How to Reassess Your Chess: The Complete Chess-Mastery Course

  • Edition: Paperback
  • Author: Jeremy Silman
  • Skill Range: Intermediate and above
  • Publisher: Siles Press
  • Year Published: 1997
  • # of Pages: 402
  • ISBN: 1890085006
Description:

How to Reassess Your Chess is a popular step-by-step course that will create a marked improvement in anyone's game. In clear, direct language, Jeremy Silman shows how to dissect a position, recognize its individual parts, and ultimately find the move that conforms to the needs of that particular situation. By explaining the thought processes that go into a master's choice of move, the author presents a system that makes advanced strategies seem clear, logical, and at times, even obvious. For those who have always dreamed about truly understanding the mysteries of chess, How to Reassess Your Chess offers invaluable knowledge and insight that cannot be found in any other book.

  • Excellent book for strategic thinking
  • By Jeremy Silman, a world class chess teacher

Reviews:

by erik - 2 years ago
Mountain View, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 9882

Rating:+++++

This is probably the best book out there for players who are at the point where they don't drop pieces anymore, they get the basics of openings and strategy, and they know their tactics pretty well, but they can't get beyond that. What this book does best is unlock the secrets of each individual chess piece and the underlying pawn structure. It teaches you to evaluate a position and then find the best plan going forward.

If you haven't read this book, and you aren't already rated 1600 or above, GET THIS BOOK! 

by jay - 2 years ago
San Jose, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1286

Rating:+++++

I completely agree. This is an amazing book, helped out my game. I think it's an excellent book even for those people who are stuck at A and are trying to get over the 2000 mark.
by SonofPearl - 2 years ago
Wales
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 5988

Rating:+----

I don't want to start off on this forum on a negative note, but I have to give my honest opinion and so I must admit that I found this book to be one of the least helpful that I have bought.

The 'imbalances' the Silman describes are just the advantages and disadvantages in the position and I find the thinking technique to be rather wooly.  The descriptions of chess elements e.g. knight v bishop, weak pawns etc. have been elaborated more effectively, in my opinion, by other authors.

The redeeming feature of the book for me is the large number of helpful exercises with detailed explanations.

Personally I prefer Modern Chess Strategy by Pachman.

by verusamo - 2 years ago
Kingston, OK United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 310
After I finish "Play Winning Chess" and the "Tactics","Strategy" volumes of the same series I plan on buying "Reassess Your Chess".
by aliofds - 2 years ago
baghdad Iraq
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 1
cooool
by Cantata - 2 years ago
FayetteNam United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 1

I found this book to be useful in a number of ways, and it has helped me to improve my game.  The book may not be for everyone, but then again, what Chess book is all things to all people?  Mr. Silman gives the club player as well as the tourney player some useful methods for disecting and assessing games, as well as play style.

The average player will find this book very useful, higher rated players may find it is merely review, but good information none-the-less.  The exercises are good practice and include excellent, detailed discussion about each one.

by zackistall - 2 years ago
Singapore
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 111

Rating:+----

This book was not as good as i had expected at all.
by iyan - 2 years ago
indonesia,bandung Indonesia
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1

 halo siapa yang bisa bahasa indonesia, tolong deh saya kirimkan buku catur(chess) yang madein luar ke alamt ,kampus lipi, ppet jalan sangkuriang bandung . sorry pakai bahasa indonesia bahasa english saya jelek tangkyou.nuhun ,and terimakasih.

Iyan

by Calvin - 2 years ago
Vallejo, CA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 3

Rating:+++++

This book is for the player who has gone past the basics of the game and has competed in tournaments, but has trouble with certain strategic concepts. It is more for the player who is a USCF Class C player or stronger. The book especially addresses the concept of imbalances as it relates to various middlegame themes. I find this book to be much more clearly written than My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch.
by richfeet - 2 years ago
Cleveland Ohio United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 133
Great book   i really improved my game after reading this book!
by RetGuvvie98 - 22 months ago
Manassas, VA United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 3563

Rating:+++++

Excellent results with students - IF - they take the time to summarize this wonderfully insightful book into their own words, extracting all the major points, and putting them into their own words.

Chess coach for over 35 years now - always looking for more efficient techniques to help students.

by rgp89 - 21 months ago
New Jersey United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 676

Rating:++++-

I want this book!
by Arby - 21 months ago
Mountbatten Singapore
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 2708

Rating:++++-

Insightful – especially if you looking for more than usual beginner level books.


by seuss68 - 20 months ago
Brattleboro, Vermont United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 184

Here is a link for a lengthy review from amazon.com.  This review is very insightful and well thought out and from what I remember of the book, I had the book 10+ years ago and do not own it anymore, this is an accurate appraisal.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R36VGB1BDDN3KJ/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&ASIN=1890085006#wasThisHelpful


by borhan21 - 18 months ago
Selangor Malaysia
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 64
Thank you Mr. Seuss68(Tim) for your info(url address). Give me a new sight about this book and others book.

by mongoose2160 - 17 months ago
Sioux Falls, South Dakota United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 3

Rating:+++++

definately the best $17.50 i have ever spent on anything!
by omerharbi - 17 months ago
kartoum Sudan
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 6

Rating:++++-

GOOD
by jerseyboy - 14 months ago
Canada
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 36

Rating:+++++

I loved it Laughing

by erik_k_123 - 13 months ago
Maryland United States
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 6

Rating:+++++

The best middle game you can buy. Period.

by alatinga - 12 months ago
yola Nigeria
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 1

its an indespensible companion

by RcRaCiNfOoL - 12 months ago
South Carolina United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 37

3 years ago I was at a standstill with my game and couldn't win a game, after just reading the book my game highly improved a month later, also this book is what I believe to be the bible of chess middlegame cause every time you read and study the whole book you'll learn more since the last time read/studied the whole book. Also my room mate at that time was just starting in chess, he read and studied the book after it sank in long time players had a hard time playing him, and today I can't even beat him.

by GoCards - 12 months ago
Columbia, MO United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 46

Rating:+++++

Great Book.  This book is exactly what I was looking for.  I needed help on evaluating and figuring out what to do next.  I am half way through the book and will no doubt finish it.  It will be the first chess book that I have read (studied) from cover to cover. 

by jabekens - 11 months ago
Chapel Hill United States
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 279

Rating:+++++

This book was great!  I use the fantasy postioning several times in tournaments, and it has helped me become a better player.  I didn't see it take effect on my rating immediately, but over time, it has improved my rating by so much that I am reading it a second time!  The evaluation of imbalances makes the position easier to understand, and building your plan on the imbalances actually works!  I now have the Reassess Your Chess Workbook, and that's also doing wonders.

by MICK414 - 10 months ago
Harrow on the hill, England England
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 29

ordered it from Amazon today so looking forward to it!!

by lawarner - 10 months ago
Sandy Hook, Connecticut United States
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 3

As far as I am concerned this is a must have for any player wanting to improve their game. I go back to it again and again. It is well written and easy to understand. Every time I pick it up I absorb a new technique. If you only can get one book this should be the one.

by gjsgregskyplayer - 10 months ago
Okeechobee United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 166

He also has a newer book called the "How to reassess your chess: a workbook. I just ordered the original.I enjoyed Serawan's books (by Everyman's chess) and Jeremy Silman is like a co-author of those books. I definitely need to study much more.

by anhhuyalex - 9 months ago
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 187

Rating:++++-

I think it's cool!

by o-blade-o - 8 months ago
Algiers Algeria
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 458

great book ?

by shadowlight1980 - 7 months ago
jeddah China
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 104

the book is good

by Floyyd - 7 months ago
Kansas City United States
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 199

Rating:+++++

I spent 4 hours at Barnes and Noble last week, sitting in a confortable chair, reading chess books. I already possess 2 chess books about two kinds of opening i like, one for white, one for black. They are great but I still needed to find a great chess book that is interesting, exciting, well written, and that really makes you feel that you are improving your skills while you read. 'Reassess your chess' is definitely the best book I've been reading that day. By the way guys, don't bother buying the de la Maza 'rapid chess improvement' book. He's just telling you that you're gonna have to practice tactics if you want to be better, that's it. In this book, Silman gives us all the subtleties we need to know in order to have an accurate vision of the game and its evolution. I found it in good condition for 8 bucks on Amazon. I hope i'll find it in my mail box tomorrow!

by BlueBishop - 6 months ago
New Jersey United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 312

Rating:+++++

I only discovered this book recently. Fantastic book, I will probably read it several times and keep referring to it later. The explanations are so rich and complete and it really teaches the formulation of a plan based on the position on the board. This is rare! Other chess book usually show moves without any reason.

Love it!

by magic-yak - 5 months ago
Gallup, New Mexico United States
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 35

you people only ever say 2 things about this book

one that it is a great book filled with great stuff

and two that this is not a good book because it is flawed

anyone want to tell me the truth about this book before i go off and buy it?

by CastleFirstLuke - 3 months ago
British Columbia Canada
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 12

My Mom bought me this book around 5 years ago. I went through it back then and it totally improved my playing. I've just pulled it out of a box and will go through it again. This time I'm sure to find deeper wisdom within the pages. If you're an average or intermediate player and want a straight forward boost to your playing ability, buy this book! Although some of the concepts may be a bit challenging (they were for me), it is so well written that it is possible to absorb the data efficiently.

by vanekj - 3 months ago
Sibu, sarawak Malaysia
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 17

How can i buy this book then? I only learn chess for one year ( just watch and play) i am not sure if i am already at intermediate level, perhaps still beginner, is it suitable for me to use?


Add your comment:

Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.