Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess Mass Market Paperback – 20 Nov. 2012

I haven't played chess for over 20 years, and even then only occasionally and to no great skill level. Now, approaching my 60's, for some reason I've become interested in it as a brain exercise. This paperback was cheap and seems to have a lot of favourable reviews so I gave it a go. I can see why it would be great for total beginners, but it's also fantastic for those of us who want to feel good about ourselves - i.e. that our brain still functions at a reasonbale level). I have had great pleasure in realising that by following each of the panels of questions posed in the book, I still grasp the essentials of the game and, more than that, I'm remembering what I used to like about it. It's structure is excellent, and I particularly like the upside down alternate pages...it might seem quirky but it means that all answers to each question posed cannot be glanced at on the open pages...you have to turn over the page if you want to cheat! Maybe only a chess player of repute would come up with that...or it's very common in these kind of books and I'm just poorly read. Overall, for a book from someone considered by many to be the greatest ever chess player, it is entirely unpatronising to us chess neanderthals and it has raised my interest in the game to a new level. For those who are more advanced or even frequent players for fun, this book maybe a little too basic, but for total beginners or those who have been away from the game for years, it's a great way to become absorbed.

This is a natty little pocket sized book that has chess puzzles along the lines of "white to mate in 2 moves" with a picture of a chess board on one page and the solution along with a brief description on the next page. This was originally published when Bobby Fischer was at the height of his fame, i.e. before he started having strange ideas about the world. At this time, programmed learning techniques such as these were new and exciting. Anyone who subscribes to stress + rest = progress theory will love the way that the reader can see themselves evolve into a better chess player throughout this book. The primary focus is mating moves and that is just fine. And the funky thing about this is that once you have finished it, you can turn it upside down and start again reading it backwards. Imagine how ground-breaking that must have seemed in the 1970's?

I bought this to get back into Chess after a 15 year hiatus! I went in blind, and was overall quite happy with the results. Got through the book itself in a few sittings, its an easy 'read'.-The book has a large portion taken up by basic fundamentals, such as how to move your pieces, what is checkmate etc. The first 1/4 of the book was 'useless' to me.-Covers different ways to setup check mate, and how to defend against it.-Bobby Fischers games are referenced a dozen or so times throughout the book as examples showing how to use the tactics in practice.The book was useful to me overall in showing basic ways to apply pressure, doesn't cover openings or much mid game, the book focuses on mid/end game scenarios. The frames/puzzles in the book seemed easy, probably got half a dozen incorrect throughout the book, however I would attribute this to well setup orders and teaching methods.I don't believe this book would be good to people who deem themselves good at chess, only to those who are just starting to look into the theory of chess, and expect the book to be a quick read! Also it does not appear Bobby Fischer had much to do with the book at all, they should re title the book "Learn to Play Chess With Bobby Fischer's Fans".

To me Bobby Fischer is not only the greatest chess player of all time but a great mind. He was heralded as a champion of the USA during the cold war and abandoned and persecuted by that nation for many decades because he refused to be a tool of evil.This book is brilliant, I mean it, whether you have never played or you have been playing for years, this book will improve your game (excepting maybe proffessional players, but who knows) The best thing is you can pick it up for a few seconds or an hour and it doesnt bother you with endless paragraphs, tere are few in fact, you learn through answering chess problems.

This is by far the best book my 8-year-old and I have read in our quest to become half-decent chess players. It's a course that you work your way through, learning the techniques by looking at lots of different examples. It's a v simple format, almost to the point of looking old-fasioned (in a good way!), with a question on nearly every page, then you turn the page for the answer. It's easy to follow and great both for absolute beginners and those who know how the pieces move but want tips on strategy - a stage I've been stuck at for about 30 years!

Several review say this is misprinted with pages upside down. This is so not to reveal answers to the puzzles. The text instructs you do read the right hand pages until the end and then flip the book and read back to the start, as it were.

The content is easy to follow for beginners. However, the book has been printed upsidedown every other page which is slightly annoying.

It's a nice read. I'm a 1400 elo player and I certainly took a few things from the book. As the title says, if you're rated over about 1200 you've probably seen all the concepts in the book and it should just be a refresher.