What it Takes to Become a Chess Master

by Andrew Soltis

So you're a fairly decent chess player. You compete in tournaments, you play on the Internet. But you would love to make that leap to become a chess master. What do you need to know, how much do you have to practise, and how much of the success of the masters is simply a matter of innate talent, superior brainpower or just good luck? This useful book, aimed at all chess players who aspire to become chess masters, shows you what the masters know and you don't.

Written by one of our biggest-selling and best-loved chess authors, in his trademark chatty, accessible but always informative style, this book is filled with practical exercises and test games that will reveal the secrets of how to join chess's elite ranks.

Genres: Chess, Reference

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 3, 2012

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subtitle suggests this book is abut strategy but it is actually about tactics. Soltis examines a lot strategic themes but the solutions in the positions he looks at almost always involve tactics or the threat of a tactical blow. He follows up each mini lesson with a quiz of several puzzles. Good teaching book for learning tactics.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book fails to live up to its attention-grabbing title. The problem is that there is very little advice in the book, it's mainly just a series of chess positions with commentary on the moves made and the best lines. But these positions don't follow any pattern or theme, they are grouped into chapters with vague titles like "Sense" and "Winnability".

At times the author will claim that chess masters know the right move to make due to instinct, but offers no guidance as to how the reader is supposed to gain this instinct. Other times the author highlights the importance of calculation, but doesn't say how we can improve our calculation. How do we balance these opposing approaches, when should we calculate and when should we rely on instinct?

It seems as though it was decided that so long as the book had a captivating title, the content didn't matter.

[Edward Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was probably aimed at someone of a higher level than me and so I found it quite a slog (more of a study book than a light read!). However I did learn about chess so I guess that's the main thing!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't tell anyone but the brilliant Hackney Library has money to spend on a new chess book. Only one mind but so far it's pretty good. So good that I might even take it on holiday with me next week.