- ISBN13: 9780486290294
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Clear, straightforward guide by noted expert coaches readers through fundamentals of attacking and positional play, as well as how to approach the endgame. Crucial processes of assessing positions and choosing moves are examined in depth; also, how to cope with difficult positions and time-trouble. 384 diagrams.
I had thought the “average” in the title was equating it with the many beginners’ books available. It isn’t. Or doesn’t. Average here means someone who already has alot of basic chess knowledge under their belt. It was a bit over my head and for that reason disappointing. As I mature as a chess player I’m sure this book will be one I’ll go back to however.
Amazon Rating: 3 / 5
I thought that the book was good, but you definitely need to follow along with a chess board.
Amazon Rating: 4 / 5
Obviously written for us “average” patzers but probably an entertaining and illuminating review for our more talented adversaries. I was very much taken by use of fictional club players and the welter of diagrams makes it easy to read without resort to having a board all the time.
Amazon Rating: 4 / 5
It’s a bit dated (they even warn about this in the new preface). It’s a bit silly/overdramatic at times. It doesn’t have 500 pages of puzzles, and doesn’t promise instant results. It wasn’t written by a big-name grandmaster.
But it’s quite useful for someone who knows how the pieces move, has probably played in a tournament or two, and just wants some simple, practical ideas on how to become a better player. I really appreciated Mr. Harding’s down-to-earth advice, and anyone who’s gotten past the “dropping pieces in every game” stage will find something of value here. It’s impressively readable for a chess book, and I learned something useful from every chapter.
Let’s face it, we all know what we need to do: study effectively, and play chess. Better Chess for Average Player will help with both.
Amazon Rating: 5 / 5
I have a confession: I am a patzer, a fish, a knight of the grand order of Chess Dummyhood. Yes, I am that most dreaded of things: an average player. Thus, it was with trembling hands I first held this book; after all, it did say it was written for the average player (and book titles are never wrong, right??) Harding, like most British authors, has a most precise writing style that immediately and without fuss imparts the necessary knowledge and goes on its way. A sort of knowledge ‘drive-by’.
Sure, it covers the same things the others in this genre of books do: the checkmates, the combinations, the planning methods and all the other things the Chess aspirant should know but what is different is hard to describe without reading this paragon of instructional books. Suffice it to say it does its job very well. 5 stars.
And maybe, one day, with much work and many grey hairs, I will be called to the Chess equivalent of Valhalla, handed my GrandMaster title certificate and beams of light from on-high will descend and oops, sorry, daydreaming again! 
Good book, … (It’s DOVER!) and worth buying!
Amazon Rating: 5 / 5