Rapid Chess Improvement (Everyman Chess) by Michael de la Maza
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Book Reviews of Rapid Chess Improvement (Everyman Chess)
Book Review: Software Plug
Summary: 3 Stars
Many of Michael de la Maza's suggestions sound worthwhile and I intend to try them. The author's recommendations that class players devote a great deal of time to tactical study jibes with advice from Dan Heisman and other fine chess instructors. My reservation here is that a large portion of the book seems to be shilling for a specific brand of chess software. (The software is only available for PC, so that automatically leaves us MAC users out of the game.) Then, the author goes on to say that doing his program from tactical-exercise books is "far inferior" to using the software. This leaves one with the impression that unless you do the "Seven Circles" program with the software, you will be doing it only "half-strength." The author also devotes too much space to customer "testimonials." However, I applaud de la Maza's tenacity and success in boosting his rating so many points in relatively litttle time.Book Review: Chess Should be Fun
Summary: 3 Stars
I read the book, and although I haven't myself practiced the method described in it, I would like to make my statement on the subject.
First of all, De La Maza might have gotten it right, and it certainly seems he has a point. That's why I'm giving it 3 stars.
However, the reasons for my disapproval of the book are:
1. The person who wants to benefit from the Author's method should have nothing else to do in life except for this program. He shouldn't work, get married or raise children. He can hardly eat and sleep. Which makes this program impractical for the vast majority of the people.
2. Last but not least, it's no fun !! Really. It's not fun at all doing all those Chess Vision Drills. It's exhausting, boring and irksome. And hey, Chess should first of all be fun. That's above all. And De La Maza's program is definitely not fun.
Book Review: For the Serious Player, with Time
Summary: 3 Stars
I know that most of my readers are not into chess, but chess is a part of my reading habit. For those who enjoy chess, here is another book review. This book seemed to promise a lot in regards to improvement of the game. I am always looking for a system to help me go to the next level in my chess skill. This book has some helpful ideas to improve as one is to work through the board with each piece and one is to master tactic problems over and over again. The problem with the book is that these projects must be completed by using 2-3 hours a study a day. Let's face it, who has time for this with a job and a family. This book is for the person who is absorbed in chess, not the person who enjoys it as a hobby.Book Review: Rapid Chess Improvement (Everyman Chess)
Summary: 3 Stars
I haven't bought this book, but looking at the reviews I have noticed that it "just" focuses on tactics.
Well, the study of tactics seems quite simple, quoting from Jonathan Levitt: "Tactics decide games most of the time. Work on 'White (or Black) to play and win' combinations in papers, magazines and the like...", seems like what he is saying is to just study using some tactics source (probably a book) and just systematically go through them and try to solve them. That doesn't sound very complex to write an entire book on it.
Book Review: Good idea but a waste of $10
Summary: 2 Stars
DON'T SPEND MONEY ON THIS BOOK!The author's central idea is that the best way to improve at chess for beginners to intermediate players is to improve your tactical play through problem solving. That makes a lot of sense. I DO find almost all of my games are decided through simple tactical mistakes and this book provides a strategy to targeted to improve that critical element of my game. Fantastic!
PROBLEM
There is no content!! It does not actually give you the problems it tells you to solve! This book seems like a cheaply made cash-in on a good, freely available, essay.
CHEATED?
This book is built from the 2-part article "400 Points in 400 Days". You can read the original version free on the Internet. Basically, the author took the essay he wrote, padded it out, and re-packaged it as a book. The author gives you a lesson plan - solve 1000 tactics problems 7 times - but doesn't do the hard work of supplying the actual lessons! You have to put together the problems yourself.
Here is what you'll actually find in this book in addition to the original essay:
4 pages of drills meant to improve you chess vision. (Move the knight around the board, etc)
2 pages telling you to buy CT-ART 3.0 - chess software that specializes in tactics problems.
That's it! Really. The rest of the meager 70 or so pages are spent telling the author's personal story, showing graphs of how his rating improved, and telling you about his own incredibly rigorous training schedule. Inspirational but otherwise of little value.
INSTEAD
Read the original article, "400 Points in 400 Days", for free as motivation. Put together 1000 tactics problems (buy CT-ART 3.0 or equivalent books) and solve them repeatedly until they are second nature.
I give it two stars because I thought the central idea and the original essay, "400 Points in 400 Days" were very good. I just wish I hadn't paid for them.