Weapons of Chess Book

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Avatar of Bamboo58

I recently purchased this book.

The first section I read is Fianchetto.

An error already. Diagram 76 on page 97 does not match the text. Diagram 76 is in fact a repeat of Diagram 75 on page 96. 

This is a significant editorial error.

Has anyone found other errors in this book?

Avatar of RussBell

The OP's comments refer to "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini.  An excellent book, appropriate for advanced novice thru intermediate players, which introduces fundamental concepts and techniques of positional-strategic chess.

The OP's assessment of the referenced text is incorrect.

I own the book.  I just read the pages referenced by the OP.   It is clear that the positions in Diagrams 75 and 76 are NOT the same, by comparing the different positions of White's Knight and Black's h-pawn in the two diagrams.  Diagram 76 illustrates the position after White's knight has captured Black's h-pawn on h4 (Diag. 76), after said pawn had advanced to h4 from h6 (Diag. 75).  There are no errors in the text, which describes how play proceeds before and after White's Knight captures Black's h-pawn. 

Avatar of dannyhume
Weapons of Chess is my favorite first book on chess strategy and pawn structures. My only criticism of Weapons of Chess is that I think it would be less cumbersome to actually use algebraic notation rather than try to verbally describe every move, or at least have the algebraic move sequence listed near the text. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book as one of the very few non-tactics resources to supplement one’s learning.

The first chapter of How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th edition, entitled “Part One/The Concept of Imbalances” (pp.1-28) is also great. I have only read parts of the rest of that book and gave it up for now because of the variations that I think take too long for a beginner or low-level club player to work through without a certain level of tactical proficiency.

Other good introductory chess books that have some chapters on strategy, while also covering nearly the full-breadth of chess topics include Silman’s Complete Book of Chess Strategy, Purdy’s Guide to Good Chess, Idiot’s Guide to Chess, and Chess for Dummies.

The Power Moves of Chess is an easy read and good for an amateur-level “thinking method” book for those who struggle to be systematic with evaluating forcing moves in their games.
Avatar of RussBell

@dannyhume - I agree with most everything you've said, especially about Weapons of Chess and How to Reassess Your Chess. 

I am not familiar with The Six Power Moves of Chess - I guess I will have to check it out.  The book is by William G. Karneges.   This is his YouTube channel (a good one)...

https://www.youtube.com/user/BKKaye/featured

(Of course, now I can't resist taking this opportunity to chime in with my relevant blog article commercial)...

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Avatar of dannyhume
It is very basic book, the author’s version of the oft-given advice to beginners to look at all forcing moves (checks, captures, other threats) … I would bet a good number of beginners would take that advice more seriously if they read an entire book about it, rather than being simply told to do so in a one-line comment by somebody else in the forums (maybe same for opening principles).
Avatar of Bamboo58
RussBell wrote:

The OP's comments refer to "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini.  An excellent book, appropriate for advanced novice thru intermediate players, which introduces fundamental concepts and techniques of positional-strategic chess.

The OP's assessment of the referenced text is incorrect.

I just read the pages referenced by the OP.   It is clear that the positions in Diagrams 75 and 76 are NOT the same, by comparing the different positions of White's Knight and Black's h-pawn in the two diagrams.  Diagram 76 illustrates the position after White's knight has captured Black's h-pawn on h4 (Diag. 76), after said pawn had advanced to h4 from h6 (Diag. 75).  There are no errors in the text, which describes how play proceeds before and after White's Knight captures Black's h-pawn.