"A Modern Way to Learn Chess" by Ron E. Mitchell (1923-2008). Book by a man, who defeated Fischer.

Sort:
Tails204




Published in 1963, this magazine-shaped book shortly became the most popular and prominent chess edition in the U.S, describing the art of playing chess in improved and modern ways, using a simple, satirical approach, making it understandable by the general public.
"This textbook is a satirical attempt by Mitchell to mock the chess theory and its rules and gameplay, using a variety of methods that range from simple to impossible and from absurd to reasonable. The purpose of the book is to serve as a reference book on chess rules and to be used for teaching in many circumstances, including chess competitions, training sessions and self-study, for teaching, studying and playing chess.
Mitchell's extensive teaching experience and deep understanding of all the basics of the chess game make his books universal and equally useful for chess players of all levels".
I have one copy of it, and I will publish it soon.
Stay tuned.

busterlark
This sounds cool. Looking forward to it!
vonderlasa
I cannot find a game by Ron E. Mitchell vs Bobby Fischer. Do you have a game score and citation?
Tails204
vonderlasa wrote:
I cannot find a game by Ron E. Mitchell vs Bobby Fischer. Do you have a game score and citation?

If I'm not mistaken (I didn't read it all), he claimed in this book that he defeated Fischer twice (in the expanded 1977 revision that included some of his later works), and included one of the games with his comments and described Fischer's reactions. I don't know if it's true, but this man had an intriguing sense of humor.

Tails204

A small fragment of his foreword on the 1977 edition:

"This green-covered book, which you are still doubtfully holding in your hands, is an attempt to tell students about the most important aspects of chess and provide them with the main tool for playing in the most correct conditions, based on a new methodology and approach to the organization of the material. I know that you would really like to hear how I addressed this idea - it was difficult for me to think of any way to convey my knowledge to my students so that they would be interested in learning our game and sometimes it seemed to me that they simply did not notice me. Therefore, I have done my best to clarify the idea that we intend to present in this book, and I am glad that you can't wait to hear it.
First of all, in this book we will tell you why we love chess, why the game is so difficult, what makes chess interesting, how players actually train, and give a general idea of our view of chess as a game. Finally, we will explain in detail how we play against Soviet chess players so that we can find ways to improve our skills against this dangerous opponent.
In this book I will not tell you how to play chess. I will teach you how to become the best chess player you can be. You will discover lessons that are never taught in school.
If you are faithful to what is said in this book, you will achieve amazing results.
You need to do everything not to forget your weaknesses and strengths. You have to understand that you make mistakes every day.
I want you to win something special with the skills you are learning here. You will learn how to play perfect pawns, make moves that will make people forget where you were, how to create tension, and play the game in your favor. Then you will understand all these movements, how they are applied and how they will make you smile".

Tails204

"If I knew that I could use a board book to become the greatest chess player of all time, and I could achieve everything with chess — even defeat myself in the future and defeat the world."

Tails204

Are you interested in a free copy? 

vonderlasa
Yes, definitely, thanks!
busterlark
I am, for sure.
vonderlasa
MkFox, would you please post Mitchell’s win vs Fischer, with any corroborating data? Thanks!
Tails204
vonderlasa wrote:
MkFox, would you please post Mitchell’s win vs Fischer, with any corroborating data? Thanks!

Yes, after a week or so I'll come up with all the info (and maybe the whole book)

SinghPB11

That's Great to know. Thanks for this rare piece of info

vonderlasa

Avidly awaiting more details.

0peoplelikethis

Lol. Let's just casually ignore the fact that these dude's two games against Fischer are nowhere to be found.

madmacsback
And a month later, still no update. Face it, Folks. This book doesn’t exist. It’s a figment of Fox’s fertile fulminations.
Tails204

I wanted to scan the whole book and publish it somewhere since I didn't find any information related to it, and to be honest, I don't want to post just fragments since it won't be that funny. I highly doubt that Mitchell really played these games with Fischer - but his comments on them are more than amusing. It seems to me that this edition has a very small number of published (or survived) copies and, I was extremely fortunate to get hold of one of them at a yard sale.

Tails204

The man who sold this book to me said that his father was a friend of Mitchell. He stated that his father never read it since he wasn't interested in chess and other stuff like this, so maybe, I was the first man who read a sixty-years old book for the first time. He also noted that he was angry at Mitchell since he didn't sign the book, and he won't be able to "sell it at a higher price" after he read it. Maybe that was the key reason why he never opened it.