Okay, in an older thread, greenpawn34 stated that Tarrasch's Best Games of Chess was Reinfeld's best work. Geoff was relentless in his praise of this one! It took me a while, but I finally got a used copy. (Not that it was hard to get, I just had other things going on. )
But I'm wondering if any other Reinfeld books come close to the Tarrasch book in quality. Anyone have any opinions on the following?
1) Keres' Best Games of Chess
2) Lasker's Greatest Chess Games (co-authored with Fine)
3) Chess Mastery by Question and Answer
4) Colle's Chess Masterpieces (also titled 51 Brilliant Chess Masterpieces? )
Or any others that you guys think are exceptional...
BTW, I think all of these are in descriptive notation, so they may not appeal to all. I'm OK with DN, so don't let this factor into the recommendations.
ALL of Reinfeld's books were good. He wrote about chess for all levels of chess players. Just because some books were basic or essentially a reprint with a new name does not make it bad. Books come and go, you cannot reprint the same title forever. So yes some books seem like the same material with a new name and yes most of his work was for the beginner and up to 1800ish, so what?
Why would he try to write books for the advanced players? Do they even need books?
Hell, his books use the KISS method. Keep it simple stupid.(I prefer another S word)
And since he kept it simple you learn the basics of good chess. He was simple yet brilliant.
To be honest the only time I improve and move to the next level is when I study a Reinfeld book cover to cover and then repeat.
Most chess books today are for complete idiots or anyone above 1800 rating.
Reinfeld worked with the people inbetween that range.
I can't stand when people talk trash about Reinfeld's books. What have you written?
(The "What have you written?" is for people who talk bad about Reinfeld and not anyone in particular)
Count me a Reinfeld fan. As I got better, I did learn that there are nuances to the game, and that many of his rules and statements have many exceptions, but at the same time, his simple approach allowed me to survive the early goings and make progress.
Reinfeld was a pretty good Master back when it really meant something to be a Master. He had a gift for the printed word, and he took the games of great players and made them accessible for the masses.
A very pleasant book is "The Fireside Book of Chess'. You won't learn any new attacks or defenses, but you will spend a few enjoyable hours reading about the history and joy of chess. There was greatness in Chess before the modern era.
It could not fail. The Best Chess Teacher's games noted up
by a writer who was a teacher by profession who knew his readers
and more to the point knew his limits.
Tarrasch would be annotating his games for his pupils whilst playing them.
I recall one note in his 333 saying something like this was not the quickest
way to win but it is by far the most instructive "And I play my games with
my pupils (us) in mind."
I just love the clean, clear cut simplicity of it all.
He really does pull down the veil of mystic and makes it look so easy.
His undoing was dynamic play, messy unclear Tal-like positions.
But that is same for most players except the Kasparov's and Topolov's
This book gives you a solid base and you suddenly (well I did)
start to think about different things.
It's not really Fred' fault publishing houses changed the titles of books.
I have one (two) Chess Quiz and Win at Chess - it's the same book.
Fred' book on Nimzovitch. 'Hyper Modern Chess' is Nimzovitch for the layman.
Nimzo's games without all the poorly tranlated mumbo-jumbo.
(though the recent re-translated My Systems have gone a long way
to make Nimzovitch readable).
Originally posted by Mad Rook Okay, in an older thread, greenpawn34 stated that Tarrasch's Best Games of Chess was Reinfeld's best work. Geoff was relentless in his praise of this one! It took me a while, but I finally got a used copy. (Not that it was hard to get, I just had other things going on. )
But I'm wondering if any other Reinfeld books come close to the Tarrasch book in qua ...[text shortened]... ay not appeal to all. I'm OK with DN, so don't let this factor into the recommendations.
My System-Nimzowitsch
Chess Praxis-Nimzowitsch
The Art of Sacrifice in Chess-Spielmann
My 60 Memorable Games-Fischer
My Best Games of Chess, 1908-1937-Alekhine
My Best Games Of Chess 1924-1937-Alekhine
I think the "My System 21st Century Edition" is a good translation.
Maybe the newest one out is a good read I just don't agree with "correcting" a mans previous work. If you want to buy me that copy I will look at it, maybe I will change my mind. 😉
I'd forgotten about the Immortal Capa book, and the Fireside Book of Chess also looks fun (although I guess Chernev got top billing on that one. However, I like Chernev's work, too! )
Do you have or have you seen the 1930 English version?
Compare it to the 2007 version published by Quality Chess.
The latter is a much better translation to the original 'Mein System'
The Hays one is also far superior to the 1930 volume.
Back to Fred:
I have about 20-25 of his books, a friend of mine set out years ago
to try and collect EVERY Fred book and last count had over 60.
Then he found out that Fred had aslo written books about coin collecting,
stamp collecting, precious metals, battles, Darwin, medicine etc.
He just gave up.
Fred also wrote under the name of Edward Young and perhaps other names.
Who knows?
A Reinfeld hater, and there are a few about, might actually cherish
a book written by Fred but under another name.
My regret is that he never lived to see Fischer become World Champion.
Fischer-Spassky 1972 by Fred Reinfeld is perhaps one of the great
unwritten chess books.
2nd perhaps only to the '72 match written by Fischer himself.
Reinfeld's Better Stuff?
22 May '10 19:45
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