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World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book

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Who says that you can’t learn from the games of amateurs? Renowned chess instructor and writer Dan Heisman presents thirty games by intermediate-level players, each one offering a rich variety of lessons in practical competitive play for all chess enthusiasts.

The catalog of errors runs the gamut from taking too much (or too little!) time to think, to shoddy calculation, cutting off analysis too soon, and ignoring the principles of sound strategy. Using gentle humor, Coach Heisman gives a blow-by-blow account and patiently dissects the players’ thinking process, offering tips for improving clock management and making better decisions at the board.

Because the advantage can swing wildly back and forth, amateur games can be entertaining as well as instructive. Heisman gives a choice selection of cases of chess suicide, for the purpose of suggesting what the victim could have done to prevent disaster. Learn from this – better them than you!

328 pages, Paperback

First published December 16, 2012

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Dan Heisman

17 books12 followers

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Alex Vasai.
116 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2022
Is this the most instructive book ever?
I mean, if you have under 1600 OTB chess elo points, I don't think you could find one with a clearer style.
I had watched Dan Hesman's videos on Youtube, and this book was a wonderful lecture for me because I knew the terms branded by the author: hope chess, real chess, king of the hill, etc.
Now I understand how useful is to read a book appropriate for my level and how advanced and famous books can confuse me.

302 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2021
Excellent collection of amateur teaching games! Each presented with excellent annotations! Loved the highlighted series of gray boxes to highlight the important points made by the “master” teacher Dan Heisman! Great job Dan! Look forward to more of your books!
5 reviews
October 4, 2024
Very good book. It helped me with broadening my understanding of openings.

Dan Heisman is an American treasure. If you watch his videos or even take a course from him you will find him to be amazing at categorizing the activity good and bad within an amateur’s play he might be one of the best coaches of our time.
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