Secrets of Practical Chess

by John Nunn

Book by Nunn, John

Genres: Chess, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

John Denis Martin Nunn is an English chess grandmaster, a three-time world champion in chess problem solving, a chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician. He is one of England's strongest chess players and once was in the world's top ten.

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a splendid book this is! Probably under the influence of having seen too many similarly titled books where bored chess hacks recycle clichés while oozing condescension over their readers, I left it unread on the shelf for years. I should have known better. Secrets of Practical Chess, in fact, is the opposite of condescending. Halfway through, Not asked me what standard of player I thought it was aimed at. My off-the-cuff answer was "2250 or better" (i.e. at least weak international player), but having finished I think that's an underestimate. I would now say it's really aimed at International Masters who are wondering what they need to do to become Grandmasters, though there is a sprinkling of more basic stuff directed towards lower-rated readers.

Nothing in Nunn's book is clichéd: it comes across as sincere, thoughtful reflection on what top-level chess is like, what's important and what's less important. The illustrative games and positions are novel and interesting, the usual suspects are noteworthy by their absence. My feeling is that the advice on how to improve your play would actually work, with the important caveats that you already need to be a fairly strong player and that you also have to be prepared to put in serious effort. No quick fixes here.

I wonder what other brilliant self-help books there are that I've never opened because I automatically assumed they had to be nonsense?

[P.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Trusty Toolbox

This middle-sized chess book focuses on:

- Decision-making
- Analysis and how to do it properly
- Positional thinking, tactical signals

- How to build an opening repertoire
- Middlegame: superior positions, inferior positions, attack, defence,
- Endgame: king opposition (Reti maneuver), rook endings (Philidor's position), light-piece endings, Queen endings,

- Using computers (chess bases, position editors, the use of chess engines)

- Chess literature and some criteria in order to pick fine chess books.


I would recommend it for anyone wanting to lay solid foundations before expanding their chess knowledge with other insights from more specialized works: books with tactical exercises, opening books, collection of games...

[Read in the French translation 'Les secrets de l'efficacité aux échecs', published by Olibris, trad. Olivier Letréguilly, 2008.]

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tips on how to calculate variations and his dissection of Kotov's famous tree of analysis are excellent. This is the first book (that I've found) that tackles "where good ideas come from" subject in a quick and broad way. Full of tips in other stages of the game as well, but it doesn't go too depth, being a pretty decent book for those who want a "next level" quick overview of all aspects of the game.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second updated edition of a very famous 90's work by an extremely respected author. I never gave myself the chance of reading this great title because of my prejudice against Gambit publications. They are simply too clumsy and physically difficult to read.

So I had to make a little extra effort to read Secrets and it was worth it. The book delivers on what is promised by the title, an achievement most chess books just do not get. Out of the many useful chapters, my favourite was the one on over the board play. In that chapter, Nunn gives advice on what to do with time management, how to convert your advantage and how to defend difficult situations.

Another highlight was the chapter on endgame play, where Nunn only gives out what he considers the most essential knowledge for over the board play. He really covers what seems to me as a good practical knowledge base to handle most situations I have encountered in tournament play.

The weakest part of the book, in my opinion, is the list of recommended books, in which the author seems to be a bit biased, recommending some books by himself and his publishing house. That shouldn't be a surprise with any other book or author, but this was a turly honest an objective work that such a flaw really pops out.

[Evan Seghers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only complain is the parts on computer chess and opening study are a bit outdated, but perhaps that’s not the authors fault. Excellent stuff in the middle game section, John Nunn is an incredible writer. He introduces a sense of curiosity and humor to concepts that seem dry on the surface.

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considerably less interesting than Nunn's other books that I have read.