Complete Book of Chess Strategy

by Jeremy Silman

This comprehensive guide, in dictionary form, makes all aspects of chess strategy quick, easy, and painlessly accessible to players of all degrees of strength. Each strategic concept is listed alphabetically and followed by a clear, easy-to-absorb explanation accompanied by examples of how this strategy is used in practice.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction, Reference, Games, Gaming

360 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

Reviews

[Steve Toyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this for beginners after they have a couple of hundred games under their belt. I don't see club players and above learning a great deal from this book but a complete beginner would be lost.

The section that deals with the openings is far too sparse. It offers very little as to the ideas behind each open, instead it offers two or three routes that games usually go, only going about five moves deep. A beginner shouldn't be memorising lines until they know the ideas behind the opening so that they can carry on when they are out of book.

The rest of the book is much better 1400+ players will have to dig to get to bits that can teach them something.

Not as good as Silman's other chess books.

[Robert Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can I rate this book? I am only a novice chess player, so for me to rate this book written by a grand master is like a recruit still in basic training rating a book written by an experienced general. I believe that the book has valuable insights for beginning chess players, but I also suspect that there is much that I have missed because I am but a novice. Perhaps I should return to this review after a couple of thousand games!

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is appropriate for beginners and more advanced players. Beginners will learn a lot about chess, and players with some experience will definitely revise, complete and put their knowledge in order. Since, the book has a form of a dictionary, it is easy to go through and find things. Some information, however, e.g. openings are discussed too cursorily for me, it just gives you a general idea and information. But that has its advantages too, because as I said it's rather a dictionary on chess practical matters. You get the idea, you research and learn about it yourself.

[Giorgi Chimakadze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goed voor een algemeen overzicht, maar gaat niet echt diep.

[Chan Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best chess book I've read so far - about perfect for a near-intermediate player like myself. (My only complaint was that some things weren't covered in much depth - because there were simply too many things to cover.)

[Carter Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an introductory chess text. There is not a specific focus to the book; rather, the aim is to provide a general account of chess and various strategies by which to approach the game. There are a lot of graphics detailing specific opening set-ups, middle game combinations, and end game forms and tips that I enjoy having in one easily accessible book. Oddly, this is one of the few chess books out there that I think has successfully attempted this.

Shortly, a chess game is to be broken down into three sections: the opening, the middle game, and the end game. The goal of the opening is to secure the center of the board. The goal of the middle game is to move out all of your minor and major pieces. The goal of the end game is use those pieces to checkmate the enemy king. Jeremy Silman details some openings, middle game strategies, and end game check mate positions that should quickly improve your chess game with some study. (I've added the Russian Game into my repertoire now. I guess I'll see how quickly it helps or hurts!)

[Adam Floridia · Rating 1 out of 5]

In another obvious attempt at pedantry, I decided I should become a chess master. After all, I already know how to move the pieces, so how hard could it be? After skimming this book, I decided that chess strategy is for complete nerds. (In other words, I understood little to nothing and am too lazy to devote actual time into studying chess.) Even though is supposedly one of the easier chess books to understand, I was lost by page five. For now, I’ll have to be content to move my horse and castle around at random.

[Mark Everglade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read on the subject, taking me to the 1500 level. The way the openings are described and detailed is a tremendous help to beginners, and the book is balanced covering every aspect all the way to end game mechanics. A must read for beginners through early intermediate. It covers the theory on how to think about the game, it's initiative, tempo, etc.

[Macy Davis]

This is a DNF because it’s just not the type of book one reads start to finish, but I’m still working on my chess game using it and I appreciate Silverman’s explanations of chess strategy.

[Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably best read by players with ratings between 1000 and 1800. Great, concise, easy-to-understand explanations on a variety of topics. Based on the title, I was expecting a deeper discussion of middlegame strategy with game examples, but the book is really a quick look at the whole game, including openings, tactics, middlegame ideas, endgames, and more. The section on openings gives the reader an idea of how to study and look at openings in general: with an eye toward middlegame plans. But don't expect it to explain all the moves or even cover most major lines. It's just a tour of some major ideas in the openings. The book is really a reference book (the topics are alphabetized within sections). Alone, it probably wouldn't improve your game: there are just simply too many topics with very short explanations and discussions. But couple it with other books, videos, and game play, and it can be quite valuable. The book probably could have been much more valuable by itself if it ended with a section of several full games, analysed, and illustrating the topics taught.

[Slow3635 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably best read by intermediate players. Great, concise, easy-to-understand explanations on a variety of topics. Based on the title, I was expecting a deeper discussion of middlegame strategy with game examples, but the book is really a quick look at the whole game, including openings, tactics, middlegame ideas, endgames, and more. The section on openings gives the reader an idea of how to study and look at openings in general: with an eye toward middlegame plans. But don't expect it to explain all the moves or even cover most major lines. It's just a tour of some major ideas in the openings.

The book is really a reference book (the topics are alphabetized within sections). Alone, it probably wouldn't improve your game: there are just simply too many topics with very short explanations and discussions. But couple it with other books, videos, and game play, and it can be quite valuable. The book probably could have been much more valuable by itself if it ended with a section of several full games, analyzed, and illustrating the topics taught.

[Devadeep Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it is practically impossible to write a "complete" book on chess strategy given the infinite ways to play the game, I think this book comes the closest I have seen so far. It is good for beginner level players (those who have at least played a few months or so) right up to advanced levels, though it is unlikely to be needed for IM or GM levels. The best part about the book was that most other chess books delve very deep into just openings or just endgames or just dry puzzles, but here we have a book covering it all. The downside, however, of course, is that not everything can be covered - I noted a number of openings that have not been discussed. But then, as I said, it is practically impossible to cover everything in one book. A must read for anyone who is serious to advance from playing as a hobby to taking it more seriously - though I must reiterate that it will likely need months (perhaps years) of serious study and re-reading. If you love chess, you will most likely love this book.

[Terry James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best chess book I have read. The book is not targeted at beginners, although I am sure everyone will learn valuable lessons. This book is perfect for someone who has played for a while and wants to take their game to the next level. Lots of clearly explained ideas with examples to show the idea in practice. Within two days of reading this book, I used the ideas to checkmate an opponent in one of those spectacular sacrifice and mating techniques. I also recognized an opponent who was setting me up for a downfall using ideas in this book and was able to sidestep disaster. A must-read for a serious chess player.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very instructive overview of openings, middle game strategy and endgames. Silman is an excellent instructor - check out his 24 lecture series available in "The Great Courses". After reading this book, I keep it handy and refer to it quite regularly after facing an unfamiliar opening or wanting to review an end game for example. It is a reference book, more of an overview rather than a deep dive on any given topic. For a beginner (me) or possibly an intermediate player it is more than worth reading.

[Alex Vasai · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an intermediate player I liked the book, I think 15% of the patterns from the book were unknown or unclear in my mind and now they are stored there, it is an achievement to think you understand them all, I mean you are always searching for something new and chess books present to you 20-30 tiring pages for one pattern, Mr Silman made it simple. I also enjoyed the fact that you do not need a chess board for these teachings.

[AudreyMM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, just be careful to know what level you are at before you read and try to learn about Chess before hand as well. For all ages. This comprehensive guide, in dictionary form, makes all aspects of chess strategy quick, easy, and painlessly accessible to players of all degrees of strength. Each strategic concept is listed alphabetically and followed by a clear, easy-to-absorb explanation accompanied by examples of how this strategy is used in practice.

[Ignas Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Good as in people can learn from it but his moves are much advanced for a beginner, there's a less complex way if doing what he's talking about, less complex but still equally strong of a move. Take what I said as a grain of salt. But still I liked this book... anyway, this covers middle game as well as opening and end game.

[AllTheLives ICouldEverLive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for amateurs/ players just starting out to get an idea of some key concepts in chess.

[Álvaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book, it's not to read it page after page, as it is more of an encyclopedia of openings, endings, tactics and more but, the book is very good and I recommend it.

[Joshua Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good. It really helped with my chess skills.

[Vivaan Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb!!

[Ali Hamade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you need in one book to go from amateur to advanced level

[Sergio Lefebvre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very beginner orientated book but solid in covering the fundamentals

[Allie MacPhail · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can I not give this book a good review, it would akin to an ant saying nah.. that dog is not big.
I love the game of chess, but honestly reading a chess book is not the way for me to learn. Great book with great ideas but most of the pages looked like a blackboard from good will hunting.. admittedly I am not capable of reading chess books. I am off to befriend a Russian chess master who I can learn from in a practical way!!

[Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to chess strategy.

[Jesus Archuleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice chess overview. Probably better suited for beginners that has some knowledge of the game.

[Cory Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really helpful to learn a lot of important chess strategy. Some sections were frustrating to read because a diagram would be provided, then sometimes 8-12 steps would be laid out in chess notation without an updated figure. Each step, by the way, is a move for white AND black. So I’m having to keep track of 24 movements on the board in my head, which admittedly I am not adequately equipped to do. This theme was particularly pervasive in the openings section, which is the first 100 pages of the book. I couldn’t keep track of what was happening. I even set up my chess board and followed along in real life, but even then the study was tedious and I would have appreciated more figures.

Overall I really liked the book. There were a lot of good tips and strategies, as well as overall important themes of chess. This book, in combination with a membership to chess.com, and of course practice, will allow you to become a stronger chess player for sure. I would recommend this book, but I would say probably seek lessons in chess.com for openings.

[Alberto · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book doesn't teach any strategy.

There's a section that covers every opening in one paragraph (what the hell good is that?). Completely useless.

Then there's a section that covers middlegame tactical motifs (fork, hurdle, pin, x-ray, etc.). Completely useless.

The endgame section is not completely useless, but there are better expositions out there. Including Silman's own Essential Chess Endings.

In short, there's absolutely NO reason to own or read this book (and I say this as an obsessive chess book collector).

[Ryan Winston · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who already knows basic Chess, this book should certainly take you to the next level. It conveys the most common openings, tactical middle game movement, and how to be effective in the end game. Many books speak too long on any given topic (e.g. openings) and overwhelm you to a point where you put down the book in frustration.
Highly recommended to get you to the next stage of your chess playing.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Principles for the opening, more stuff for the middle like attacking squares, making outposts for knights, posting bishops on good squares and activating the rooks - an not necessarily going after the king. Evaluate the differences between the two sides (Bishop & Knight, v.s. 2 bishops) and exploit the differences. If they only have one bishop, if you post your pieces on opposite colored squares - he has no attack. He can only support other pieces on their attack, not attack directly.