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Checkmate!

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Discover all the various pieces - the king, the queen, the knights, the bishops and the pawns. Find out how the pieces move, the values of the chessmen, how to attack and how to defend, how to capture, how to employ special moves such as castling, how to write the moves down and, crucially, how to give check and deliver checkmate. Learn the numerous tricks and traps that you can set your unwary opponents and, just as importantly, how to avoid falling into them yourself. Make a journey through this book and, with the help of the world's best player, readers will be ready for your first chess battle.

*Covers all the crucial rules, aims and aspects of the game
*Full color illustrations throughout
*Innovative design
*Written by a legend of the chess world

98 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Murray.
Author 151 books745 followers
December 13, 2021
Lots of chess puzzles to learn from

I’ve grounded myself in a number chess books.
This one may look simple but it’s not.
After a basics chat, Kasparov throws you into the pool.
It’s a style akin to guitar or piano lessons that immediately get you playing pieces.
Kasparov teaches chess by making you play chess immediately - openings, defenses, endgames, checkmate tactics.
You are presented with puzzle after puzzle of chess pieces in various scenarios. You have to solve them and win the move.
You learn a lot in a short time and you aren’t learning theory as much as you’re in a practicum. You come away with the immediate ability to play decent chess. You know how to make things happen.
Recommended for those who want to start playing better chess quickly.
Profile Image for Jonas.
163 reviews11 followers
April 30, 2018
I’m not the first to pull out a chess board, but still I’d like to improve my understanding of some key concepts within chess. And that’s just what this book delivers.

Main takeaways:
Chess notation. Yeah, being able to read a chess column sounds both scarily geeky and intriguing.
Tactical play. Fork, pin, skewer.
Checkmate. Ah, well, that’s the point of the game, so knowing the do-s and don’t-s with a board full of minor and major pieces sounds like a good idea.
Opening play. This stuff apparently gets complicated pretty much right from the start. It’s always good to know a some of the more common openings and their variations, as well as a few appropriate responses.
Endgame play. How to finish a game when most of the pieces are gone, and you’re stuck with a Queen/rook/pawn...? And a few defense options if you’re the one in trouble.

All of these subjects are described on an introductory level - with puzzles, solutions and good graphics - which might awaken your inner chess dude. Or not. Anyway, I’m glad I read it, and I’m pretty sure I’ll pick it up again from time to time to revisit some of the topics.
Profile Image for Rick Gershman.
2 reviews
April 1, 2015
Yes, it's a chess book for children, so it was right up my alley. If you want to learn the basics, why not learn from the best?
Profile Image for Pinkerton.
513 reviews50 followers
May 10, 2017
Spiegazioni semplici, chiare ed esaustive che man mano pongono l’attenzione ed esaltano l’aspetto più intrigante del gioco, e lo fanno in modo schematico. Forse pochi gli esercizi ma dopotutto si tratta di un manuale esplicativo; ad opera del migliore aggiungerei.
Profile Image for Victo Dolean.
71 reviews5 followers
May 2, 2018
Very good introduction to chess with clear explanations and illustrations.
Profile Image for Tyler Dardis.
7 reviews2 followers
Read
July 24, 2025
Yes, my 7-year-old got this children's chess book, and yes, I ended up reading it myself more than she did.
1 review
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January 22, 2016
think i will learn a lot from this book .As to be one of world best chess player
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gulino Rosario.
24 reviews
January 18, 2017
Good, very Good.Thanks
2004 Everyman Chess

ISBN 13: 978-88-418-5994-0
Istituto Geografico DeAGOSTINI S.p.A. Novara, 2006-2010
stampato in CINA 2009
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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