Rapid Chess Improvement (Everyman Chess) by Michael de la Maza
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Book Reviews of Rapid Chess Improvement (Everyman Chess)
Book Review: Very Solid Advice for Chess Players Below Expert Strength
Summary: 4 Stars
This book confirmed for me what most of us probably know but don't act on-that is, for chess players below Expert strength, studying tactics is the best way to improve your game. After completing only the first 600 or so problems he recommends in the first circle (you'll learn about the 7 Circles in his book) I won the B section of a regional chess tournament a few weeks ago. Next month, I'm playing in the A section. I'm convinced I would have missed a few key tactical ideas in games that I won had I not been studying tactics as de la Maza recommends. Here's the thing though, it takes hard work, dedication and discipline to follow the program that de la Maza recommends. Most of us are lazy and we want things easy. Many chess players will find it much easier to make excuses than to put forth the effort it takes to follow de la Maza's program. For the record, I am college educated working professional and I have a wife and daughter and I have made the time and effort to follow a modified version of de la Maza's program. It might be late at night, early in the morning, or at a lunch break but I'm doing it. So put away your excuses, if I can do it so can you. It's no different than finding the time to take a graduate course or coach little league. Even though I may not get through the program quite as fast as de la Maza recommends I believe my game will be much stronger than if I had coninued to play mindless blitz games on ICC and make excuses. Albert Einstein said "Insanity is continuing to do the same things and expecting different results." Let me ask class players this question "How long have you been doing what you are doing and you are still at the same level of chess strength?" Try de la Maza's suggestions. I believe they will work for me and I believe they will work for you too.Book Review: Great book, will be better if it gets revised
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is perfect for those with average elo's who have the time and committment to significantly improve their game - especially for those who understand that learning by doing/drilling is often better than only learning theory (what most chess books are comprised of). However, don't bother if you aren't willing to put in significant time. The exercises described in the book will provide you with a regemin to drill basic tactics and give you the ability to quickly look at a board and see most of the tactical moves available (to you and your opponent). This gives you time to think about deeper combinatorial moves.
Remember, you are trying to equalize the playing field with teenagers and adults who have put in thousands of hours playing chess. To catch up quickly, you have to commit at least 2-3 hours per day (as de la Maza clearly states). This translates to doing de la Maza's drills supplemented by standard chess theory books.
Suggestions for a second edition include:
-Some of the descriptions of the exercises are a little confusing, but once you start doing them, it all clears up.
-A solution set would be nice for some of the exercises, but I found it useful to create my own, which is an exercise in itself.
-I believe a few steps beyond what is included in the book are also necessary for 'rapid chess improvement": understanding basic strategy (I really mean basic, like what is found in an intro chess book) and, especially if you play a lot of blitz chess, a good understanding of the most common openings. He should either include some material on this (e.g., opening drills), or acknowledge it as supplemental material to the regemin.
Book Review: Tactics are King
Summary: 4 Stars
Anyone wishing to increase his or her rating to 1600 or beyond, must study tactics. In fact a player at any rating level, even elite grandmasters, can benefit by studying tactics. Michael de la Maza emphasizes this point very well in his book, a book well worth reading and following to the best of one's ability.
If you are new to chess, I recommend that you begin with basic books that cover the concepts of the game. Then for the next several years, you will need to study tactics as Michael suggests, of course as time permits in your daily schedule.
Once you have a good grasp of how to coordinate you pieces in both attack and defense and have reduced the number of really bad blunders in your game, you will need to choose a reasonable opening repertoire based upon the types of games you like to play. Without an opening repertoire you will never advance much past 1700. However, as you do this, you should continue to study tactics, daily.
Finally you will then move to middle and endgame analysis and strategy based upon the type of openings you play and the type of middle and endgames that result from your opening repertoire, but you will still continue to study tactics.
Along the way you will memorize variations the way a musician commits sheet music to memory, but such memorization will be no substitute for tactical excellence, for when your opponent varies from established theory, you will need to meet the challenge with your tactical abilities and general understanding of the game.
So buy Michael's book and expect to improve your game.
Book Review: Hey, it worked for him
Summary: 4 Stars
I always find it interesting to read the reviews of books on Amaazon.com. Since different people have different opinions, it is sometimes hard to figure out if a book is worth buying. I think the point of this book (and the drills in it)was missed by a couple of reviewers. The book asserts that the study of tactics, not memorizing openings, not learning middlegame theory, not endgame study, is the way to improve for adult class players. This is the main claim the author makes. Traditional methods of chess study did not work for him. He figured out what would work for him, and he is simply sharing his method with the reader. A rather time-comsuming, seemingly mind-numbing method, to be sure, but the author never says it will be easy. Let's face it: if you want to be good at something, you have to put some time and effort into it. This is how this particular person did it. He is a non-master writing for other non-masters, telling us how he improved at chess.
Basically, the guy spent five months of his life studying tactics. It did wonders for his game and for others he shared it with, so why not write a book? I give it four stars because it is written well, and it does exactally what the author wants it to: tell us how he improved at chess. I do not agree with everything he says, but I won't let that bias my review.
Should you buy it? Well, this is certainly a good, methodical way to study tactics. And there is no doubt your game will improve if you follow it. Spend this kind of time and effort doing anything, and you will get better at it.
Book Review: This is an important book to read despite reservations.
Summary: 4 Stars
I wrote a review over a year ago where I criticized some of the advice. The worst section of the book is the one where he tells you how to think. It is too rigid. The runner up is the chess visualization exercises. I also said that I expected more chess content for the price.
If you followed his program to the letter, you would be spending at least a couple of hours every day on chess, which is more than what most people can spare.
Nevertheless this is very good book for inspiration. It is hard to argue with the success of the author who went up several hundred rating points.
My own success studying tactics is has helped me to have a more favorable opinion of the book. After reading the book I was inspired to study tactics for 20 minutes per day for 12 months. My rating rose more than 100 points during this time. That doesn't sound like a huge rise, but it is significant since I had been stuck around 1800 for years. I am also very pleased at my improved chess vision.
One of my friends read the book and was inspired to study tactics 1.5 hours per day for about a year. Since then his tactics study has been more spotty, but this particular player has gone from about 1100 to about 1700. This included winning the under 1200 section at the National Open.
Although the book provides little actual chess content, it will make you rethink your approach to studying chess. It is also very well written in a style that is informative and entertaining to read. I strongly recommend it.