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Masters of the Chess Board
Réti produces a penetrating thumbnail sketch of each of the great masters who contributed decisively to the progress of chess thinking from the days of Morphy and Anderssen up to the time of Capablanca, Alekhine, Nimzowitsch and the hypermoderns, amongst whom Réti numbered himself.
- GenresChessNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1923
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 7, 2016
For those fans of chess this book written by one the worlds great chess gambler makes a recopilation of most memorable games (yet dont has the game known as "The Inmortal" between Anderssen and Kieseritzky) of the best gamblers of history in chronological order beguining with the german Anderssen,the USA native Paul Morphy,check William Steinitz,german Siegbert Tarrasch,german Emanuel Lasker (also a good mathematician in commutative algebra),Schlehter,Pillsbury,Maroczy,Marshall,Spielmann,Vidmar,Tartakower,Bogoljubow,Nimzowitch,Rubinstein,the cuban Jose Raul Capablanca,and the russian Alexander Alekhine.
All the games are comented ,gives adwises,a biographical summary of the gamblers and finally explains Retis aperture sistem
All the games are comented ,gives adwises,a biographical summary of the gamblers and finally explains Retis aperture sistem
December 21, 2014
one of the best chess books ever written.
March 10, 2023
“Chess is a fighting game which is purely intellectual and includes chance.”
-Richard Réti, Masters of the Chess Board
Summary:
In this thoughtful and insightful examination of some of the greatest minds in chess, Richard Réti uses his knowledge and appreciation of the game to craft a well-written and useful tool for any knowledgeable chess player’s arsenal. Réti first gives a helpful preface to provide context to the structure of the manual. Then, chapter by chapter, he gives background on the individual and examines specific games from history’s chess masters. The first half focuses on the great chess players of the past, and the second on modern masters [circa 1933]. Occasionally, Réti will interject with comments on the player's style and strengths and weaknesses of their game. Before getting to the final master in the book, the author also speaks of his system.
“The pleasure to be derived from a chess combination lies in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate pieces and giving them the breath of life.”
-Richard Réti, Masters of the Chess Board
Favorite Masters:
Now I will tell you of the masters who I found most compelling [in order of appearance]. 1 - Adolf Anderssen seems to have mastered playing for position. He understood the importance of taking control of the board and avoided futile attacks. 2 - Paul Morphy possessed an efficiency not seen in many players. He didn’t make a single move that didn’t advance his position. 3 - Emanuel Lasker was by far the most interesting to read about in this novel. He’s said to have possessed a hypnotic influence over his opponents. His positioning and layout in most games were rather poor but he managed to win almost every time. Some have theorized that he intentionally played poorly to tap into the psychology of his opponent. 4 - Jose Raoul Capablanca seemed to play a near-flawless game. Having learned chess at just four years old he remains one of the most fundamentally sound players in history as though chess was his native tongue. 5 - Alexander Alekhin is the final player in this writing. At the time was the champion of the world and he alluded to modernism and the level of proficiency that influenced the generations of chess players to follow him.
“I was honored by the master’s friendship, and, like all those who knew him, I will never forget his charm of manner and his kindly disposition. I can see him now, with his perennial smile on his good-humored features, bustling along with his leather briefcase under his arm…”
-J. Du Mont
Notes on the Author:
Richard Réti’s experience and expertise on the subject matter make him an excellent guide to navigate the game’s greatest masters, but Réti himself possessed an immense skill for chess. He once played twenty-nine games simultaneously while blindfolded, losing only 2. Per ruchess.ru some of Réti’s accomplishments include; “[First Olympiad in 1927, Czechoslovakia came fifth and its leader came third at the first board. In 1925, Réti won tournaments in Kosice in 1918, Rotterdam in 1919, Amsterdam and Goteborg in 1920, Teplice in 1922, Bratislava in 1925, and Vienna, Brno, and Giessen in 1928 and he defeated Gyula Breyer and Max Euwe in individual contests.]” His best-known victory came in 1924 against the aforementioned Jose Raoul Capablanca who was considered unbeatable after eight years without a single loss. At the same tournament, Réti also defeated Alexander Alekhin [who would later become the world champion]. Sadly, the author and legendary chess player’s life would be cut short in 1929 due to scarlet fever at just 40 years old.
“ …It used to be a saying among his friends, that where Réti’s briefcase was, there was Réti. At last, he has had to part with it, but let us all be grateful that in it he left his magnum opus, Masters of the Chess Board.”
-J. Du Mont
Conclusion:
Masters is a phenomenal introduction to the games of history’s most important players. Featuring educated examinations from Richard Réti’s brilliant mind, it gives the readers brief histories of the origins of strategies and openings, the players who best used them, and the trends and movements of chess at the time. I would recommend it only to those who wish to intentionally sharpen their games and strategy and appreciate chess as a skill and art. As someone who seeks to improve his abilities on the 64-squared board, though I couldn’t claim to have absorbed all the knowledge to be gained here, it certainly has given me a deeper understanding of the game and its history as I hope it may for you.
-Richard Réti, Masters of the Chess Board
Summary:
In this thoughtful and insightful examination of some of the greatest minds in chess, Richard Réti uses his knowledge and appreciation of the game to craft a well-written and useful tool for any knowledgeable chess player’s arsenal. Réti first gives a helpful preface to provide context to the structure of the manual. Then, chapter by chapter, he gives background on the individual and examines specific games from history’s chess masters. The first half focuses on the great chess players of the past, and the second on modern masters [circa 1933]. Occasionally, Réti will interject with comments on the player's style and strengths and weaknesses of their game. Before getting to the final master in the book, the author also speaks of his system.
“The pleasure to be derived from a chess combination lies in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate pieces and giving them the breath of life.”
-Richard Réti, Masters of the Chess Board
Favorite Masters:
Now I will tell you of the masters who I found most compelling [in order of appearance]. 1 - Adolf Anderssen seems to have mastered playing for position. He understood the importance of taking control of the board and avoided futile attacks. 2 - Paul Morphy possessed an efficiency not seen in many players. He didn’t make a single move that didn’t advance his position. 3 - Emanuel Lasker was by far the most interesting to read about in this novel. He’s said to have possessed a hypnotic influence over his opponents. His positioning and layout in most games were rather poor but he managed to win almost every time. Some have theorized that he intentionally played poorly to tap into the psychology of his opponent. 4 - Jose Raoul Capablanca seemed to play a near-flawless game. Having learned chess at just four years old he remains one of the most fundamentally sound players in history as though chess was his native tongue. 5 - Alexander Alekhin is the final player in this writing. At the time was the champion of the world and he alluded to modernism and the level of proficiency that influenced the generations of chess players to follow him.
“I was honored by the master’s friendship, and, like all those who knew him, I will never forget his charm of manner and his kindly disposition. I can see him now, with his perennial smile on his good-humored features, bustling along with his leather briefcase under his arm…”
-J. Du Mont
Notes on the Author:
Richard Réti’s experience and expertise on the subject matter make him an excellent guide to navigate the game’s greatest masters, but Réti himself possessed an immense skill for chess. He once played twenty-nine games simultaneously while blindfolded, losing only 2. Per ruchess.ru some of Réti’s accomplishments include; “[First Olympiad in 1927, Czechoslovakia came fifth and its leader came third at the first board. In 1925, Réti won tournaments in Kosice in 1918, Rotterdam in 1919, Amsterdam and Goteborg in 1920, Teplice in 1922, Bratislava in 1925, and Vienna, Brno, and Giessen in 1928 and he defeated Gyula Breyer and Max Euwe in individual contests.]” His best-known victory came in 1924 against the aforementioned Jose Raoul Capablanca who was considered unbeatable after eight years without a single loss. At the same tournament, Réti also defeated Alexander Alekhin [who would later become the world champion]. Sadly, the author and legendary chess player’s life would be cut short in 1929 due to scarlet fever at just 40 years old.
“ …It used to be a saying among his friends, that where Réti’s briefcase was, there was Réti. At last, he has had to part with it, but let us all be grateful that in it he left his magnum opus, Masters of the Chess Board.”
-J. Du Mont
Conclusion:
Masters is a phenomenal introduction to the games of history’s most important players. Featuring educated examinations from Richard Réti’s brilliant mind, it gives the readers brief histories of the origins of strategies and openings, the players who best used them, and the trends and movements of chess at the time. I would recommend it only to those who wish to intentionally sharpen their games and strategy and appreciate chess as a skill and art. As someone who seeks to improve his abilities on the 64-squared board, though I couldn’t claim to have absorbed all the knowledge to be gained here, it certainly has given me a deeper understanding of the game and its history as I hope it may for you.
December 30, 2021
One of the classics with a great overview of all the masters up to the 1920s. My favorite part of the book though is on page 185 when Reti launches into a several page description of "My System of Opening," which is of course what we now know as the Reti.
November 5, 2019
Great analysis and great games. Probably a little dated in terms of the history since the 20s but the layout and the insight into that time is well worth the time reading.
April 4, 2022
I love the idea of the walk through the historical development of chess strategy, and the games are wonderful to play through. Read in 1940, this would be an extremely valuable book. In 2022, however, some of the commentary is positively ancient. The opening theory, on which there are many essays, is largely obsolete. These essays, on which other reviewers have commented, were also a bit too random for me. Most could have been cut and reinserted at almost any other point.
So, all in all, a mixed bag. There are better games collections out there.
3.5/5
So, all in all, a mixed bag. There are better games collections out there.
3.5/5
January 3, 2023
Life Changing! Raised my rating 400 points.
When I was 19, I decided to become a great chess player. Two years later, I'd only gotten close to 1600, (Thanks to lots of blitz and Fred Reinfeld puzzles).
Players at the Chess club said I had to study the great Masters. But I'd always get lost! For me, following games from a book was impossible.
A local Master repeatedly recommended, "Masters of the Chessboard". One day, he handed me a copy. Weeks passed before I opened it.
What a revelation. Prose! Instead of scary paragraphs containing the notation of hundreds of moves, it stopped after the first few - and explained why the moves were played.
The book progressed through the history of Chess ideas and players. Each new game built on the previous ones.
Shortly after this easy and enjoyable read, I competed in the World Open. Incredibly, I beat or drew six Masters in a row! ( I was so surprised, that when one master offered me a draw, I accepted - even though I was a piece up. I felt sorry for him - it felt wrong for a weaky like me to beat such a renowned player.)
Richard Reti's book was the turning point in my chess life.
When I was 19, I decided to become a great chess player. Two years later, I'd only gotten close to 1600, (Thanks to lots of blitz and Fred Reinfeld puzzles).
Players at the Chess club said I had to study the great Masters. But I'd always get lost! For me, following games from a book was impossible.
A local Master repeatedly recommended, "Masters of the Chessboard". One day, he handed me a copy. Weeks passed before I opened it.
What a revelation. Prose! Instead of scary paragraphs containing the notation of hundreds of moves, it stopped after the first few - and explained why the moves were played.
The book progressed through the history of Chess ideas and players. Each new game built on the previous ones.
Shortly after this easy and enjoyable read, I competed in the World Open. Incredibly, I beat or drew six Masters in a row! ( I was so surprised, that when one master offered me a draw, I accepted - even though I was a piece up. I felt sorry for him - it felt wrong for a weaky like me to beat such a renowned player.)
Richard Reti's book was the turning point in my chess life.
September 2, 2015
One of my favorite general walkthrough of classic games of chess. Written before computer analysis and analyzed as GM Reti saw it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews