Chess for Kids Paperback – Illustrated, January 23, 2006

This is an excellent overview and primer for young people just developing an interest in chess. The "for Kids" title may be a bit off-putting; the target age range is probably from, say, advanced 4th grade to early high school. However, the text is welcoming and easy to understand without being condescending.The book flows well - from a simple overview of the game to a clear explanation of the function of each piece, to a basic introduction to rules and then strategy. It includes engaging exercises and teaching games that are more than simple question/answer problems, and will help a beginning student get a feel for aspects of the game before being thrown in to full-length games. It introduces chess notation and the rules of the game, but in a simple and natural way; it does not force the student to memorize confusing arcana before being able to play and enjoy the game. Text passages are short and clear, and keyed to attractive color photos and diagrams that illustrate board positions and piece moves. (The diagrams may sometimes be slightly confusing to a student with no prior knowledge, but in general are very good.) There are also frequent sidebars with interesting explanations and chess tidbits.All in all, I think this book is a remarkably clear, informative, helpful, and engaging introduction. It should take a learner with no experience in chess up to the level of being able to play effectively and to begin to appreciate strategy. I bought it to use in teaching my 5th/6th-grade nephews the game, but I have to say I am learning things from it! It will also be helpful for students who already know the rudiments of the game but have not had systematic teaching. (Students who are ready to begin learning standard openings and strategy in a serious way should use a more advanced book.) It can be used independently by any student with moderate reading skills, but the student will benefit from having an experienced instructor as well.

Good source of information ...easy to understand.

This book explains EVERYTHING. It literally starts at the beginning. I bought this to teach my child how to play and understand since she showed interest. She had a hard time focusing on the book explaining the origins and like any child wanted to jump right to the how to play portion

I chose this book based on other reviews and it lived up to expectations. My 8 year old grandson and I had started learning chess together last summer, starting with a chess set with very basic instructions. I took this book to him at Thanksgiving and we worked through it as we played. Besides teaching the basic moves, it gives some history of the game, teaches basic strategy and, importantly, thinking skills. The book is structured with a short section on each piece and after explaining the moves and strategies for that piece, has some learning games or challenges to reinforce the lesson, with answers in the back of the book. Jordan really liked working through the exercises; he lit up once he realized what they were and we went through them all, reading the right and wrong answers and learning in the process. I especially liked the diagrams showing visually why it is better for certain pieces to move effectively in the middle of the board, or along the sides - I think that's great for kids. It also explains chess notation so that, once these basic skills are mastered, and as he grows a little older, we can move on to more advanced chess instruction books. I am very much enjoying sharing this challenge with my grandson and watching his mind work and lights go off as he grasps these skills.

I gave this set as a birthday gift to a twelve year old and he loves it

Easy to use and understand

This book provides excellent, clear instructions for how to play chess. It includes very helpful graphics, as well. I also like that it presents some strategies that will be very helpful to novice players. My only gripe is that it continually describes the game in terms of war, war, and war. I know that the game play is a metaphor for war. Of course, this should be mentioned in the text. This book, however, seems to obsess with this. Especially in a book that presents itself as a guide for children, I feel it is inappropriate and distasteful to continually speak of "your army," "the battlefield," "control the events of the battle," "the opposing armies," "better than any army general," "The two armies move toward each other and then the fight begins," "Battle it out!" "as though the players are real generals overseeing a real battle," etc. Do we really want our children to feel like they are engaging in war, for fun? Chess is a wonderful game, despite its origin as a metaphor for war, not because of it. The author writes, "There is no feeling more satisfying than beating an able opponent." Really?

Excellent book, very easy to read. Nice pictures and explanations. The game itself is meant to be played with 2 people, so if getting this for a child, reading it together would be fun. There are a lot of pictures, with minimal, to the point explanations. Since it is not very "wordy" kids may find it easier to understand.