Lasker's Manual of Chess
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Product Description
Product Description
This manual is a guide to the game of chess, which takes the reader from the basic elements of the game right through to complex concepts of strategy and tactics. All the important features are covered in detail and sections on opening theory, combinations and positional play, together with a final chapter of instructive model games. The author has been a World Chess Champion for 27 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lasker's Manual of chess was the first book in the history of the game to succinctly describe what was actually going on with the pieces at the move level. Others talked about grand stratagems - but Lasker gives the beginner, the intermediate player and the master a brilliant insight into the importance of understanding the changes that go on wiuth different types of move - he shows that all chess positions are either favourable - when you must attack - unfavourable - when you must defend (and he means MUST) or level in which case you MUST try and increase the co-operation of your forces. Lasker argues this is a UNIVERSAL law of the universe and can be applied to any siutuation - not just chess. He argues successfully that a player given this insight and further advised on the method of attack, defence or increasing co-operation will be able to put up a good fight against a master.
The fundamentals of chess have not changed since Lasker's time - but many books make the mistake of giving a true theory of chess - this is what Lasker set out to fo here - by building on the work of Steinitz, adding his own propositions - such as The Priniciple of Proportion (meaning the attack, defensive action or increase in working together of you pieces must be in proporation to the advantage or disadvantage you possess) and giving numerous examples from play - the theory builds up allowing players to glimpse at the understanding the true master possesses.
Advances in chess technique have been made since this book was published, but there has been no advance in the basic buidling blocks of how chess actually works, and for this reason Lasker's Manual of Chess is an essential work in any chess enthusiasts library. Probably the most important chess book of all time, and do not belive me - ask the Russians, this book was standard reading in all Soviet Chess Clubs and little known or almost ignored by the West - and look what happened.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the first chess books I have ever read and it is a gem! Though many of its ideas were a little difficult for me to understand (after all, I was a relative beginner), upon reading and re-reading it I found it to be indispensable. Though the openings are a little out of date, the general advice given, its organisation, and especially sections on tactics and on past and present players are most impressive, as can be expected from a player who was world champion for longer than anyone else (21 years). Recommended for beginner to intermediate players.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a review of the new (Russell) edition of Lasker's Manual. Lasker's Manual is justly famous as one of the greatest ever chess books - and the glowing foreword the book receives from Mark Dvoretsky, in this new Russell edition, reiterates the greatness of both Lasker and his Manual. It is an indispensible book for every chess enthusiast's library. But in which edition?
My four star rating (which is, perhaps, a tad harsh) relates specifically to this edition rather than to Lasker's content which, of course, deserves the highest possible rating.
In comparison with the older Dover edition this new Russell edition is a huge improvement. The older Dover edition suffered from having too few diagrams, poor quality diagrams, hard to read print, poor layout, and descriptive notation. All these drawbacks are very well addressed in the Russell edition which is beautifully produced and has an exemplary layout (among the very best I've seen in a chess book). This Russell edition also has lots of wonderful old photographs and numerous anecdotal asides ("Lasker Lore"). In addition all the analysis has been computer checked for the Russell edition - which confirms the high quality and accuracy of Lasker's analysis.
So why four stars? The editor does admit to some editing of Lasker's words and, for me, this is a negative. I want to read what Lasker wrote - not what someone else thinks he should have written. However, in fairness to the editor, it must be admitted (and I do so having compared the two editions) that any such editing is very light. The Dover edition contains two Lasker prefaces - one to the initial German edition and the other to the later English edition - the Russell edition contains only the first of these. Also missing from the Russell edition is the "Lasker Appreciation" by Fred Reinfield in the Dover edition. But these are minor quibbles/omissions in this wonderful edition of Lasker's great book.
In short, the Russell edition of Lasker's "Manual of Chess" is a must buy for chess enthusiasts.
My four star rating (which is, perhaps, a tad harsh) relates specifically to this edition rather than to Lasker's content which, of course, deserves the highest possible rating.
In comparison with the older Dover edition this new Russell edition is a huge improvement. The older Dover edition suffered from having too few diagrams, poor quality diagrams, hard to read print, poor layout, and descriptive notation. All these drawbacks are very well addressed in the Russell edition which is beautifully produced and has an exemplary layout (among the very best I've seen in a chess book). This Russell edition also has lots of wonderful old photographs and numerous anecdotal asides ("Lasker Lore"). In addition all the analysis has been computer checked for the Russell edition - which confirms the high quality and accuracy of Lasker's analysis.
So why four stars? The editor does admit to some editing of Lasker's words and, for me, this is a negative. I want to read what Lasker wrote - not what someone else thinks he should have written. However, in fairness to the editor, it must be admitted (and I do so having compared the two editions) that any such editing is very light. The Dover edition contains two Lasker prefaces - one to the initial German edition and the other to the later English edition - the Russell edition contains only the first of these. Also missing from the Russell edition is the "Lasker Appreciation" by Fred Reinfield in the Dover edition. But these are minor quibbles/omissions in this wonderful edition of Lasker's great book.
In short, the Russell edition of Lasker's "Manual of Chess" is a must buy for chess enthusiasts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Early Classic
Lasker is my all-time chess hero. This was one of my first ever chess books and exudes quality despite its years. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. P. Wiseman
Warning: This book uses English notation
Unaware, I bought this book - to find that it has English notation
instead of the international notation. Read more
instead of the international notation. Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2007 by Carlo Wood
Listmania!
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