Product Description
History's greatest talent, and most electrifying player, who then becomes a very sad lonely figure, and dies in exile in Iceland. The Bobby Fischer That We Loved by Larry Evans; Remembering Bobby Fischer by Al Lawrence. Two of the Premier articles in this tribute magazine.Chess fans throughout the world need to thank the Iceland people for being kinder to Bobby Fischer than our own, pitiful US government. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The United States Chess Federation (USCF) is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership doubled to 60,000 due to interest in Bobby Fischer's rise to the World Championship. USCF membership dipped after Fischer's withdrawal from public competition to just below 50,000, and did not surpass its 1974 peak until 1992. Strong membership growth in the past decade has been spurred by the increase in scholastic chess clubs and the spread of chess computers. ... Read more

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paperback;0894807676Hardcover Fischer book:second printing 1966 ... Read more

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Best-selling and award-winning author Igor Khmelnitsky gathers examples from Bobby Fischer's games that are educational and entertaining, and can be studied without a board. In each of the examples the readers will take the seat of Fischer's opponent and be asked to come up with an assessment and a move. Based on their response they are assigned points towards their rating evaluation and a game score towards their "match.” Once finished, the readers will learn how well they have done in the "match,” have an estimate of their rating, and know what they need to work on to improve their game. In this new book, the readers will discover:* 60 diagrams with multiple-choice questions of varied complexity,* comprehensive answers with diagrams to make reviewing easier, * distributions of answers and other statistical reports by rating, * ratings assigned overall and by 13 distinct categories, * bonus material: warm-up, tie-breaker, tips and training suggestions, and more,. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truly educational chess material
Igor Khmelnitsky's 3rd quiz book with his unique format is worth much more than the price. And the format is what makes his books so special, and catapults them well beyond any other puzzle book format I've seen.

Just like Chess Exam and Chess Exam:Tactics, you are asked to analyze a position and answer two multiple choice questions. The first question is "who is better?" and proves to be a great way to start thinking about the game as a whole BEFORE calculating any particular move. Without this blatant query, many would start calculating without measuring king safety, pawn structure, piece activity, etc. The second question asks you to consider 4 candidate moves and decide which one is best. This makes the reader calculate FOUR lines and their possible branches! The result is much more brain practice and visualization than would normally come from other "white to play and win" type material. In essence, it forces one to focus much more on the possibilities at the board. One thing I must add is that he suggests coming up with your own candidate moves before looking at the ones he provides, and I couldn't agree with him more. I've actually used this step as an additional "test" to see if my candidates match his.

After all this work, Khmelnitsky's answers are succinct, to the point and remarkably complete, stated in relaxed and sometimes playful prose. He goes further to suggest that some positions can provide extra practice if you set it up against a friend or computer to play out; a suggestion that allows one to get even more out of the material. In addition, the author has created a scoring system, comparing your results to others who have worked on these positions before you. Finally he provides a way to measure your chess understanding and abilities over 12 distinct categories. I cannot do full justice for each of these characteristics of the book. They all add up to make it outstanding.

The added charm is that you are "teamed" with Fischer's historical opponent, and have an opportunity in each position to find the best move that was either found or missed by your "partner." For Fischer fanatics, this book may be slightly painful to play through, since your success is not only based on Fischer's lack of success, but it also shows many positions where Fischer's wins could just have easily been losses!

Khmelnitsky's books have been an outstanding aid to my chess understanding. He obviously has put a tremendous amount of work, through research and testing of positions, methodology and statistical models, all to our benefit. I feel very fortunate to have come across them.

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Fantastic job by Soltis
As Fischer's "My 60 memorable games" only cover up the 1967, but the period making him a legend is the period 1970 to 1972, in fact some of the greatest games also produced in this period, e. g. the most exciting game I have ever seen, that is the first game of the semi-final candidate match with Larsen, that game whenever I play it again and again, it still make my heart beating!! Especially when Larsen's Queen and Rook on the second and third rank, preparing for mate, on the otherhand, Fischer's Queen is caught by Larsen rook, then comes one the greatest move of all time ( from my own point of view ), Bc5!!! That suddenly solved all the problems!!! One must think that, this is not just finding on the board at that moment. Fischer had already seen it 5 or even 7 moves before, combined with all the possible variations, who can say ( Kasparov says ) that Fischer is not excelling in complicated positions??? Also Wade's complete collection of Fischer's games were out of print for a long long time, I think one should needs Soltis book to fill the gap. I do not agree some of the readers said that Soltis' job is just to fill to one hundred games. What I complain is why Soltis does not annotate more games. I think one hundred games of Fischer to his chess fans are not enough. I hope in the future, someone should publish all the games of Fischer with annotations. Of course, one need not annotat all games in details, but at least to lay out all the games and then annotate those games which are instructive and important.

Classic Fischer Book
I have always admired Fischer's razor sharp play, positional understanding, tactical abilities, and his indominable will to win.His style has always enchanted me and this book displays it in 100 games.This book doesn't bogg down in masses of variations, but it gives just enough to keep the game and notes to it interesting and enjoyable to read.Some of the games he includes I had never seen before, which is a bonus.It was also interesting to read about some of Soltis' personal anecdotes when he met Fischer in the 60's at the introduction of the book, and before each game he gives a short lead in that gives some interesting insights and humorous anecdotes.
The only thing I can criticize is a few times he gives a ! or ? to a move and doesn't follow it with a note even when it isn't so obvious what made the move good or bad, and occasionally (although rarely) he makes some minor oversights. But on the whole the book is very well writen and researched.It is definately a must own if you are a Fischer fan like me, and even if you aren't it is a great book anyways!

100 Notable Games
Soltis presents 100 games chronologically spanning Fischer's career, from his evergreen game against Donald Byrne in 1956 to a memorable win with white against Spassky from their 1992 rematch. This collection covers the important years leading up to Fischer's first match with Spassky--select games from Monte Carlo '67, Skopje '67, Sousse Interzonal '67, Netanya '68, Vinkovci '68, Rovinj-Zagreb '70, Buenos Aires '70, Siegen '70, Palma de Mallorca '70, Candidates Matches. It also includes six games from both of his matches with Spassky.

I've always enjoyed Soltis' column in Chess Life. He brings a similar treatment to BFR--establishing historical context for a game, insight into players' motivations, milestone moves (those which dictate the games direction or outcome) and germane variations of sufficient number and depth when needed. Game threads are not lost as in some texts due to copious analyses. Only on a few occassions did I feel coverage was inadequate (Tukmakov(80)[22..Bxe4] and Spassky(100)[17..Bxa1]).

Since it is unlikely Fischer and Evans will collaborate (posthumously) on "Another 60 Memorable Games", these 100 notable games will have to do.

Exactly what I hoped for
If you enjoy the games (not...necessarily the opinions...) of Bobby Fischer- get this book and find yourself pleasantly engaged in interesting and exciting games and ideas.Soltis mends his annotations with Fischer's old Chess Life comments as well as interesting quirks of individuals and historic play/innovation sidelines.Quite frankly; for those whom enjoy annotated games and still maintain that 1970s Fischer nostalgia...this book is just great.That said, purchase and enjoy.

An excellent book about Fischer
If you are looking for a book that easily show you Fischer's greatest games and contributions to chess... this book is a excellent option.

The book combines very nicely stories about Fischer with his amazing games. The games are not deeply analyzed as they are in other books ("M60MG" or "Kasparov on Fischer"). Instead, Soltis mainly analyzes (providing a few lines) the most critical moves or those that, by the time that the games were played, were a Fischer's novelty. Sometimes, brief but interesting anecdotes or historical references are provided before each game. Also, Soltis quotes some Fischer's comments extracted from the articles that Fischer wrote for Chess Life (and of course from M60MG).

In the book, Soltis points out some Fischer's chess contributions. Also, Soltis provides very interesting comments about Fischer's style. For example, Soltis highlights that Fischer developed a materialistic approach (he used to accept pawns sacrificed by his opponents, keep the pawn and win the ending) in order to defeat the Russian School (during the 50's, Russians used to sacrifice material to take the initiative).

You shouldn't buy this book if you are looking for a book that very deeply analyzes each Fischer's game. But, you should buy this book if you are looking for a book that easily show you many relevant aspects about Fischer (anecdotes, contributions, famous games, etc). ... Read more

Product Description
The fascinating story of Fred Waitzkin and his son Josh, from the moment six-year-old Josh first sits down at a chessboard until he wins the national championship. Now a feature film starring Ben Kingsley, Max Pomerenc, Joe Mantegna, and Larry Fishburne. (Penguin)Amazon.com Review
Searching for Bobby Fischer is the story of Fred Waitzkin and his son Josh, from the moment six-year-old Josh first sits down at a chessboard until he competes for the national championship.Drawn into the insular, international network of chess, they must also navigate the difficult waters of their own relationship.All the while, Waitzkin wonders about and searches for the elusive Bobby Fischer, whose myth still dominates the chess world and profoundly affects Waitzkin's dreams for his son. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Better Than Patzer, Less than Grand Master
Fred Waitzkin's Searching for Bobby Fisher is the story of his chess prodigy son Joshua's rise from a six year old's first game to a Junior National Chess Championship.It's also a story about the politics of chess in Russia, biographical glimpses into the lives of some chess greats, an in depth exploration of the chess culture in the United States, some history about the game itself, the psychodynamics of parent/child relationships in the chess prodigy world, sex in the chess world (you guessed it: best to stick with NBA stardom), Bobby Fisher's descenct into insanity and anti-semitism, and the author's (sorry, Fred Waitzkin) interminable moaning about how underfunded and under appreciated chess is in our Sweet Land of Liberty. On this last subject, oy vey, give it a rest, will you Fred?? The reader will get the point about howdisrespected chess is in the U.S. the FIRST time Waitzkin mentions it.By the time his exhortations enumerate well into the double digit category, I, for one was begging for mercy.

How to approach this book?You know... just settle back and have a good time!You won't learn to play terrific chess.You will if you're interested in chess, have many pleasurable moments.If you are the parent of any sort of prodigy, you'll have a dark night of the soul or two, thinking about what we put our kids through, and for what reasons. The book reads more like a series of chess articles (which I suspect free lance author Waitzkin frequently included) than a coherent book. Nevertheless, when you turn the last page, you'll look back with pleasure, and you may even go to the closet, lift up those old boxes of Monopoly, Clue, and Life, and drag out a board and a bag of dusty chess pieces.Game on!

Cute story, for whole family
Well, this is a story of a child, chess prodigy, and how the father support his son.
There are nice quotes and social value, humbles, kindness, courage and friendship. Evething around the kids. Every heroe has his foe, and this prodigy have to prove all his talent and values against other child prodigy.
on the chess board is a crossing fire about all values and chess skills of the kid.
Every could see this movie, could be enjoy for whole family, I love how chess and values are head to head.
I would love to tell more, but i have to keep my review what its seens in the trailer. And some personal aproach.
Enjoy

Enjoyed this little piece of chess history very much.
I would recommend this title for anyone who truly enjoys the game of chess, a short history of american and russian chess told from a fathers point of view. Very good reading.

Don't Forget the Real Child Genius, Jeff Sarwer, Who Was Much, Much Better Than Josh Waitzkin
Okay, okay. A few years back, when I was really getting into chess (By the way, I am a Class A player who casually plays and studies the game.), I rented the movie that was based on this book. Just recently, I decided to purchase this book for a quick insight into what the book is suppose to view, which is the world of a chess prodigy. I started reading it and really enjoying the book until I got to the chapter titled, "Losing It." In this chapter, a real chess genius was introduced, Jeff Sarwer. If you have seen the movie, Searching For Bobby Fischer, then you might recall the opponent that Josh plays at the US Primary Championship, named Jonathan Poe; well, this is actually a villainized version of Jeff Sarwer, the real child genius; also, the game that they really played was drawn; and the real genius of the game came from Jeff Sarwer who played the Nimzo-Indian: Four pawn attack, on which he did not know any theory; he had only seen it played once before; that's brilliant. Sure, Josh Waitzkin was a gifted, young talent, but I am sorry; he was not a genius; really, his gift was supplemented by a lot of studying and the overgrown geek, Bruce Pandolfini, a guy who can't accept the fact that he just doesn't have it (Incidentally, this same guy gave lessons to Jeff; there is even video footage of Bruce saying that he had never seen a talent like that of Jeff; this was after he taught Josh: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!); he depended on books and other people to guide him through problems. There is little known about this other chess prodigy, Jeff Sarwer, who is a couple of years younger than Waitzkin and who is/was much, much better than Josh. Easily, Jeff Sarwer is one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived. I really, truly mean this. At age seven, he was teaching himself chess and playing better than Josh was at that age. At age nine, he was playing better than Bobby Fischer played at age eleven. If you have a chance, go to jeffsarwer.com and check out the videos that are posted there; get a dose of a truly one-of-a-kind person; it's not very often that people like him come along. Jeff lived a life without inhibition. He was confident and he loved life and himself; what is wrong with that? So many times, kids care too much what other people think and they forget to freely live in the world as a human being. The majority of the world seems to ostracize people who seem "cocky" and/or brash and have immense talent and confidence in themselves; these people are happy and many times jealous people single-out these people and take away their freedom and inhibit their talent. Jeff Sarwer is the Mozart of Chess; Josh Waitzkin IS NOT; SORRY. It is as simple as that. Naturally, Jeff understood competition and winning, whereas Josh was TAUGHT it by a book or his dad or Bruce pandolfini. Jeff got inside Josh's head and messed with him. It is a fact that, at the nationals, where Jeff and Josh played against each other, Josh went to the bathroom and started crying because he was scared of losing against Jeff. Haha.

Josh's dad wrote this book. At times, while reading this book, one gets annoyed by the effusive way in which Fred depicts his son's talent. Meh. Josh was a talented, young chess player who studied the game, but he was not ingenious like Jeff Sarwer is/was. GOD. What more should I say? Go to chessgames.com and look for the commentary that Jeff Sarwer has left on his own games. GOD!!! Why do kids like him have to have all of their rights and freedom taken away from them? This makes me hate Josh Waitzkin, a mediocre, well-read player who does not deserve an even close amount of the adulation that he has received. Okay; I need to go and contemplate whether or not I should even bring a human being into this wicked world. Spread the word about Jeff Sarwer. He truly is better than Waitzkin and deserves the recognition that he missed out on back in the eighties, before an article in Vanity Fair was published, one which caused an alarm and caused a child protection agency to seize Jeff and his child-prodigy sister, Julia, and keep them from being as famous as Josh Waitzkin, who is now writing gimmicky books on nonsense and promoting "hip-hop chess." Don't buy into the crap of hollywood.

BUT Fred did write a good book. Props to him. I couldn't put it down until the "Losing It" chapter, which prompted me to run a search on google for Jeff Sarwer. Then I picked it back up and finished reading it, in one sitting. It is a good, easy read; I can't argue with that. Sometimes, Fred strays from the point like an amateur biographer or even writer who wants to put too much of HIMSELF into the context of the events of the book. His other memoir, The Last Marlin: The Story of a Family at Sea is a great, great book, too. You should check that out.

Good Night.

Joyous, inspiring
This book is joyous, exhilarating, thrilling, delightful.Waitzkin's writing is melodious, like a Mozart violin concerto streaming forward and forward, each passage a delight on it's own, yet still driving the composition forward.

This is best of all a book about fathers and sons, the warmth of friendship, love and respect that emerges in the finest relationship between them.It is also very much a book about games and chess and competition, winning and losing and their emotional consequences.This book also is a fine reflection of the movie, the one capturing the essence of and complementing the other.

Just a wonderful book, I highly recommend. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Title may be misleading, but...
... the book is still a must read for amateurs.

1. It is an easy read
2. It is a simple way to increase rating

The book is entirely about mate (hence the misleading title comment). I still give it five stars however, because it does such a good job of covering mate. The book presents concepts in 'frames', each teaching a tiny increment over the previous. This gives beginners a sense of accomplishment (which is helpful for finishing the book) when completing each new frame, however the total new knowledge learned becomes larger over many frames.

This book will not teach you how to become better at chess overall... it will teach you how to finish off your opponent. It will teach you how to recognize when your opponent CAN be finished off and how to do so most effectively, but NOT how to reach the positions from which to do so.

In summary, GREAT book for what it IS, not for what the title claims it to be!

The book that teaches you to see
This book contains a programmed course that teaches something that I believe is very important for every chess player who wants to have fun with his/her own play: it helps you to develop an "eye" for positions.

Yes, the book is simplifying by focussing on the end game. I think, from a teacher's/parent's view it's the right thing to start here or after having started with your local chess club's beginner's diplomas where you learned how the figures move and one or two standard openings.

I read some of the low-star reviews here and I do not agree. When my father worked me through this book (a German translation) about 35 years ago I found it hard and did probably not have too much fun. When I was finally able to beat some class mates and sometimes my father, I realized that it was very well worth it. My 9 years old daughter had some very nice lessons from an aged local Grandmaster in Munich in 3rd grade. We were very grateful that my daughter had the opportunity to join these classes.Being far away from a Grandmaster status myself but having enjoyed playing chess my whole life, I bought this book (the English version this time) for me and my daughter to do the same that my father did with me before. She loves to play the whole game and it takes some effort of me to keep her on track with the book. However, I think we will work through it together and will continue having a good time doing it.

I also want to say that I think that Bobby Fisher made a very wise decision to involve the two co-authors. I see it as a book that has the name of one of the most brilliant brains in chess history on the cover and tries a completely different approach to educate a brain by systematically (programmatically) exercising more and more difficult positions with the aim to have room for bringing phantasy to the game without being punished for just not seeing obvious things. I don't think that this book is intended to teach the brilliance of Bobby Fisher. However, it certainly teaches something that you cannot afford not to have when you play chess. I would strongly not recommend to skip pages or chapters. The book offers this skipping by asking questions that everybody is tempted to answer with yes - and then skips. You can easily ending up in skipping the most essential part of the book.

After all, this is a book that I can recommend for everybody who is trying to figure out why others tend see things and you don't ... and made them defeat you ... this time.

Basic Book for beginner... not fisher games
This book is for beginer player. Do no expect games or any analysis moves.
Fischer write this book with the help of two phd desing educational.
This two doctors, doesn't have any plus value for coaching or teaching chess moves.
Very basic book. This is the index.
1. Element of checkmates
2.Back rank mates
3.Back rank defence variation
4.Displacing defenders
5.Attacks on the enemy pawn
6.Final review
For intermedia player or higther level, will not worth this book.

Learn Chess from the Master
Bobby Fisher is one of the greatest chess masters of all time.In this book he clearly takes a student from an overview of the rules and then thru simple modules where he explains what you are seeing on the chess board and what it all means.With the addition of a chess board to duplicate the extensive illustrations in the book, a raw chess recruit can rapidly learn to play and most importantly enjoy the game. ... Read more