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How to Win at Chess: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond
Learn chess from International Master and Youtube's top chess teacher Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess) in this refreshing and fun guide for beginner and intermediate players.
Clever and informative, How to Win at Chess teaches you everything you need to know about the game, including all the important moves and strategies to start off strong and keep you thinking several steps ahead.
Full of Rozman's signature charm and humor that have made him beloved by millions of fans, the first half of this unique guide introduces rising players (0-800 Elo rating) to the four key areas to consider when playing chess—openings, endings, tactics, and strategy—and the second half builds upon these core skills for more experienced players (800-1300 Elo rating). Brimming with practical and easy-to-follow tips for improving your game, How to Win at Chess includes more than 500 instructional gameplay illustrations to help you better visualize the board, as well as chapter-specific QR codes for exclusive bonus content on Chessly, Rozman's teaching platform.
Whether you want to become a recreational chess player or are training to be a Grandmaster, How to Win at Chess is the perfect interactive introduction to the world of chess!
Clever and informative, How to Win at Chess teaches you everything you need to know about the game, including all the important moves and strategies to start off strong and keep you thinking several steps ahead.
Full of Rozman's signature charm and humor that have made him beloved by millions of fans, the first half of this unique guide introduces rising players (0-800 Elo rating) to the four key areas to consider when playing chess—openings, endings, tactics, and strategy—and the second half builds upon these core skills for more experienced players (800-1300 Elo rating). Brimming with practical and easy-to-follow tips for improving your game, How to Win at Chess includes more than 500 instructional gameplay illustrations to help you better visualize the board, as well as chapter-specific QR codes for exclusive bonus content on Chessly, Rozman's teaching platform.
Whether you want to become a recreational chess player or are training to be a Grandmaster, How to Win at Chess is the perfect interactive introduction to the world of chess!
261 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2023
2002 people are currently reading
9511 people want to read
About the author
Levy Rozman
7 books84 followersI was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1995 to immigrant parents who came from a background in Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. When I was 5, my parents argued about which afterschool classes they should sign me up for. They were confident about art but skeptical about chess – I was too hyper to focus on some stupid wooden pieces.
As it turned out, I hated art. But not chess. I loved chess. I practiced every day, forcing my relatives to play against me. In January 2003, at the age of 7, I played my first chess tournament. Throughout my childhood, I was ranked in the Top 5 for my age category in the United States. But I never told anyone about my hobby—the one time I did, I was bullied mercilessly for being a nerd.
In 2010, as a sophomore in high school, I started teaching a classmate chess and his mother paid me $10/hour. I thought I was Bill Gates. A silly little board game could earn me money? Who would have thought…
In 2013, as a freshman in college, I started teaching chess 20 hours a week in New York City. By 2015, I was running my own K-12 chess program. Our team won multiple city and state championships—even though I was just a 19-year-old head coach at the time.
This was my job for 5 years. In 2020, the world changed forever. So I took things online.
Fast forward to now: I have scaled my 10-person after school chess classes to the entire planet. Millions of people around the world come to my channel every day to watch videos about chess openings, strategies, common beginner mistakes, and recaps of top level competitions. Tens of thousands of people have tried my chess courses and my chess book.
Chess has changed my life forever, and I hope it can change yours too. I will keep bringing a high level of instruction and excitement to my channel for many years to come.
~Levy Rozman aka GothamChess
As it turned out, I hated art. But not chess. I loved chess. I practiced every day, forcing my relatives to play against me. In January 2003, at the age of 7, I played my first chess tournament. Throughout my childhood, I was ranked in the Top 5 for my age category in the United States. But I never told anyone about my hobby—the one time I did, I was bullied mercilessly for being a nerd.
In 2010, as a sophomore in high school, I started teaching a classmate chess and his mother paid me $10/hour. I thought I was Bill Gates. A silly little board game could earn me money? Who would have thought…
In 2013, as a freshman in college, I started teaching chess 20 hours a week in New York City. By 2015, I was running my own K-12 chess program. Our team won multiple city and state championships—even though I was just a 19-year-old head coach at the time.
This was my job for 5 years. In 2020, the world changed forever. So I took things online.
Fast forward to now: I have scaled my 10-person after school chess classes to the entire planet. Millions of people around the world come to my channel every day to watch videos about chess openings, strategies, common beginner mistakes, and recaps of top level competitions. Tens of thousands of people have tried my chess courses and my chess book.
Chess has changed my life forever, and I hope it can change yours too. I will keep bringing a high level of instruction and excitement to my channel for many years to come.
~Levy Rozman aka GothamChess
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April 19, 2023"Get out of here" - Gothamchess
December 25, 2023
A great guide for people who have recently mastered the basic rules of chess and would now like to make the transition to studying the game, not really knowing where to start. My rating of this stems from me being a bit past that stage, so as an intermediate player this only scratched the surface for me, but I still enjoyed the diversion!
How to Win at Chess is the first literary effort of the International Master Levy Rozman, who many know and either love or hate as GothamChess. During the pandemic, his educational and often snappy – sometimes almost bitchy – but always educational videos on chess really blew up and he has since established himself in the world of the online chess community. With this book he takes beginners by their hands and patiently helps them navigating through the confusing and overwhelming world of those sixty-four black and white squares.
It's a well-structured manual and great starting point. I myself remember picking up this game and being blown away by the vastness of it. I knew the rules, but where to do from there? There are endgames to study, openings to learn and tactics to practice. It can get overwhelming quickly, so a book like this will make you feel more secure on your path towards greatness or whatever you personally strive for. After explaining the basics of the game to you, this explains and suggests a couple of beginner-friendly openings for White and Black to you and covers basic strategy ideas and endgames.
If you've already dabbled quite a bit in the world of chess, this might not be for you. Though it claims to be for beginners and intermediate players alike, I think the former will benefit way more from this release. Rozman is a great teacher, I really liked the tone he went for with this: it's clear, easy to understand and follow and supportive. The design of the book is clean and deliberate and there are a few boxes with fun facts that make the otherwise dense material feel lighter.
It may not be the most comprehensive guide, but you'll have ideas of where to go from here. This really just is a starter, but explaining the game of chess on less than 300 page is no easy task and Rozman does really make the best out of it. It may feel surface-level to those more advanced, but if you're new to the game you will have a solid understanding of what steps you can take next in your personal chess journey. Any fan of the author or player rated below 1200 will definitely make no wrong choice by spending a bit of time with this!
How to Win at Chess is the first literary effort of the International Master Levy Rozman, who many know and either love or hate as GothamChess. During the pandemic, his educational and often snappy – sometimes almost bitchy – but always educational videos on chess really blew up and he has since established himself in the world of the online chess community. With this book he takes beginners by their hands and patiently helps them navigating through the confusing and overwhelming world of those sixty-four black and white squares.
It's a well-structured manual and great starting point. I myself remember picking up this game and being blown away by the vastness of it. I knew the rules, but where to do from there? There are endgames to study, openings to learn and tactics to practice. It can get overwhelming quickly, so a book like this will make you feel more secure on your path towards greatness or whatever you personally strive for. After explaining the basics of the game to you, this explains and suggests a couple of beginner-friendly openings for White and Black to you and covers basic strategy ideas and endgames.
If you've already dabbled quite a bit in the world of chess, this might not be for you. Though it claims to be for beginners and intermediate players alike, I think the former will benefit way more from this release. Rozman is a great teacher, I really liked the tone he went for with this: it's clear, easy to understand and follow and supportive. The design of the book is clean and deliberate and there are a few boxes with fun facts that make the otherwise dense material feel lighter.
It may not be the most comprehensive guide, but you'll have ideas of where to go from here. This really just is a starter, but explaining the game of chess on less than 300 page is no easy task and Rozman does really make the best out of it. It may feel surface-level to those more advanced, but if you're new to the game you will have a solid understanding of what steps you can take next in your personal chess journey. Any fan of the author or player rated below 1200 will definitely make no wrong choice by spending a bit of time with this!
February 13, 2024
Back in the 60's I learned the basic moves of chess but it never grabbed me. Then, the Fischer-Spassky world championship kicked of the Fischer frenzy and lots of folks got swept up in it. I began playing competitive chess, studied lots of books, but could not devote a lot of time to it so pretty much remained an intermediate player -probably average for a strong club player but I did win a state class championship and once defeated a master in a simul where he was also playing 6 others. I continued to play in clubs around Florida now and then and kept studying books I thought would be interesting. One of my favorites, actually published in 1957 by Irving Chernev (still in print) "Logical Chess Move by Move" was great to read because it was chess move by move. Not having to keep variations in the head and following different lines without illustration made the book quite easy to follow.
American Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan wrote a series of instructional books about 20 years ago that are clear and informative and interesting but he took about 6 books to cover what this one does in one. So, combine the great principles of those two authors and you have this book. Explanations, move by move, covering rules, play, analysis, strategy and tactics.
When I downsized a few years ago I donated 222 chess books to a local club so I have been through a few! This is by far the best book I have read on learning the game, playing the game, practicing the game, and hopefully winning a lot more than you used to! While it ends at my skill level, I still gained some ideas, keyed some forgotten ideas and am glad to have read it. It is clear, logical, and supportive so if you have an interest in the game, give it a go! Or maybe, there is someone you just don't seem to be able to beat and could use a helping hand!
American Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan wrote a series of instructional books about 20 years ago that are clear and informative and interesting but he took about 6 books to cover what this one does in one. So, combine the great principles of those two authors and you have this book. Explanations, move by move, covering rules, play, analysis, strategy and tactics.
When I downsized a few years ago I donated 222 chess books to a local club so I have been through a few! This is by far the best book I have read on learning the game, playing the game, practicing the game, and hopefully winning a lot more than you used to! While it ends at my skill level, I still gained some ideas, keyed some forgotten ideas and am glad to have read it. It is clear, logical, and supportive so if you have an interest in the game, give it a go! Or maybe, there is someone you just don't seem to be able to beat and could use a helping hand!
November 15, 2023
This book was truly well done, especially for a first-time author. Of all the beginner chess books I’ve seen, I think it’s the best so far. The only true downside is that it was supposed to be aimed at “intermediate” players as well, and since I myself am an intermediate player, I hoped to benefit... But I don’t think it went much beyond beginner. From number one chess YouTuber, Rozman’s leap to educational author went smoothly, I think.
I posted a full video review on my Random Chess Person YT channel, but won’t link to it here in case this site frowns on that.
February 10, 2025
I’m still losing at chess
March 21, 2025
Now that I am retired, I have been doing a lot of fly fishing for trout and trying to significantly improve my Chess game. I have been playing Chess pretty actively for more than 60 years. I play a lot of board/card games, and Chess is clearly my favorite game. I have been slowly acquiring a good little collection of Chess books, mostly focusing on various openings and defenses. If you play Chess, you cannot go wrong in following Levy Rozman on YouTube (Gothamchess). He is a great teacher and explainer, and he has a terrific sense of humor. If you're new to Chess or an intermittent player, this book is invaluable. If you're a serious intermediate, or better, player this book may not help you much, but it sure makes a fine gift to a friend or relative just coming to the game. Very solid 4.5/5.0 stars for me!
The late-Latvian/Soviet Grand Master, Mikail Tal, was quoted, when asked about how he played Chess, as saying: You must lead your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.
The late-Latvian/Soviet Grand Master, Mikail Tal, was quoted, when asked about how he played Chess, as saying: You must lead your opponent into a deep, dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.
January 8, 2024
An instructive and approachable read. Levy Rozman’s author voice is exactly like his speaking voice: warm, funny, clear, and intelligent. I discovered his GothamChess YouTube channel by accident recently, and became totally engrossed. His passion for the game drew me in and made chess not only interesting but also actively made me want to play myself. I found his book through that experience, and I’m glad to have read it.
He breaks down the details of chess in a way that is simultaneously easy to follow and yet not pandering to the uneducated. Almost any age could learn how to play chess from this book, which is pretty impressive given how complicated the game is.
After reading this, I want to buy a chess set. That is success, by any measure.
He breaks down the details of chess in a way that is simultaneously easy to follow and yet not pandering to the uneducated. Almost any age could learn how to play chess from this book, which is pretty impressive given how complicated the game is.
After reading this, I want to buy a chess set. That is success, by any measure.
Read
February 11, 2025Well presented, uncluttered pages with clear diagrams.
Levy’s explanations are easy to follow.
A great tool for people like me who are desperately trying to leave beginner territory and teeter on the boundary of intermediate chess.
I use this as reference material from which I can pick chapters out to study, depending on what areas of my game I’d like to work on.
Definitely recommend.
Levy’s explanations are easy to follow.
A great tool for people like me who are desperately trying to leave beginner territory and teeter on the boundary of intermediate chess.
I use this as reference material from which I can pick chapters out to study, depending on what areas of my game I’d like to work on.
Definitely recommend.
March 13, 2024
beginner half was great intermediate half was meh
April 21, 2024
Good book for beginner to early intermediate
I recently picked up chess again and have been playing a lot. I was doing most of my learning through chess.com lessons from instructors, puzzles, etc but wanted to also back it up with a thorough course on the basics. This book does cover all those basic concepts you need to be practicing at all times so is worth the cost, especially for beginners.
I recently picked up chess again and have been playing a lot. I was doing most of my learning through chess.com lessons from instructors, puzzles, etc but wanted to also back it up with a thorough course on the basics. This book does cover all those basic concepts you need to be practicing at all times so is worth the cost, especially for beginners.
August 11, 2025
Hopefully it works (probably won’t…)!
Genuinely though, great read. Looks gorgeous. Excellent voice from Levy.
About 5 too many MMA analogies, but nevertheless, still a great training book for beginners!
Genuinely though, great read. Looks gorgeous. Excellent voice from Levy.
About 5 too many MMA analogies, but nevertheless, still a great training book for beginners!
October 28, 2023
Empieza muy básico y explica muy bien hasta un nivel como de 1500 (si no metes la pata a cada poco, como yo) Más gracioso en los vídeos, lógicamente, y con acceso a contenido online muy bueno.
April 11, 2024
GothamChess is an excellent communicator and makes the game accessible and fun. His YouTube channel is also great. I don’t always win at chess now but this book has helped me improve my game quite a bit!
June 12, 2024
I originally got this book to help play chess with someone who was extremely talented in it. Though life had other plans, I unexpectedly got into the book and chess even more. Chess can easily become boring to read about but the author made it understandable and fun! As a beginner to chess, I learned a lot and improved my game for sure! My brain is now forming thoughts of openings, controlling the center, castling early (while not forgetting a luft ofc), forming batteries, tactics and strategy’s, and middle and endgames. I also know where to go from here to improve even more. Though, I def still have a longggg ways to go lol.
September 17, 2023
Whilst I understood the principles of chess and basic game rules, I have never really played chess properly. I picked up “How to Win at Chess” by Levy Rozman and am delighted by the improvement in my understanding…and ability to win! Granted, I have only tested my new skills against the computer and chess puzzles but I’m enjoying chess far more!
This book is carefully thought out to give the reader small wins in each chapter. As my understanding improved as to what winning strategy looks like, my game win ratio improved. I find it easy to flip back to the book when I encounter a permutation to a gambit and learn a better way to play. I am only at 600 so haven’t fully utilised the book’s teachings yet but that’s an improvement from O in little more than a month.
The passion of author and Grandmaster Levy Rozman exudes throughout and it is an easy read as he explains why as well as how, for me the why make the how easier to recall.
If you’re looking to improve your chess game or start playing chess and discover why it is so popular, this is the book to read! I couldn’t watch the videos as I had the advanced copy but can only imagine how much more depth this will add. Its a five out of five and highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book is carefully thought out to give the reader small wins in each chapter. As my understanding improved as to what winning strategy looks like, my game win ratio improved. I find it easy to flip back to the book when I encounter a permutation to a gambit and learn a better way to play. I am only at 600 so haven’t fully utilised the book’s teachings yet but that’s an improvement from O in little more than a month.
The passion of author and Grandmaster Levy Rozman exudes throughout and it is an easy read as he explains why as well as how, for me the why make the how easier to recall.
If you’re looking to improve your chess game or start playing chess and discover why it is so popular, this is the book to read! I couldn’t watch the videos as I had the advanced copy but can only imagine how much more depth this will add. Its a five out of five and highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 25, 2024
Levy was the YouTuber that really sparked my joy in chess making the learning of the game fun to ingest. in many cases chess educators before Gotham were dry, just listing the facts. adding helpful critique to a comedy video about chess helped my to understand what I was doing wrong in my games and where I needed to improve. over a year my ELO climbed from 150 to 1083 mainly watching Gothamchess and Eric Rosen. this book has many of the things I've already learned and is now not that useful to me but I still have a ways to go and there's some interesting looks at openings I don't know that well. I plan to use this as a reference book to crack open when I need a refresher on something or to learn a listed opening.
this book is in many ways a complete beginners guide covering the absolute basics so if you are looking to learn from nothing at all ground up, this book has that and more. I highly recommend it.
this book is in many ways a complete beginners guide covering the absolute basics so if you are looking to learn from nothing at all ground up, this book has that and more. I highly recommend it.
February 8, 2024
An attractive and readable chess book. The design of the book is visually pleasing and the diagrams are clear, and they are enhanced by a QR code in each chapter that the reader can scan to be taken to Levy's chess website for additional practice.
Unfortunately, most of the advice in the book, which is offered in a conversational and fun prose style, is below my level. I'm far from the second coming of Kasparov, but the majority of the advice is more suited for beginners and less suited for the "beyond" mentioned in the book's subtitle. That said, he does offer simple introductions to a number of openings, which is more than many beginner books offer.
Along those lines, I've been trying his recommendation for the Caro-Kann advance variation, and I've had some success!
Ultimately, what you get out of this book will depend on how far along you are in your chess journey.
Unfortunately, most of the advice in the book, which is offered in a conversational and fun prose style, is below my level. I'm far from the second coming of Kasparov, but the majority of the advice is more suited for beginners and less suited for the "beyond" mentioned in the book's subtitle. That said, he does offer simple introductions to a number of openings, which is more than many beginner books offer.
Along those lines, I've been trying his recommendation for the Caro-Kann advance variation, and I've had some success!
Ultimately, what you get out of this book will depend on how far along you are in your chess journey.
April 18, 2025
I’ll be referencing this book for a while in my chess journey, especially openings and checkmating basics. It’s the kind of book that tells you just enough about chess to get you excited about playing it a lot and exploring its vast universe. And of course my ELO has increased by 150 since I started watching and now reading Levy’s content :)
May 29, 2023
I'm past the beginner stage but I'm hoping it can still be helpful, since this book is being written by GothamChess I'm sure it'll be helpful.
(Random quote from Levy Rozman A.K.A. GothamChess): "and he sacrifices . . . THE ROOOK!!!"
(Random quote from Levy Rozman A.K.A. GothamChess): "and he sacrifices . . . THE ROOOK!!!"
December 1, 2024
Super helpful introduction to playing chess with intention and expanding your mind to having a grand strategy. Reworked my whole framework for how the game works and what it looks like to come to it with a plan.
July 15, 2025
Good book but I'm still trash.
November 30, 2024
Great book, but I’m still 700 ELO in blitz, so I can’t give it more than three stars…
Want to read
April 18, 2023boiii
September 19, 2024
This is the most popular chess book of 2023-2024, written by the most popular chess-tuber. It's an online-first general-purpose beginner's book.
The material is (nominally) split into two separate skill ranges: "0-800 Elo" ("beginner") and "800-1200 Elo" ("intermediate"). You're left to infer that he means your chess.com rapid (or maybe chess.com blitz, or maybe USCF, but definitely not Lichess) rating. Yes, you need to guess the Elo.
The book is written in a jokey, kid-friendly style. The clickbait king has a soft-spoken teacher side and a toxic gamer side, and this is the former.
Part 1 has everything you need to know to play a game just above the level of "knowing how the pieces move", and a couple things you don't. The book doesn't assume any prior knowledge at all, and that's a good thing. It's probably appropriate as a first book for a genuine beginner. The emphasis on openings is probably excessive (especially the "drills" in the online supplement), but it can't hurt to be exposed to a larger variety.
I don't know if there's really a clean distinction between the material of part 1 and 2. Some of the endgame stuff in part 2 is definitely more advanced.
This seems like it would do an alright job as a first chess book at most ages.
Other/final thoughts:
- Most of the exercises are not included directly in the book, but as an online supplement through the author's course/training website (I guess this makes the book a bit of a sales funnel, but it's not much different from a book advertising other books from the same author/publisher on the back flap). This means there's a bit of friction going from the hardcover to the end-of-chapter exercises (links, QR codes), but I think many readers will appreciate the interactive element.
- The online supplement includes a few annotated full games, which was nice to see.
- There are only a few demonstrative puzzles on the website, which is fine considering you can do millions for free on Lichess. Their difficulty is not too hard relative to the material.
- The book is extremely openings-heavy, which goes against the conventional wisdom that openings don't matter much for beginners ("your opponent won't know the main line" etc.) Openings make up about 1/3rd of the page count.
- Although the book touches on a lot of openings, the rook guy does recommend switching your brain off and playing the same specific "system"-style openings (the London as white and a King's Indian-style setup as black) every game.
- I like that the author actually explains the rationale behind the "checks, captures, attacks" (elsewhere sometimes "checks, captures, threats") mantra: evaluate the most immediately promising and forcing lines first, because a human can't comb through 30^plies variations every move.
The material is (nominally) split into two separate skill ranges: "0-800 Elo" ("beginner") and "800-1200 Elo" ("intermediate"). You're left to infer that he means your chess.com rapid (or maybe chess.com blitz, or maybe USCF, but definitely not Lichess) rating. Yes, you need to guess the Elo.
The book is written in a jokey, kid-friendly style. The clickbait king has a soft-spoken teacher side and a toxic gamer side, and this is the former.
Part 1 has everything you need to know to play a game just above the level of "knowing how the pieces move", and a couple things you don't. The book doesn't assume any prior knowledge at all, and that's a good thing. It's probably appropriate as a first book for a genuine beginner. The emphasis on openings is probably excessive (especially the "drills" in the online supplement), but it can't hurt to be exposed to a larger variety.
I don't know if there's really a clean distinction between the material of part 1 and 2. Some of the endgame stuff in part 2 is definitely more advanced.
This seems like it would do an alright job as a first chess book at most ages.
Other/final thoughts:
- Most of the exercises are not included directly in the book, but as an online supplement through the author's course/training website (I guess this makes the book a bit of a sales funnel, but it's not much different from a book advertising other books from the same author/publisher on the back flap). This means there's a bit of friction going from the hardcover to the end-of-chapter exercises (links, QR codes), but I think many readers will appreciate the interactive element.
- The online supplement includes a few annotated full games, which was nice to see.
- There are only a few demonstrative puzzles on the website, which is fine considering you can do millions for free on Lichess. Their difficulty is not too hard relative to the material.
- The book is extremely openings-heavy, which goes against the conventional wisdom that openings don't matter much for beginners ("your opponent won't know the main line" etc.) Openings make up about 1/3rd of the page count.
- Although the book touches on a lot of openings, the rook guy does recommend switching your brain off and playing the same specific "system"-style openings (the London as white and a King's Indian-style setup as black) every game.
- I like that the author actually explains the rationale behind the "checks, captures, attacks" (elsewhere sometimes "checks, captures, threats") mantra: evaluate the most immediately promising and forcing lines first, because a human can't comb through 30^plies variations every move.
May 3, 2025
Okey not as good as Fun master mike 🙂
November 29, 2023
Me already being a huge fan of Levy's work over on YouTube was probably the main reason for me to pick up this book. It's a really entertaining read, with fun facts, witty anecdotes, and a whole lot of personality accompanying every sentence of this guide. However, despite me falling into the ELO range the second part (the intermediate chapters) of this book was aimed at, I feel like the lack of new information I picked up fell a bit short. Don't get me wrong, I think that this might be the single most comprehensible, digestible and entertaining written guide for chess beginners (take this statement with a grain of salt, since this is the *only* chess book I've actually read), but if you're already at 1000 ELO and beyond and solely want to improve effectively, there's probably better resources to spend your time on.
However, this would definitely be my first recommendation for any beginner. There should be no questions left unanswered while reading, as every paragraph is very fun to read, easy to follow and comprehensibly structured along with several illustrations to visualize the written content on every page. And if you have never played a game of chess in your life, you will learn everything from how the board and pieces work to openings, tactics, patterns, strategies, advanced terminology and endgames.
I've been looking forward to this book since it first got announced, and I guess back then I could've used it more than I do now, but I guess Levy's videos did a lot of the work the book could've done for me at this point in time.
Amazing read, a refreshing resource to make chess fun and interesting for newcomers.
"And now get out of here!"
However, this would definitely be my first recommendation for any beginner. There should be no questions left unanswered while reading, as every paragraph is very fun to read, easy to follow and comprehensibly structured along with several illustrations to visualize the written content on every page. And if you have never played a game of chess in your life, you will learn everything from how the board and pieces work to openings, tactics, patterns, strategies, advanced terminology and endgames.
I've been looking forward to this book since it first got announced, and I guess back then I could've used it more than I do now, but I guess Levy's videos did a lot of the work the book could've done for me at this point in time.
Amazing read, a refreshing resource to make chess fun and interesting for newcomers.
"And now get out of here!"
May 12, 2024
I get a sense that chess has been close to almost a lifetime pursuit for the author. I, on the other hand only became fascinated with the game as of recent. I had realized that people look at me like I’m a smart guy, and well I needed a way to test this theory, so I would not feel like a fraud, because there are plenty of days where I don’t feel so smart. So, what is a good litmus test for someone’s intelligence? Well, how are they at chess?
Chess like everything else that drives man’s intellect and fascination towards deep study— is a metaphor for life. Take a look at the simple subtextual commentary on race relationships within this game with such depth— than white always has the advantage because white goes first, and black therefore begins the game at a disadvantage.
Chess is part a puzzle of tactics, strategy, logic, observation, and I think for the very best players a game of which requires deep study and commitment.
There are a few fundamentals that are key like controlling the center and developing your key pieces in the opening of the game.
The book does dive into a little bit of the dense world of chess theory, particularly in regard to openings. Because white moves first, they are in the unique position to force black to respond to them.
Now there are strong opening formations that black can utilize, but if two players are of even intelligence and study and knowledge of chess— my concept is that those chess games are like playacting as assumingely they both play at optimum tactics, there comes to be a predictability or as the phrase goes their play becomes “by the book”.
The truth is I have not played too many games of chess in my life and the number of games I have played I have lost more than I have won.
But I want to know what are the keys to a good chess game, and study… and then when I’m good and ready get out there and play as many games of chess as I can and then see how much I improve and how far I come, because right now my chess game is all theory , and I need to grind.
I did all of the online exercises. I plan to refer back to this book and keep using it for deeper and continual study to set some of these concepts in motions. I want to improve. I want to be great, and if I suck well maybe that’s proof I’m not as smart as I thought I was.
Through this book I have learned some very beautiful vocabulary words like zwischenzug and flanchetto.
I particularly enjoyed towards the end of the book where he goes deeper into intermediate tactics, and states that chess is not merely a game of point value meaning the remaining stronger pieces have more points but it also about the nuance of the positions of your pieces.
Anyways, only time will tell if I ever grow to be great chess player, but this book was a great and necessary read not only to deepen my study and understanding of the game, but deepening my love for the game.
Chess like everything else that drives man’s intellect and fascination towards deep study— is a metaphor for life. Take a look at the simple subtextual commentary on race relationships within this game with such depth— than white always has the advantage because white goes first, and black therefore begins the game at a disadvantage.
Chess is part a puzzle of tactics, strategy, logic, observation, and I think for the very best players a game of which requires deep study and commitment.
There are a few fundamentals that are key like controlling the center and developing your key pieces in the opening of the game.
The book does dive into a little bit of the dense world of chess theory, particularly in regard to openings. Because white moves first, they are in the unique position to force black to respond to them.
Now there are strong opening formations that black can utilize, but if two players are of even intelligence and study and knowledge of chess— my concept is that those chess games are like playacting as assumingely they both play at optimum tactics, there comes to be a predictability or as the phrase goes their play becomes “by the book”.
The truth is I have not played too many games of chess in my life and the number of games I have played I have lost more than I have won.
But I want to know what are the keys to a good chess game, and study… and then when I’m good and ready get out there and play as many games of chess as I can and then see how much I improve and how far I come, because right now my chess game is all theory , and I need to grind.
I did all of the online exercises. I plan to refer back to this book and keep using it for deeper and continual study to set some of these concepts in motions. I want to improve. I want to be great, and if I suck well maybe that’s proof I’m not as smart as I thought I was.
Through this book I have learned some very beautiful vocabulary words like zwischenzug and flanchetto.
I particularly enjoyed towards the end of the book where he goes deeper into intermediate tactics, and states that chess is not merely a game of point value meaning the remaining stronger pieces have more points but it also about the nuance of the positions of your pieces.
Anyways, only time will tell if I ever grow to be great chess player, but this book was a great and necessary read not only to deepen my study and understanding of the game, but deepening my love for the game.
April 25, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess, has crafted a delightful and instructive guide for chess enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a fledgling pawn or a seasoned grandmaster, "How to Win at Chess" offers valuable insights, witty commentary, and practical advice to elevate your game.
In this refreshing and fun book, Rozman covers the essential aspects of chess, breaking them down into two distinct parts:
For Rising Players (0-800 Elo Rating):
- Openings: Learn how to navigate the initial moves of a game strategically. Rozman demystifies common openings, providing clear explanations and practical tips.
- Endings: Discover the art of finishing games. From basic checkmates to endgame principles, this section ensures you're well-prepared for the final stages.
- Tactics: Unleash your inner tactician! Explore tactical motifs, combinations, and tricks that can turn the tide in your favor.
- Strategy: Understand the broader picture. Rozman discusses positional play, pawn structures, and long-term planning.
For Experienced Players (800-1300 Elo Rating):
- Building upon the foundation laid in Part I, this section delves deeper into advanced concepts.
- Advanced Openings: Explore more intricate opening variations and their nuances.
- Complex Endgames: Master complex endgame scenarios, including pawn endings and minor piece endgames.
- Strategic Mastery: Develop a strategic mindset. Rozman shares insights on middlegame strategy, piece coordination, and prophylaxis.
- Bonus Content: Throughout the book, QR codes link to exclusive material on Chessly, Rozman's teaching platform.
Why You'll Love It:
- Humor and Charm: Rozman's signature wit shines through, making learning chess enjoyable.
- Illustrations: Over 500 instructional gameplay illustrations help visualize key concepts.
- Accessible Language: Whether you're a novice or an enthusiast, the writing style is engaging and approachable.
- Practical Tips: Rozman's practical advice can be immediately applied to your games.
Final Verdict:
"How to Win at Chess" is more than a guide; it's a journey. Levy Rozman invites you to explore the intricate dance of 64 squares, where every move matters. So grab your knights, queens, and rooks, and embark on this delightful chess adventure!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5 stars).
Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess, has crafted a delightful and instructive guide for chess enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a fledgling pawn or a seasoned grandmaster, "How to Win at Chess" offers valuable insights, witty commentary, and practical advice to elevate your game.
In this refreshing and fun book, Rozman covers the essential aspects of chess, breaking them down into two distinct parts:
For Rising Players (0-800 Elo Rating):
- Openings: Learn how to navigate the initial moves of a game strategically. Rozman demystifies common openings, providing clear explanations and practical tips.
- Endings: Discover the art of finishing games. From basic checkmates to endgame principles, this section ensures you're well-prepared for the final stages.
- Tactics: Unleash your inner tactician! Explore tactical motifs, combinations, and tricks that can turn the tide in your favor.
- Strategy: Understand the broader picture. Rozman discusses positional play, pawn structures, and long-term planning.
For Experienced Players (800-1300 Elo Rating):
- Building upon the foundation laid in Part I, this section delves deeper into advanced concepts.
- Advanced Openings: Explore more intricate opening variations and their nuances.
- Complex Endgames: Master complex endgame scenarios, including pawn endings and minor piece endgames.
- Strategic Mastery: Develop a strategic mindset. Rozman shares insights on middlegame strategy, piece coordination, and prophylaxis.
- Bonus Content: Throughout the book, QR codes link to exclusive material on Chessly, Rozman's teaching platform.
Why You'll Love It:
- Humor and Charm: Rozman's signature wit shines through, making learning chess enjoyable.
- Illustrations: Over 500 instructional gameplay illustrations help visualize key concepts.
- Accessible Language: Whether you're a novice or an enthusiast, the writing style is engaging and approachable.
- Practical Tips: Rozman's practical advice can be immediately applied to your games.
Final Verdict:
"How to Win at Chess" is more than a guide; it's a journey. Levy Rozman invites you to explore the intricate dance of 64 squares, where every move matters. So grab your knights, queens, and rooks, and embark on this delightful chess adventure!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 out of 5 stars).
December 18, 2023
For the people who don't have time and want a quick review: This book is for the chess players who are below intermediate level, players on or above intermediate level won't find as beneficial. This book features lessons on openings, tactics, strategies and endgames with pictorial representations and examples. There is a link at the end of every chapter where you can get better graphical representation with extra comments on the demonstrated examples and on top of that you can practice the lessons which you learned from the book on the same website.
Now long review:
The book basically is divided into 2 parts, Part one recommended for 0-800 rated players and Part two for 800-1200 rated players. In part one, the author Levy Rozman explains how to play chess (rules of the game) and how the pieces move which helps us understand chess. Of course, the author also teaches us how to win at chess by teaching us basic openings, standard tactics, simple endgames and beginner strategies. The only downside of the first half of the book (part one) is that it's just too basic (and time consuming) for the players who are not beginner at chess. In part two, the author focuses on some advanced skill like intermediate openings, gambits, intermediate strategies, advanced tactics and standard endgames. (extremely useful for players transitioning from beginner to intermediate level) This book will definitely improve your knowledge (If not anything you will at least learn some new chess terms) and skills at chess (provided that you did the exercise on the chessly website; link of the site given at the end of every chapter in the book). The author, demonstrates each concept through examples, accompanied by visual representations of the chessboard. These illustrations significantly aid in comprehension and provide a deeper understanding of the discussed topics. Despite the book's apparent length, a major portion of the book comprises image representations of examples, making it an easily digestible read. Moreover, the book provides links at the end of each chapter directing readers to the 'chessly' website where you can specifically practice the lessons you just learned. This book is definitely worth it for the beginners and below intermediate level players but might not offer much to advanced players.
Now long review:
The book basically is divided into 2 parts, Part one recommended for 0-800 rated players and Part two for 800-1200 rated players. In part one, the author Levy Rozman explains how to play chess (rules of the game) and how the pieces move which helps us understand chess. Of course, the author also teaches us how to win at chess by teaching us basic openings, standard tactics, simple endgames and beginner strategies. The only downside of the first half of the book (part one) is that it's just too basic (and time consuming) for the players who are not beginner at chess. In part two, the author focuses on some advanced skill like intermediate openings, gambits, intermediate strategies, advanced tactics and standard endgames. (extremely useful for players transitioning from beginner to intermediate level) This book will definitely improve your knowledge (If not anything you will at least learn some new chess terms) and skills at chess (provided that you did the exercise on the chessly website; link of the site given at the end of every chapter in the book). The author, demonstrates each concept through examples, accompanied by visual representations of the chessboard. These illustrations significantly aid in comprehension and provide a deeper understanding of the discussed topics. Despite the book's apparent length, a major portion of the book comprises image representations of examples, making it an easily digestible read. Moreover, the book provides links at the end of each chapter directing readers to the 'chessly' website where you can specifically practice the lessons you just learned. This book is definitely worth it for the beginners and below intermediate level players but might not offer much to advanced players.
December 31, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
How to Win at Chess is a thought-provoking and information dense chess monograph by Levy Rozman (GothamChess). Released 24th Oct 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is an all-around volume, from the minutiae and basics of the rules, including scoring and notation, to the nuts and bolts of gameplay, including early-mid-and-endgame strategies. The author includes his thoughts and experiences as a chess teacher (and high-end competitive player) to help readers approach problem solving in game thoughtfully and improve their repertoires gambit-wise.
He has millions of followers on youtube and chess.com, and is the most-followed western player in the world (there are some few with more followers in Asia, India specifically). He's in a handful of chess players and teachers worldwide with a finger on the pulse of competitive gameplay and has analyzed thousands (tens of thousands?) of games for followers. His almost real-time commentary on competition play is pithy and insightful and very colorful.
Readers who are familiar with his work in film/audio media will immediately recognize the same brash bright attitude and humor in the book. He makes a number of salient points and really does offer insight into improving readers' performance at all stages of their game.
It's enchanting to see people doing things they clearly love, and doing them very well. He's unvarnished (a bit "in your face" at some points), very very clever, well spoken and funny, and it's clear he REALLY loves chess.
Five stars. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, for gifting, and for chess afficionados. It would also be a good choice for more formal instruction, for chess clubs' libraries, gaming clubs, and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
How to Win at Chess is a thought-provoking and information dense chess monograph by Levy Rozman (GothamChess). Released 24th Oct 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is an all-around volume, from the minutiae and basics of the rules, including scoring and notation, to the nuts and bolts of gameplay, including early-mid-and-endgame strategies. The author includes his thoughts and experiences as a chess teacher (and high-end competitive player) to help readers approach problem solving in game thoughtfully and improve their repertoires gambit-wise.
He has millions of followers on youtube and chess.com, and is the most-followed western player in the world (there are some few with more followers in Asia, India specifically). He's in a handful of chess players and teachers worldwide with a finger on the pulse of competitive gameplay and has analyzed thousands (tens of thousands?) of games for followers. His almost real-time commentary on competition play is pithy and insightful and very colorful.
Readers who are familiar with his work in film/audio media will immediately recognize the same brash bright attitude and humor in the book. He makes a number of salient points and really does offer insight into improving readers' performance at all stages of their game.
It's enchanting to see people doing things they clearly love, and doing them very well. He's unvarnished (a bit "in your face" at some points), very very clever, well spoken and funny, and it's clear he REALLY loves chess.
Five stars. This would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, for gifting, and for chess afficionados. It would also be a good choice for more formal instruction, for chess clubs' libraries, gaming clubs, and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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