 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Click here to subscribe to our free newsletter. |
More information on events in Richmond can be found on the Activ Richmond web site. |
Some Recommendations
Please note:- these are my (Peter Sowray's) personal views ... I don't have a personal interest in any of these products.
Sets
Particularly if you’re just starting out, all you need is a reasonably priced plastic set and board.
The sets we use at the club are the 'Gambit' pieces. You’ll need a board as well, and I recommend the Folding board. This set and board will be very durable and together costs less than £15. If you do want to buy a more expensive set, there is a good selection here.
If you do want to buy something else, please bear in mind the following:
If you’re serious about improving your game, you must keep a record of all your games. You’ll need a scorebook - this one will let you record 100 games.
Books
I'm from a generation who learnt chess from books, and there are literally thousands to choose from!
Amongst the many beginners / improvers books, the outstanding titles are 3 books by Canadian chess master Jeff Coakley. The striking thing about these books is the enormous amount of material contained in each. There is an emphasis on solving puzzles and each book will provide hours of material for the keen player. The titles are:
The above books assume that you know the rules of chess, but they do explain chess notation. Highly recommended, but requiring a lot of effort to go through all the material and to get the most out of them.
Honourable mentions to How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, which is a puzzle book explaining the basic checkmate patterns, and its companion volume Chess Tactics for Kids.
I’d like to recommend a book for absolute beginners, but to be honest I’m struggling. You may prefer to start with some software (see below).
For improving and more advanced players, there are some wonderful titles. I’ve just picked 10 books more or less at random - I remember avidly reading some of these when I was learning chess myself at about 12 years old:
For anyone starting out playing chess, the Fritz and Chesster software is great. It contains a very thorough explanation of the rules of the game, including interactive puzzles which teach, for example, how each of the pieces move. I’ve found that young children (say up to age 10) find this approach very stimulating. This software is a best-seller and it’s easy to see why! There are also two follow-up Fritz & Chesster programs, Chess in the Black Castle and Chess for Winners!
Also recommended is ChessMaster 9000. This software allows you to practice against opponents of various abilities so that you can measure your progress against tougher and tougher opposition. You can start off playing against Stanley the Chimp (who plays completely random moves as far as I can see) all the way up to Grandmaster standard.
Clocks
If you want to practice at home (and if you have an obliging practice partner!), you may want to invest in a chess clock. The clocks we use at the club are:
If you’re looking for a gift that recurs throughout the year, you might consider a subscription to a chess magazine. I like CHESS Monthly - first-time subscribers can get 12 issues for just £20! Each issue is about 60 A4-sized pages, so this represents excellent value.
Sets
Particularly if you’re just starting out, all you need is a reasonably priced plastic set and board.
The sets we use at the club are the 'Gambit' pieces. You’ll need a board as well, and I recommend the Folding board. This set and board will be very durable and together costs less than £15. If you do want to buy a more expensive set, there is a good selection here.
If you do want to buy something else, please bear in mind the following:
- Beginners who are not familiar with chess notation will need a board with the square co-ordinates (a to h and 1 to 8) marked round the edge.
- Any set you buy should be 'Staunton' pattern. This is the name for the standard pattern of pieces.
- Avoid at all costs themed sets. It may seem a very good idea to buy a Harry Potter or Star Wars set, but these are just gimmicks. Chess is challenging enough without having to remember whether Ron Weasley is a rook or a bishop.
If you’re serious about improving your game, you must keep a record of all your games. You’ll need a scorebook - this one will let you record 100 games.
Books
I'm from a generation who learnt chess from books, and there are literally thousands to choose from!
Amongst the many beginners / improvers books, the outstanding titles are 3 books by Canadian chess master Jeff Coakley. The striking thing about these books is the enormous amount of material contained in each. There is an emphasis on solving puzzles and each book will provide hours of material for the keen player. The titles are:
- Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids (the red book)
- Winning Chess Strategy for Kids (the green book)
- Winning Chess Exercises for Kids (the blue book)
The above books assume that you know the rules of chess, but they do explain chess notation. Highly recommended, but requiring a lot of effort to go through all the material and to get the most out of them.
Honourable mentions to How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, which is a puzzle book explaining the basic checkmate patterns, and its companion volume Chess Tactics for Kids.
I’d like to recommend a book for absolute beginners, but to be honest I’m struggling. You may prefer to start with some software (see below).
For improving and more advanced players, there are some wonderful titles. I’ve just picked 10 books more or less at random - I remember avidly reading some of these when I was learning chess myself at about 12 years old:
- Logical Chess Move by Move - a collection of famous games, explained in great detail.
- Understanding Chess Move by Move - a more modern game collection, in similar style to Logical Chess Move by Move, but more advanced.
- Simple Chess - a brilliant introduction to the strategy of the game.
- Learn Chess Tactics - and an excellent introduction to tactics.
- My 60 Memorable Games - a collection of Bobby Fischer’s most famous games, described in detail by Fischer himself. Just republished after being out of print for many years.
- Attack with Mikhail Tal - Tal was briefly World Champion and is widely acknowledged as the greatest attacking player of all time.
- 50 Essential Chess Lessons - covers attack and defence, endgames, and other topics.
- Endgame Strategy - I suspect that I learnt more from this book than any other single title.
- San Luis 2005 - a beautiful book describing the World Championship contest in 2005. For advanced players, but absolutely fantastic. Great photos!
- Chess Praxis - a rather quirky collection of games by Aaron Nimzowitsch. One of my personal favourites.
For anyone starting out playing chess, the Fritz and Chesster software is great. It contains a very thorough explanation of the rules of the game, including interactive puzzles which teach, for example, how each of the pieces move. I’ve found that young children (say up to age 10) find this approach very stimulating. This software is a best-seller and it’s easy to see why! There are also two follow-up Fritz & Chesster programs, Chess in the Black Castle and Chess for Winners!
Also recommended is ChessMaster 9000. This software allows you to practice against opponents of various abilities so that you can measure your progress against tougher and tougher opposition. You can start off playing against Stanley the Chimp (who plays completely random moves as far as I can see) all the way up to Grandmaster standard.
Clocks
If you want to practice at home (and if you have an obliging practice partner!), you may want to invest in a chess clock. The clocks we use at the club are:
- Analog clock - BHB Turnier Chess Clock.
- Digital clock - DGT Digital Clock.
If you’re looking for a gift that recurs throughout the year, you might consider a subscription to a chess magazine. I like CHESS Monthly - first-time subscribers can get 12 issues for just £20! Each issue is about 60 A4-sized pages, so this represents excellent value.