Chess Book Collections

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Simon Rogers
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:40 am

One of my most treasured books was my very first one.
I remember learning the basics from a teacher at Primary School when I was in the equivalent of Year 5.
I then taught my mum chess at home because I thought it was a game I can beat my mum at something.
I didn't take chess very seriously at Primary or even Secondary School.
Just after learning to play chess at Primary School my parents bought me a chess set.
The book that came with it was called:
Beginners Guide to Playing Chess by Susan Caldwell.

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John Upham
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by John Upham » Wed Jun 10, 2020 11:27 am

Simon Rogers wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 10:40 am
One of my most treasured books was my very first one.
I remember learning the basics from a teacher at Primary School when I was in the equivalent of Year 5.
I then taught my mum chess at home because I thought it was a game I can beat my mum at something.
I didn't take chess very seriously at Primary or even Secondary School.
Just after learning to play chess at Primary School my parents bought me a chess set.
The book that came with it was called:
Beginners Guide to Playing Chess by Susan Caldwell.
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Beginners Guide to Playing Chess
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Beginners Guide to Playing Chess
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Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:45 pm

That Usborne cover does look an accurate depiction of a beginner's game!

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John Upham
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by John Upham » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:12 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 12:45 pm
That Usborne cover does look an accurate depiction of a beginner's game!
Maybe WH Cozens could confirm the game ?



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The King Hunt : WH Cozens
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Simon Rogers
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:13 pm

The one I have is the top yellow book. Can't remember if it was birthday or Christmas present.
The chess set had a wooden box and wooden pieces and the board was thick cardboard which was red on the outside.
Not sure if the book came free with the chess set.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:20 pm

As said before, my "genesis" book (which I still have) was Chess A Beginner's Guide by Stanley Morrison.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Jun 10, 2020 1:37 pm

"Chess Openings for beginners" by Reverend EE Cunnington is the book. (I still have that.)

James Pratt
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by James Pratt » Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:17 pm

I have 'The King-Hunt' by WH Cozens (Bell 1970) and the similarly entitled 1996 reissue written with John Nunn. The latter is a US edition published by Henry Holt although it looks like a Batsford where it clearly originated in this newer format. Nunn gives an intro but, to respond to John Upham's post, nothing in either book by Chernev. Well, he would no longer be with us by 1996. I'd guess that book introductions by players other than the author is now more common but ghosting, proven or otherwise, rarer. For example, Euwe happily added his name on occasion, Reinfeld became Marshall and also Reshevsky. Any other better examples?

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:38 pm

"For example, Euwe happily added his name on occasion, Reinfeld became Marshall and also Reshevsky. Any other better examples?"

Wasn't there a King's Gambit book by "Korchnoi" and Zak?

And the first "My Great Predecessors" book by Kasparov was reported to be by someone else.

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John Upham
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by John Upham » Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:59 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:38 pm
And the first "My Great Predecessors" book by Kasparov was reported to be by someone else.
Daniel King wrote those. Indeed many chess books have been ghost written. Malcolm Pein wrote "Nigel Short's Chess Skills" for example.

Quite often when there are two authors, one very well known and the other not, is it "the other" that has done most (if not all) of the work.
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:04 pm

Korchnoi did do at least some of that Kings Gambit book I think - when it was in production he played the opening in a tournament (he didn't start that often with even just 1e4, of course) saying afterwards that he felt morally obliged to given he was writing a book on it!

He got a draw from a bad position in the end.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

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John Upham
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by John Upham » Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:14 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:04 pm
Korchnoi did do at least some of that Kings Gambit book I think - when it was in production he played the opening in a tournament (he didn't start that often with even just 1e4, of course) saying afterwards that he felt morally obliged to given he was writing a book on it!

He got a draw from a bad position in the end.
Matt,

There is discussion of this in

https://britishchessnews.com/2020/05/15 ... -korchnoi/

.
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Simon Rogers
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Simon Rogers » Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:15 pm

The second book my parents gave to me as a present was:
Play Better Chess 1987 Revised Edition
With Leonard Barden and Foreword by Victor Korchnoi.

This was bought for me just before I started my GCSE's.
I only started to take chess a bit more seriously when I joined Poulton- le-Fylde Chess Club in 1989.

Ian Thompson
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by Ian Thompson » Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:16 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:04 pm
Korchnoi ... saying afterwards that he felt morally obliged to given he was writing a book on it!
Didn't someone (Larsen?) say that if they'd written a book on an opening that guaranteed they would never play it again?

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John Upham
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Re: Chess Book Collections

Post by John Upham » Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:26 pm

Simon Rogers wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:15 pm
The second book my parents gave to me as a present was:
Play Better Chess 1987 Revised Edition
With Leonard Barden and Foreword by Victor Korchnoi.

This was bought for me just before I started my GCSE's.
I only started to take chess a bit more seriously when I joined Poulton- le-Fylde Chess Club in 1989.

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Play Better Chess
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