Your Dad at Chess (Gambit Chess)
This is not just a book for kids - for 'Dad' read any opponent who beats you regularly! This book teaches the 50 Deadly Checkmates - basic attacking patterns that occur repeatedly in games between players of all standards.Each mating motif is carefully and simply explained, and several illustrative examples are given. A final test enables the reader to grade his pattern recognition abilities, and the last chapter explains what to do if your Dad is Garry Kasparov.
Fun, instructive - and guaranteed to improve your game.
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