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1000 Best Short Games of Chess
Here, each introduced with a brief, pungent or witty commentary, are 1,000 of the sweetest sugar-coated pills in all chess literature presented in author Irving Chernev's 1,000 Best Short Games of Chess .
Author Irving Chernev's 1,000 Best Short Games of Chess offers descriptions of the winning moves are elaborated by commentary and anecdotes.
Author Irving Chernev's 1,000 Best Short Games of Chess offers descriptions of the winning moves are elaborated by commentary and anecdotes.
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First published January 28, 1955
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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May 3, 2022Library-of-Congress GV1450 C44 Memorial Library
more Irving Chernev: https://search.library.wisc.edu/searc...
more Irving Chernev: https://search.library.wisc.edu/searc...
January 2, 2010
My vote for the most fun chess book ever. The early games--these are the shortest--would not be played today by any competent high-school player...a good reason for having them archived here. All chess freaks must own this one, to recall a time before chess became the triple pillar of Soviet culture.
November 28, 2021
Despite this being the most desired book of Chernev's by numerous chess coaches and players seeking good tactical training material, this one has not been reprinted as Logical Chess Move by Move has, for instance. I own four different editions of this book--just sold one for $25 (he insisted on paying that amount) to a master who was desperate to find one. Someone, maye Russell Publications, reprint in algebraic.
This book is by far one of the best books for learning tactical pattern recognition, probably the most important tactical skill a class player can possess (then comes calculation and visualization). All games have light annotations usually just a typical 1-4 combo variation, with the occasional witty remark about prophylaxis or something. There are diagrams for over half the games all of which represent the point at which some tactic is required on move. Each game has a charming, if not dated, introduction consisting of a sentence or two.
All the cataloged tactical motives are here (as Renaud and Kahn attempted in The Art of Checkmate): Anastatia's, Arabian, Back Rank, Lolli's, Pillsbury's, Andersson's, Smothered Mates, Boden's, Greco's, Swallowtail, Mate # 8, Mate #9, various under promotions, etc. Plenty of non-mating wins, too, especially trapped queens. It also has some 'cutesy' games like winning solely with one side making pawn moves, Borochow--Fine is an example.
Descriptive notation, folks. Nothing you can do about it until a reprint into algebraic.
Some editions have an opening index along with a players index; however, most just have the players index, which is significantly less useful for players.
I don't have the book in front of me but if I recall correctly no games after 1955 are represented. Great players--Euwe, Morphy, Steinitz, Pillsbury, Chigorin, Botvinnik, Capablanca, Lasker (both of them), Alekhine, Bogojulbov, Duras, Blackburne, Grunfeld, Tarrasch, Lilianthal, Reti, Tartakover, Richter, Kostic, Spielmann to name a few-- do feature but there are a good number of minor masters in here, too.
A "short game" is a miniature. This term does not have a strict stipulation--some say under 15 moves, some say under 20 moves, and even some go so far as under 26 moves. I think the longest game in here might be 20 moves, but I don't remember. (Personally, I take a miniature to mean 25 moves or fewer, and I give my students a weekly worksheet and games list of 25 games played in 25 or fewer moves.)
Most effective way to use this book: start with game #1 and just keep playing thru them. The goal is not to contemplate every move of every game deeply but simply to learn the patterns quickly. Once you've completed all the games, cycle through them all again. For added completeness memorize the ones you really like. I studied with a master who made all of his students play through this book and memorize at least 200 games.
This book is by far one of the best books for learning tactical pattern recognition, probably the most important tactical skill a class player can possess (then comes calculation and visualization). All games have light annotations usually just a typical 1-4 combo variation, with the occasional witty remark about prophylaxis or something. There are diagrams for over half the games all of which represent the point at which some tactic is required on move. Each game has a charming, if not dated, introduction consisting of a sentence or two.
All the cataloged tactical motives are here (as Renaud and Kahn attempted in The Art of Checkmate): Anastatia's, Arabian, Back Rank, Lolli's, Pillsbury's, Andersson's, Smothered Mates, Boden's, Greco's, Swallowtail, Mate # 8, Mate #9, various under promotions, etc. Plenty of non-mating wins, too, especially trapped queens. It also has some 'cutesy' games like winning solely with one side making pawn moves, Borochow--Fine is an example.
Descriptive notation, folks. Nothing you can do about it until a reprint into algebraic.
Some editions have an opening index along with a players index; however, most just have the players index, which is significantly less useful for players.
I don't have the book in front of me but if I recall correctly no games after 1955 are represented. Great players--Euwe, Morphy, Steinitz, Pillsbury, Chigorin, Botvinnik, Capablanca, Lasker (both of them), Alekhine, Bogojulbov, Duras, Blackburne, Grunfeld, Tarrasch, Lilianthal, Reti, Tartakover, Richter, Kostic, Spielmann to name a few-- do feature but there are a good number of minor masters in here, too.
A "short game" is a miniature. This term does not have a strict stipulation--some say under 15 moves, some say under 20 moves, and even some go so far as under 26 moves. I think the longest game in here might be 20 moves, but I don't remember. (Personally, I take a miniature to mean 25 moves or fewer, and I give my students a weekly worksheet and games list of 25 games played in 25 or fewer moves.)
Most effective way to use this book: start with game #1 and just keep playing thru them. The goal is not to contemplate every move of every game deeply but simply to learn the patterns quickly. Once you've completed all the games, cycle through them all again. For added completeness memorize the ones you really like. I studied with a master who made all of his students play through this book and memorize at least 200 games.
November 2, 2022
In 1975, I borrowed this book from the library along with a few other books. During the next few weeks, I went from rank beginner with no understanding of strategy and tactics to being able to beat all my friends. I bought a copy in 2012 and occasionally dip into it for few games. Now, I’m attempting to work through every game in sequence. In just over two weeks, I finished my brief study of the first 200 games. I look at the game without reference to Chernev’s annotations first, making an effort to find the critical errors. Then I read Chernev’s comments. Some of the author’s comments are instructive. More often they are entertaining. This collection of miniatures is instructive because it brings to light elementary errors. Sometimes these errors are made by very strong players.
June 19, 2016
Cant remember when I bought this 2nd hand book. Obviously, less a reading book, and more a study if I ever get back to chess. Its certainly a nice flick thru book, its looks great, with a nice little summary before each game. I think a nice different angle on presenting games, and Amazon comments seem to suggest It's a classic.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews