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How to Beat Your Dad at Chess
This is not just a book for kids - for ‘Dad’ read any opponent who beats you regularly! This book teaches the 50 Deadly Checkmates - basic attacking patterns that occur repeatedly in games between players of all standards. Each mating motif is carefully and simply explained, and several illustrative examples are given. A final test enables the reader to grade his pattern recognition abilities, and the last chapter explains what to do if your Dad is Garry Kasparov. Fun, instructive - and guaranteed to improve your game.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 30, 2008
I got this book for Alex (my son). It didn't work.
Better titles would be "How to Lose a Little Less Quickly to Your Dad In Chess" or "How to Get Excited Thinking You Will Finally Beat Your Dad In Chess But Then Not"
Better titles would be "How to Lose a Little Less Quickly to Your Dad In Chess" or "How to Get Excited Thinking You Will Finally Beat Your Dad In Chess But Then Not"
March 25, 2017
What a great title and although Manny pointed out the obvious sexist implications, 'How to beat your parent at chess' just doesn't have the same ring to it. Furthermore, I imagine you just don't get the same fun crushing your mother as you would your father.
And yet, observing that fathers play their children for short periods to teach them and then retire the moment the kids start winning - I don't think my family was exceptional in that - I suggest that Murray should write the obvious sequel: 'How to Beat Your Kids at Chess'!
And yet, observing that fathers play their children for short periods to teach them and then retire the moment the kids start winning - I don't think my family was exceptional in that - I suggest that Murray should write the obvious sequel: 'How to Beat Your Kids at Chess'!
September 11, 2025
Watch out dad
October 15, 2019
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, Murray Chandler, 1998, 127pp., ISBN 9781901983050, Dewey 794.1
Fifty patterns of decisive attack on the king. Most are in a kingside-castled middlegame position. Each is on a single two-page spread, each with several examples over six diagrams. Most use one or more sacrifices to open a line of attack, eliminate a defender, deflect a defender away or decoy a defender to a specific square (#43). "Every year, thousands of bishops are sacrificed for unmoved h-pawns" (#32).
Part of what makes a strong player is familiarity with such patterns, and quick recognition of them when they occur or have the potential of occurring. A good set. Straightforward, concise explanations. Well done.
Often explains the obvious (but in very few words); sometimes doesn't explain the not-obvious. Sometimes oversimplifies: in position 201, overlooks white's interposition 3 Rh4, which turns the given mate-in-4 into a mate-in-10.
https://lichess.org/editor lets you set up a position and have a computer play one side of it. Unfortunately, you can't have the computer play both sides—and, you can't change whose move it is after you start: if it's black to move and you didn't say so, you have to set up the position again.
Better still: lichess.org/training gives you "find the best move" positions from actual games. If you try a move that's not best, the computer tells you to try again. (Or you could ask to be shown the solution.)
Grandmaster Murray G. Chandler, FIDE rating 2518 (was near 2600 most of his career), New Zealand, born 1960.
https://ratings.fide.com/profile/400050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_...
"This book is dedicated to my dad, Graham Chandler." (p. 2)
Permalink:
https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/Tom...
Fifty patterns of decisive attack on the king. Most are in a kingside-castled middlegame position. Each is on a single two-page spread, each with several examples over six diagrams. Most use one or more sacrifices to open a line of attack, eliminate a defender, deflect a defender away or decoy a defender to a specific square (#43). "Every year, thousands of bishops are sacrificed for unmoved h-pawns" (#32).
Part of what makes a strong player is familiarity with such patterns, and quick recognition of them when they occur or have the potential of occurring. A good set. Straightforward, concise explanations. Well done.
Often explains the obvious (but in very few words); sometimes doesn't explain the not-obvious. Sometimes oversimplifies: in position 201, overlooks white's interposition 3 Rh4, which turns the given mate-in-4 into a mate-in-10.
https://lichess.org/editor lets you set up a position and have a computer play one side of it. Unfortunately, you can't have the computer play both sides—and, you can't change whose move it is after you start: if it's black to move and you didn't say so, you have to set up the position again.
Better still: lichess.org/training gives you "find the best move" positions from actual games. If you try a move that's not best, the computer tells you to try again. (Or you could ask to be shown the solution.)
Grandmaster Murray G. Chandler, FIDE rating 2518 (was near 2600 most of his career), New Zealand, born 1960.
https://ratings.fide.com/profile/400050
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_...
"This book is dedicated to my dad, Graham Chandler." (p. 2)
Permalink:
https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/Tom...
November 1, 2018
Great book for all ranges of chess players of different skill levels to learn a great number of checkmate strategies! However, the book can add on more details for absolute beginners like me as a tutorial chapter to read the pictures in step by step images. Beginners have yet to understand the chess languages, phrases, and symbols.
December 2, 2016
Well, did beat my dad after reading this book. So yeah, five stars.
December 21, 2016
Parece un libro para chicos, pero todo lo contrario! Brillantes problemas seleccionados por temas! Altamente recomendable!!
March 23, 2019
awesome ideas with practice for each side makes it so good, help me to searching more and more for a possibility of checkmate in every move.
May 1, 2019
The book "How to Beat Your Dad At Chess", by Murray Chandler, teaches you how to beat your dad, or anyone else who always beats you, at chess. It is a non-fiction book that shows and tells the reader how to play chess at a high level. It gives you good tips and shows diagrams about what moves to make. It is very informational and helpful. This book is set up a little bit different than traditional non-fiction books. On almost every page, there are multiple diagrams of a chess board, with paragraph long descriptions explaining the move. However, this is very helpful because at times chess can be very confusing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their chess game. I wouldn't recommend this book to a beginner, because it is more advanced. It does not give the basic rules about how to play chess, but it gives good plays that you could incorporate into your game. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who is a frequent chess player and someone who has a lot of time. I say this because this book is pretty long, and it is written in very small font. I think the book is written well and should be read by everyone who wants to improve their chess game.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their chess game. I wouldn't recommend this book to a beginner, because it is more advanced. It does not give the basic rules about how to play chess, but it gives good plays that you could incorporate into your game. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who is a frequent chess player and someone who has a lot of time. I say this because this book is pretty long, and it is written in very small font. I think the book is written well and should be read by everyone who wants to improve their chess game.
March 9, 2012
Love it! A present from my Dad making it that more helpful. Although it seems daunting to start with once you get into the flow of the terminology and how to access the key points of each of the 50 or so moves you'll find more confidence to take on that one figure who always seems to beat you at the ultimate gentlemans game. Watch out Dad!
September 8, 2014
Uncomplicated and fun to read book on 50 deadly checkmates it's a 21st century version of The Art of Checkmate by Renaud and Khan.
Makes a nice gift for a Chess Player in the family or someone who enjoys playing casually.
September 18, 2009
i'm a grown man but find this book to be very helpful in terms of chess tactics that win big gains. I have read this through at least 4 times to sharpen up.
June 12, 2012
Sexist trash!
I have a plus score against the author (1.5-0.5), so I can say what I like.
I have a plus score against the author (1.5-0.5), so I can say what I like.
November 18, 2012
Good examples of employing chess strategies to finish games. Would be good to re-read occasionally.
May 2, 2013
This book presents 50 classic mating patterns. Not only for children, but for beginners and intermediate players in general.
October 22, 2013
If you like the game of chess, this may interest you. With 50 different types of mates to test your opponent with!
December 29, 2013
A cracking little book on various checkmate presntations.
I will be referring to this little bible over and over, a great book.
I will be referring to this little bible over and over, a great book.
December 10, 2014
Despite the childish name and cartoonish cover, this is one of the better instructional chess books for beginners. It focuses on recognizing and executing common checkmate patterns.
June 14, 2015
Great book to help kids with chess
Read
December 21, 2019Essentially a guide to 50 different checkmating patterns and variations.
November 26, 2024
This is a good book with a misleading title. Winning at chess requires far more than memorizing checkmates—it demands a foundation in opening principles, basic strategy, tactical awareness (including calculation), attacking, defending, and mental toughness, among other skills.
The book becomes especially useful after mastering basic checkmates and introductory tactics. For those just starting, I recommend The Art of Checkmate by Georges Renaud and Victor Kahn, as well as Chess Tactics from Scratch by Martin Weteschnik.
GM Murray Chandler references several tactics but provides only brief, dictionary-style definitions without delving into the mechanisms behind them. While this aligns with the book's intended scope, readers should note that a basic understanding of tactical ideas is essential before tackling this material.
The checkmates are presented effectively, with each pattern explained and illustrated through multiple examples. The use of diagrams to break down longer tactics enhances clarity and makes the material accessible. Some checkmate names are lengthy and purely descriptive, such as "The Missing Defensive f-pawn," while others honor notable masters like "Korchnoi’s Manoeuvre" or "The Fischer Trap." As the author admits, naming unbaptized patterns posed a challenge.
I was disappointed that some key variations were omitted from the book. Even in the final section, "The Test Positions," solutions often include only a single variation when two or three would provide a fuller understanding of why and how a move wins.
Despite the catchy title, the claim of "50 deadly checkmates" feels exaggerated. For example, the Greek Gift appears four times in the book under slightly different variations, each counted as a separate checkmate. Similarly, the back-rank mate spans three consecutive entries—“Back-rank mate,” “The Refined Back-rank Mate,” and “More Back-rank Mates.” While some patterns are essential and frequently occurring, others are less common and not as well established in chess literature.
The uncertainty in the test positions might be a strength, as it mimics real-game situations where players must find the best move without knowing whether a tactical or strategic solution exists. However, given the book’s focus on checkmates, these positions sometimes stray into tactics more broadly (e.g., sacrifices to win material), which may frustrate readers expecting only mating ideas. This aspect is handled more cohesively in books like Thomas Engqvist’s 300 Most Important Chess Exercises (Batsford Chess, 2022).
I appreciated the concise final section, "For Further Improvement," where the author offers practical advice: "1. Play lots of games, 2. Read lots of chess books, 3. Develop an Opening Repertoire, 4. Concentrate hard, 5. Attack with confidence." These tips are timeless, though I would add "Analyze your games"—an essential pillar of improvement, as emphasized in Ben Johnson's excellent 2023 book, Perpetual Chess Improvement.
In conclusion, How to Beat Your Dad at Chess: 50 Deadly Checkmates is a valuable resource for intermediate players seeking to solidify their understanding of checkmate patterns and attacking techniques. While its title may be more marketing than substance, the book serves as an excellent stepping stone for players aiming to integrate these patterns into their broader chess understanding.
The book becomes especially useful after mastering basic checkmates and introductory tactics. For those just starting, I recommend The Art of Checkmate by Georges Renaud and Victor Kahn, as well as Chess Tactics from Scratch by Martin Weteschnik.
GM Murray Chandler references several tactics but provides only brief, dictionary-style definitions without delving into the mechanisms behind them. While this aligns with the book's intended scope, readers should note that a basic understanding of tactical ideas is essential before tackling this material.
The checkmates are presented effectively, with each pattern explained and illustrated through multiple examples. The use of diagrams to break down longer tactics enhances clarity and makes the material accessible. Some checkmate names are lengthy and purely descriptive, such as "The Missing Defensive f-pawn," while others honor notable masters like "Korchnoi’s Manoeuvre" or "The Fischer Trap." As the author admits, naming unbaptized patterns posed a challenge.
I was disappointed that some key variations were omitted from the book. Even in the final section, "The Test Positions," solutions often include only a single variation when two or three would provide a fuller understanding of why and how a move wins.
Despite the catchy title, the claim of "50 deadly checkmates" feels exaggerated. For example, the Greek Gift appears four times in the book under slightly different variations, each counted as a separate checkmate. Similarly, the back-rank mate spans three consecutive entries—“Back-rank mate,” “The Refined Back-rank Mate,” and “More Back-rank Mates.” While some patterns are essential and frequently occurring, others are less common and not as well established in chess literature.
The uncertainty in the test positions might be a strength, as it mimics real-game situations where players must find the best move without knowing whether a tactical or strategic solution exists. However, given the book’s focus on checkmates, these positions sometimes stray into tactics more broadly (e.g., sacrifices to win material), which may frustrate readers expecting only mating ideas. This aspect is handled more cohesively in books like Thomas Engqvist’s 300 Most Important Chess Exercises (Batsford Chess, 2022).
I appreciated the concise final section, "For Further Improvement," where the author offers practical advice: "1. Play lots of games, 2. Read lots of chess books, 3. Develop an Opening Repertoire, 4. Concentrate hard, 5. Attack with confidence." These tips are timeless, though I would add "Analyze your games"—an essential pillar of improvement, as emphasized in Ben Johnson's excellent 2023 book, Perpetual Chess Improvement.
In conclusion, How to Beat Your Dad at Chess: 50 Deadly Checkmates is a valuable resource for intermediate players seeking to solidify their understanding of checkmate patterns and attacking techniques. While its title may be more marketing than substance, the book serves as an excellent stepping stone for players aiming to integrate these patterns into their broader chess understanding.
May 19, 2026
Its pretty much just a book about 50 deadly checkmate concepts
with about 220 diagrams and notes
it's more advanced than you'd expect
but I think that's more due to the title
I'm actually surprised by the low reviews on here though, maybe some don't like the title.
Mind you I suggested the initial title for this work
"How to BEAT YOUR DOG, while playing chess"
and they just ignored me
//////
just don't ignore the following
A perfect introduction to tactics for the beginner and developing student.
IM John Watson
Fun to read for players of any age or any strength.
GM Lubosh Kavalek
//////
Amazone
Some of the ideas in this book are quite sophisticated. However, they were described in a clear and understandable manner.
Panda Bear
/////
[as I said.... sophisticated]
/////
Rapid Improvement
I am using this book to teach my nephews how to identify patterns and find winning combinations. The author does a great job outlining each concept and does provide examples which test each concept illustrated at a novice level to an advanced level. I have seen rapid improvement in the problem solving abilities of my nephews and we are only a third through the book!
Paul
/////
Wonderful short book
A quick read that introduces the most important motifs in chess tactics. Don't let the title deceive you: it can be read by any beginner, not only kids.
Marc
//////
And please beat your dog and kittens
because without it
the Thought Police will censor the title of this book one day
with about 220 diagrams and notes
it's more advanced than you'd expect
but I think that's more due to the title
I'm actually surprised by the low reviews on here though, maybe some don't like the title.
Mind you I suggested the initial title for this work
"How to BEAT YOUR DOG, while playing chess"
and they just ignored me
//////
just don't ignore the following
A perfect introduction to tactics for the beginner and developing student.
IM John Watson
Fun to read for players of any age or any strength.
GM Lubosh Kavalek
//////
Amazone
Some of the ideas in this book are quite sophisticated. However, they were described in a clear and understandable manner.
Panda Bear
/////
[as I said.... sophisticated]
/////
Rapid Improvement
I am using this book to teach my nephews how to identify patterns and find winning combinations. The author does a great job outlining each concept and does provide examples which test each concept illustrated at a novice level to an advanced level. I have seen rapid improvement in the problem solving abilities of my nephews and we are only a third through the book!
Paul
/////
Wonderful short book
A quick read that introduces the most important motifs in chess tactics. Don't let the title deceive you: it can be read by any beginner, not only kids.
Marc
//////
And please beat your dog and kittens
because without it
the Thought Police will censor the title of this book one day
May 1, 2025
Yes, this is a kid's book. Years ago I read that if you want to learn about a subject that's new to you, start with books that are meant for kids. I've found that advice especially helpful with chess. I have dozens of chess books, but most of them are way over my head for the level I am at. This book, originally bought it for my kids, was fantastic. Each chapter is just two pages and the exercises and techniques are really well done. It will stretch you and help you to learn if you are new to chess or even if you are an intermediate player, but you also aren't forced to read and keep all of the chess notations in your head. If you want to learn chess or get good enough to beat your kids again, I would start with this book. Highly Recommended.
October 10, 2021
This is a wonderfully written and organized way to learn chess. Chandler intersperses brief but entertaining chess narratives of the background and history each of his many 2-page named strategies. And he groups the strategies by themes, not by level of difficulty. The glossary of quizzes is right-on for reinforcing the lessons. His notation is straightforward and easy to read. This is a great bedtime book to lull one towards sleep with its endless intellectual stimulation and entertainment, not just for kids, but for we Dads as well, certainly, to hopefully awaken armed with a stronger chess game!
December 11, 2024
While going through this book once did not help me retain all or even most of the patterns, it gave me the ability to both threaten checkmate and recognize when a checkmate is being threatened. It's a collection of 50 checkmates, each one only gets two pages and 4 or five examples, but this was one of the most valuable things I've done for my chess and will consider going through it again. The only reason I might not is that there is another, more advanced yet also a bit more complicated book - the checkmate patterns manual - that I am revisiting first. We'll see if I still feel the need to go back to this after a second run through of that.
April 9, 2022
This was an excellent little book of 50 checkmating patterns every chess player should know. The title of the book leads you to believe this is a kids book, but it’s not! It first presents the history of the pattern and then explains how the pattern works and then gives several examples from both white and blacks perspective! Beautifully done! The book ends with a quiz section to see how well you learned/remembered the patterns! Highly recommended for any chess player who wants to win more games and enjoy chess more!😎
September 5, 2023
Great checkmate patterns and traps. Extremely objective, however, after 30-35 patterns the lack of narrative means the book feels like a bunch of loose exercises, however great they may be. As such, material for which you need a certain degree of motivation and self-drive.
children-s-to-read
November 6, 2020Looks good but I'm not there yet and neither are the kids... table till they are older and more experienced
September 12, 2021
interesting reading!
December 18, 2021
それは私を助けます 私の父を倒す = its help me beat my dad
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