I agree with you, it's a great book for someone who just started as a complete beginner. I started to learn/play in February and if I had this book, I believe the learning curve would have been faster. I'm at 800 and the stuff in book is stuff I've already learned and just gives you a taste of what everything is and of what you should know, and it will be up to you to just go deeper on your own. I was hoping it would go deeper just like you but at least it's a good book that reinforces the basic concepts you need to know to have a chance at a successful game.
"Take the center" is one of those phrases that IMs/GMs say to club players but is too vague. Maybe it's difficult to be specific, but they could use an example from an opening showing: (1) occupy the center safely with a pawn or two (or 3) to exert force on the enemy territory (two squares per pawn), and to make space behind the pawn(s) for your other pieces to join/support; (2) aim the force of your Ns & Bs towards central squares to keep the enemy out and to threaten to move your Ns or Bs to occupy a central square, exerting even more force on more squares in the enemy territory; (3) aim the force of your heavy pieces at and thru the central squares towards the enemy territory; (4) aim to push your pawns into the enemy territory, to push the enemy pieces back and to the sides, bringing all of the force of all of your pieces to control the center...etc.
Thanks for the comment! I'm confused by it, however. This video isn't about "taking the center"; it's a book review. And in this particular book, Mr. Rozman does actually explain (with examples) how to take/control/pressure the center, and also explains *why* it's important.
I'm currently reading Soviet Chess Primer by Ilya Maizelis (one of the most recommended books for beginner/intermediate players, it seems like) and it's amazing. Waiting for Levy's book to be come available in my library.
Oh, I hadn't heard of that one. (There is SO much I don't know about chess!) So far, what I'm finding with chess books is that they're either for the complete beginner -- like Rozman's book -- or for someone more advanced than me (like Silman's "Amateur Mind", which completely lost me on several occasions). I'm having a hard time finding something *around* my level. Maybe I simply need more playing time under my belt.
great quality review, a lot of good points. As for "ELO points" topic - I also catch myself with raised finger in front of a monitor "waaait a minute, that is not ELO" but trying not to argue too much. The term is concise and well known, contrary to Glicko. Why not say just "rating points" that I don't know.
You're right to imply it's not worth wasting my energy on "elo". :-) I understand it's easier to type three letters (elo) than six (rating), though both have two syllables. And certainly "elo" rolls of the tongue more smoothly than "Glicko", which contains multiple *hard* consonants. But I think if I stopped being pedantic altogether, I might disappear. :-)
You're welcome! I'm still on the hunt for a book that's about *my* speed (not for beginners, not for experts). But I've waited this long, so I'm in no hurry. :-)
Oh no! I admit I didn't try every single QR code in the book. But I tried at least half of them and all the ones I tried worked seamlessly and instantly. Thanks for the comment!
@RandomChessPerson Might just be my phone. It shows the chess board, and when I move a piece, a second chess board overlaps off center and a 3rd board until the screen is full of boards.
