Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Best of Fred Reinfeld

 Here is a list of Reinfeld's top twenty best selling chess books with customer ratings. I have read but a few of his general books, but HAVE read his books on game collections of Alekhine, Nimzovich, Tarrach, Lasker, Capa and Keres and I can recommend them! His annotations are not always 100 percent accurate, but they are still good books and are far better than Reinfeld's general reputation when it comes to writing chess books.

1 - Winning Chess
5.00 of 5 stars
Beloved of chess-mad teenagers since it was first published in 1970, updated and repackaged in algebraic format. Written in lively, conversational style by two prolific and popular chess authors, it is aimed at players who have gone past the beginner stage and want to take their game to a whole new level. Its imaginative themes and instructional method are timeless, and the whole book is shot through with fun and humor.

2 - The Immortal Games of Capablanca
4.65 of 5 stars
Superbly annotated treasury includes 113 of the Cuban master's greatest games against Marshall, Lasker, Euwe, and many other formidable opponents. It also contains not only many games previously unavailable in book form, but a biography of Capablanca, his tournament and match record, and an Index of Openings. Look inside

3 - Development of a Chess Genius: One Hundred Instructive Games of Alekhine
4.50 of 5 stars
100 annotated games - in this book we see the slowly maturing genius of Alekhine as he struggles to master the game which commanded his life. Playing over these games offers hope to all chess players who are willing to work through them, enjoy them, think about them, and meditate upon them. A beautiful little book

4 - Chess Strategy and Tactics
4.25 of 5 stars
This is a nice selection of 50 games by the leading players of the period 1870 to 1933. This is one of Chernev and Reinfeld's earliest efforts, first published in 1933. You can never go wrong with games from the likes of Lasker, Tarrasch, Schlechter, Pillsbury, Rubinstein, Capablanca, et al, regardless of the notes

5 - How to Force Checkmate
4.20 of 5 stars
What a pity this book is not better known. 300 diagrammed positions, subdivided into situations of mate in one, two, or three moves, introduce you to a vast array of checkmate situations. For study, as entertainment during leisure moments or travel (you need no board), this book will help end your games with a brilliant touch. He also gives a few alternate moves in the solutions. The book teaches pattern recognition which is essential to finding attacks in all phases of the game. Highly recommended! 

6 - 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations
4.18 of 5 stars
When it comes to studying tactics there are three types of books, Mechanical Instruction book on tactics that spend a great deal of time telling what the mechanical parts of each tactic is with some examples (perfect for a beginner), Opening Traps books that cover from move one moves leading up to the tactic (effective for learning the ideas in your favorite openings as well), and tactics workbooks which give hundreds of different puzzle positions to solve. This book falls into the last category

7 - Fireside Book of Chess
4.06 of 5 stars
The Fireside Book of Chess is a huge grab bag, accenting the lighter side of chess. It is a reservoir into which the reader can dip to provide countless hours of relaxation and entertainment. Since it makes few demands on the reader, it is a virtually perfect gift for Christmas or any other time of the year. The book contains stories and articles by unsung chess heros like Billy Rose, veteran experts like Alfred Kreymborg, and devoted lovers of the game like Gerald Kersh and Solomon Hecht. The chess games contained were selected for their brefity as well as brilliance; some are amusing, others as devestating as an avalanche. There are sections on “Remarkable Games and the Stories Behind Those Games”, “Combinations”, “Quickies”. “Simultaneous Exhibitions”, “Women in Chess”, “Slugging Matches”, and twenty other such diversions. In brief, The Fireside Book of Chess contains everything necessary to delight the reader who knows that this ancient game is the most exciting and entertaining of all civilized sports. The Fireside Book of Chess is the World's Greatest Collection of stories, cartoons and amuning anecdotes about the game of chess. It also has curious and interesting chess games such as the game where the Champion of France lost in four moves, which is the quickest loss in chess history by a master. This book is famous not for the games it contains but for the stories, fiction and cartoons about chess.

8 - Hypermodern Chess: As Developed in the Games of Its Greatest Exponent Aron Nimzovich
4.00 of 5 stars
58 games, profoundly annotated, reveal how Nimzovich applied his own revolutionary principles. Reinfeld introduces Nimzovich not simply as a grandmaster, but also as an artist. What kind of artist was he? The majestic flowing, classical beauty ala Rubinstein wasn't his. Dramatic is the keyword. His temperament was stormier and more impulsive, more Beethovenian, if you will. He loves to "build", to gather the stormy clouds. That is why his games are seldom short.

9 - Win at Chess
4.00 of 5 stars
Players at all levels of ability will welcome this new edition of a classic, now completely revised by chess authority Fred Wilson and converted into the current algebraic chess notation.The 300 practical chess problems included here, taken from actual tournament play, contain scores of traps, sacrifices, mates, winning combinations, and subtle exchanges that will help sharpen players' eyes and test their skills against the masters. Helpful hints are given for each problem, and a table of solutions and alternative moves shows players how to evaluate their attacks. 300 black-and-white illustrations. Look inside

10 - Learn Chess from the Masters
4.00 of 5 stars
Reinfeld's book is a unique approach to chess. It provides you with ten actual tournament games in which you move against the masters and with a chance to grade yourself according to an easily-followed system ...The ten games were specially chosen for their interest, their clarity, and their easiliy-isolated principles. They illustrate the most common and the most useful openings, both modern and classical: Queen's Pawn, Ruy Lopez, Dutch Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Vienna Game, Reti Opening, and French Defense ...

11 - Treasury Of Chess Lore
4.00 of 5 stars
This is a fun book for anyone who is addicted to chess. It's a potpourri of history and for the most part is easy and fast reading. A few of the selections seem repetitive but I could bear that, because I'm an addict. If you don't love chess, the book is not for you.

12 - 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
3.88 of 5 stars
A 21st-Century Edition of a Great Checkmate Collection! Ask most chessplayers from the “baby boomer” generation how they acquired and sharpened their tactical skills, and chances are a Fred Reinfeld tactics collection will be part of their answer. And now, for the first time, 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate is available in modern algebraic notation. This may be the all-time great checkmate collection, with forced checkmate positions culled mainly from actual play. And Reinfeld's selection is simply marvelous, touching on all the important tactical themes. In short, this is an outstanding book to hone your tactical abilities. It will help you recognize mating patterns, develop visualization skills, enhance imagination, and improve tactical sharpness. And now, with a modern 21st-century edition of this great checkmate collection finally available, there is no excuse for not only improving your tactical skills, but also enjoying yourself along the way. Look inside

13 - Complete Chess Course
3.80 of 5 stars
Combining eight volumes into one, the most comprehensive book on chess ever published. From opening gambit to endgame, this home-study chess course is the classic in the field. An outstanding book for beginners. The book takes the player from beginner to the advanced stages of chess with outstanding advice on openings,middlegame and endings, all illustrated by master games. There are chapters on how to play the white and black pieces and a host of clear diagrams and easily understood explanations. Look inside

14 - Tarrasch's Best Games of Chess
3.80 of 5 stars
Tarrasch was the dominant force in European chess in the early 1890's and his ability to win top level tournaments continued via his huge triumph at Vienna 1898 on to the "World Tournament Championship" of Ostend 1907. Tarrasch was rightly regarded as the teacher of generations of European and world Masters , hence his title Praeceptor Germaniae - the Professor from Germany

15 - Great Brilliancy Prize Games of the Chess Masters
3.75 of 5 stars
Noted authority analyzes and annotates 50 games — spanning nearly 70 years of competition — recognized for imaginative and inventive combinations. Steinitz vs. Lasker, London; Capablanca vs. Janowski, New York; Alekhine vs. Marshall, New York; Botvinnik vs. Tartakower, Nottingham; and many more. Invaluable instruction for players at every level. 50 diagrams

16 - Lasker's Greatest Chess Games, 1889-1914
3.75 of 5 stars
Fine and Reinfeld wrote this book together, basically for self-education and out of a sense of veneration for the old man who ended his days in America. The writing helped Fine to become a grandmaster. The high level of analysis is evident on every page.

17 - Attack and Counterattack in Chess: How to Plan Your Game and Cope with Unexpected Situations
3.71 of 5 stars
This is a decent book on chess strategy from the perspective of both white and black. The explanations and reasoning behind many of the moves are clear though a bit lacking in terms of depth. There are also a fair number of annotative mistakes, including at least one diagram that depicts a position very different from the 5 moves it is supposed to be derived from. It's not the greatest book and it's not the worse.

18 - Keres' Best Games of Chess: 1931-1948
3.67 of 5 stars
UNIVERSALLY acclaimed as the most brilliant master since the days of Paul Morphy. Keres has delighted the chess world with his dynamic combinative play and slashing surprise moves. In this exciting collection of his finest games, his claim to world championship honors is documented by notable victories against such chess immortals as Alekhine, Capablanca, Eliskases, Euwe, Fine, Flohr, Najdorf, Reshevsky, Smyslov, Spielmann and Stahlberg. The artistry of Keres' play is highlighted bv Reinfeld's admirable annotations. Another valuable feature is the autobiographical introduction by Keres, in which he describes his rise to fame and appraises the candidates for World Championship.

19 - A Beginner's Guide to Winning Chess
3.62 of 5 stars
In this book the author presents the game of chess in a Programme-of-Instruction, which he calls his new Speed Method. This book is virtually guaranteed to teach th e game very quickly and to build great skill well beyond the beginner level

20 - How to be a Winner at Chess
3.61 of 5 stars
How, to Be a Winner at Chess is the result of twenty years' experience and study: and it is something unique in chess books -- an amusing, easily read, and even more easily understood book for the vast majority of "in-between" players, those who have been checkmated too many times or who have been bogged down in the innumerable rules of various experts.Reinfeld gives you twelve basic, simple rules for winning play. All the types of checkmates, the relative importance of the chess pieces, and simple, effective strategies are discussed succinctly. And there are three important chapters on the three strongest moves -- the check, the capturing threat, and the pawn promotion. Reinfeld always emphasizes practice over theory; he gives you the rules and demonstrates exactly how you should use them. Look inside

 

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