The Soviet Chess Primer

by Ilya Maizelis, Mark Dvoretsky (Foreword), Emanuel Lasker (Foreword)

Ilya Maizelis's masterpiece is the definitive introduction to the game of chess. It has inspired generations of Russians to take up the game, including arguably the two greatest players of all time, the 12th and 13th World Champions. In the original Russian, this landmark work is simply called "Chess" no other explanation was considered necessary. The Soviet Chess Primer is a modern English translation of Maizelis's witty introduction to the royal game. This new edition of a timeless classic includes the original foreword from the 2nd World Champion, Emanuel Lasker, as well as an introduction from the most celebrated chess trainer of modern times, Mark Dvoretsky."

Genres: Chess, Games, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

Reviews

[Shine Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite classic. This book will prove useful to players of any level . I purchased it in 2015 while participating on a fide tournament and since then , I have been reading through (playing and solving should I say) this book and it is pure gold for anyone wishing to learn and master the game. I really liked the simple language used in this book , and a lot and lot of the innumerable chess themes and every fundamentals are covered with great detail and instructive examples. This is a must read for every aspiring and upcoming chess players. Thank you so much Ilya Maizelis for this wonderful book!

[Robert Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally called simply "Chess" when printed in Russian, this book was widely used as an early instruction handbook for Soviet chess players. Far be it from me to want anything to do with the Soviet Union, but even I have to admit, this is one of the finest tools to quickly advance your chess game if you're an advanced beginner or intermediate player.

Where I think some people may become a bit confused is the word "primer" in the title. Though this book does begin with the basic rules of chess--and even teaches the reader how to read the book because it takes the time to explain algebraic chess notation right at the start--it quickly moves on to more advanced tactical and strategic ideas. Beginners who genuinely are just learning the basic rules of the game could hypothetically read this book, but I think they will very quickly become overwhelmed by the more advanced ideas discussed even as early as the second or third chapters.

However, readers who already have some familiarity with the game will benefit a lot from its discussions of ideas which are fairly simple to understand but often difficult to apply in real games. For example, simple tactics like pins and forks are easy enough for even absolute beginners to understand. However, where this book shines is that it provides enough examples (of increasing complexity) that reading the book will help the reader begin to recognize when those tactics might become relevant. Chess is largely a matter of pattern recognition, and this book will help you start to recognize the patterns.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this for the serious beginner or early-intermediate chess player looking to deepen his or her knowledge of the game.

[Zackary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having already studied Simple Chess, How To Reassess Your Chess, Chess Fundamentals, and My System, I found little within this book that was new. However, the presentation of this work is exceptional and entertaining. I wish I'd read it sooner as then it would have been my introduction to many of the concepts it contains. I have a feeling that this would have done me well about a year ago.

[Alfredo Artiles Larralde · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential book for any U1800 chess player. Very easy to read.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well illustrated and explained games to showcase the essential principles (tactics, strategy, combinations, positional play) to apply to every chess game. A highly intuitive and great book for intermediate players.

[Luca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best introduction to chess!

[MikeL.]

good book very interesting.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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