Logical Chess: Move by Move
Logical Chess: Move by Move is a popular chess book by Irving Chernev.
Chernev replays over thirty games, explaining their every move in a thorough yet friendly, almost thrilling manner. He shares Staunton's charmingly anthropomorphic touch, with occasional flourishes such as "Black removes the offending Pawn — fit punishment for the crime of weakening the position and betraying his King."[1]
Specifically, Logical Chess teaches the principles of positional play.[2] Chernev recommends controlling, and preferably directly occupying, the middle of the board, as this increases the moves you can make, and therefore your potential attacking opportunities. As a result, given your opponent should be wise enough to generally avoid moving a piece to an attacked square, this limits their possible moves, hindering their pieces' development.
To look no further than the first few pages, Chernev explains that good players don't just exploit existing opportunities, they create them; that a Knight in the centre can make all his possible moves, whereas a Knight off to the side can only make four, making him merely half a Knight;[3] and that due to their slow speed, Knights should be developed before Bishops. No surprises to experts, I'm sure, but a great way to get the rest of us up to speed.
It's a great book if you already know the rules of chess, along with a few basic tactics such as forking and pinning. It teaches some useful principles to guide you, so your moves aren't merely valid, but generally good.
References
- "Black removes the offending Pawn — fit punishment for the crime of weakening the position and betraying his King." Logical Chess: Move by Move Irving Chernev, 1957, ISBN 0-571-09039-7, pp. 9—16
- "Added to the pleasure of understanding every bit of play as it unfolds (and chess is the most exciting game in the world) is the fascination of watching the mental workings of a master as he reveals the wealth of ideas that occur to him in every new situation. We will learn from him the great advantages to be derived from a knowledge of position play. It is an understanding of position play that restrains the master from making violent moves or embarking on premature, foolish attacks; that checks the natural impulse to hunt for combinations at every turn; that counsels him in the placing of his pieces where they have the greatest potential for attack, tells him how to seize the vital central squares, to occupy the most territory, to cramp and weaken the enemy. And it is position play that assures him that definite winning opportunities will then disclose themselves, and decisive combinations will appear on the board. The master does not search for combinations. He creates the conditions that make it possible for them to appear!" Logical Chess: Move by Move Irving Chernev, 1957, ISBN 0-571-09039-7, pp. 3—4
- "Pieces in the centre enjoy the greatest freedom of action, and have the widest scope for their attacking powers. A Knight, for example, posted in the centre, reaches out in eight directions and attacks eight squares. Standing at the side of the board, its range of attack is limited to four squares. It is only half a Knight!" Logical Chess: Move by Move Irving Chernev, 1957, ISBN 0-571-09039-7, pp. 9—16
Chess books: Logical Chess: Move by Move
