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Reviews

Introduction

Most sites offer book reviews by Master- or higher-level players. While these players may be qualified to assess the theoretical virtues of a book, they often fail to provide helpful guidance for the improving novice or intermediate. How often have you read a review by a GM in the hopes of discovering whether a particular book will help you learn something, only to encounter sentences like:

“There are several good lines after 8...f5 9.exf6 Rxf6 10.Bg5 (10.Qh5, 10...h6! and 10...g6!?) 10...Rf7 11.Qh5 g6 (even 11...h6 !?) 12.Qd1. For example, 12...Nbc6 13.Nf3 Qf8; or 12...Qa5, e.g., 13.Bd2 (13.Qd2 c4!) 13...Nbc6 14.Nf3 Qc7! 15.0–0 e5 etc.” Huh?!?!

Our book review staff is composed of experienced and reflective amateurs who know what it is that you are looking for in a book review. We can better assess a book’s value to the “normal” chess player because we are normal chess players. While we may not be authorities on the latest 30-move variations of opening theory, we can tell you whether you stand to benefit from a book as well or better than any GM.

With that in mind, welcome to our reviews section! Though we mostly focus on books, we will also include reviews of software and other media as appropriate. Browse our review index.