Unusual chess book

I can't claim discovery of this. I saw it posted on another forum, but I had to steal (borrow? ) the post.

"Chess Words of Wisdom"

534 pages... Information condensed from hundreds of other sources...

But the kicker is that there is not one single chess diagram, not one game in the entire book. All text. (Sample pdf pages on NIC site)

I wonder what the Chesscafe/Silman type reviews will be like.

http://www.newinchess.com/Chess_Words_of_Wisdom-p-5043.html

How about this idea for an unusual chess book that was
given to me by a friend to put on the Corner.

No moves just the notes to moves.

You have to guess what was played just by the note.

1.??

Best by Test according to Fischer.

1....??

The Classical reply.

2.??

These should developed before Bishops according to Lasker.

2....??

This move defending the pawn was recommended by Philidor.

etc.etc...

You also get blank diagrams to fill in with the pieces.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
How about this idea for an unusual chess book that was
given to me by a friend to put on the Corner.

No moves just the notes to moves.

You have to guess what was played just by the note.

1.??

Best by Test according to Fischer.

1....??

The Classical reply.

2.??

These should developed before Bishops according to Lasker.

2....?? ...[text shortened]...
You also get blank diagrams to fill in with the pieces.

[fen]8/8/8/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1[/fen]

It's not a chess book until the word "insipid" is used somewhere.

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
It's not a chess book until the word "insipid" is used somewhere.

My dad used to call me that, what's it mean? 🙁

Originally posted by Mad Rook
I can't claim discovery of this. I saw it posted on another forum, but I had to steal (borrow? ) the post.

"Chess Words of Wisdom"

534 pages... Information condensed from hundreds of other sources...

But the kicker is that there is not one single chess diagram, not one game in the entire book. All text. (Sample pdf pages on NIC site)

I wonder wh ...[text shortened]... man type reviews will be like.

http://www.newinchess.com/Chess_Words_of_Wisdom-p-5043.html

I can't wait to buy it. I actually like chess books like that. I seem to do better with "text" information when it comes to strategy.

Originally posted by Mad Rook
I can't claim discovery of this. I saw it posted on another forum, but I had to steal (borrow? ) the post.

"Chess Words of Wisdom"

534 pages... Information condensed from hundreds of other sources...

But the kicker is that there is not one single chess diagram, not one game in the entire book. All text. (Sample pdf pages on NIC site)

I wonder wh ...[text shortened]... man type reviews will be like.

http://www.newinchess.com/Chess_Words_of_Wisdom-p-5043.html

Received the plug from NiC yesterday.

sceptical

Games are my safetynet.No matter how much the book sucks if there's games in it I get some enjoyment.

no games 😕

toet.

Originally posted by toeternitoe
Received the plug from NiC yesterday.

sceptical

Games are my safetynet.No matter how much the book sucks if there's games in it I get some enjoyment.

no games 😕

toet.

That was my initial reaction: skepticism. It just seems to me that there are times when you need some supporting diagram, analysis, or game to fully bring home a point. Not having any of that just unnecessarily shackles the communication process. The only upsides I can see is that it gives the author a gimmicky selling point, and it shortens the writing time due to not having to come up with any examples.

greenpawn has a beautiful mind.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
How about this idea for an unusual chess book that was
given to me by a friend to put on the Corner.

No moves just the notes to moves.

You have to guess what was played just by the note.

1.??

Best by Test according to Fischer.

1....??

The Classical reply.

2.??

These should developed before Bishops according to Lasker.

2....?? ...[text shortened]...
You also get blank diagrams to fill in with the pieces.

[fen]8/8/8/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1[/fen]

Well Done !

You should do an entire game.

It could even get more complicated. eg ...

Bobby Fischer lost the first game of his historical match with Spassky by playing this move.

Answer: (29) Bxh2

Originally posted by hintjul
greenpawn has a beautiful mind.

does he walk funny too?

toet.

Originally posted by gorookyourself
My dad used to call me that, what's it mean? 🙁

It must be one of the most overused words among chess annotators. I can separate the chess book readers from the non-readers at a tournament by walking to a board position in the skittles room and simply saying "insipid" after looking at it.

The book readers laugh, and the non-readers adopt the "It must be an inside joke, because I don't get it" look!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insipid


Main Entry: in·sip·id
Pronunciation: \in-ˈsi-pəd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French & Late Latin; French insipide, from Late Latin insipidus, from Latin in- + sapidus savory, from sapere to taste — more at sage
Date: 1609
1 : lacking taste or savor : tasteless <insipid food>
2 : lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge : dull, flat <insipid prose>

— in·si·pid·i·ty \&#716;in-s&#601;-&#712;pi-d&#601;-t&#275;\ noun

— in·sip·id·ly \in-&#712;si-p&#601;d-l&#275;\ adverb

synonyms insipid, vapid, flat, jejune, banal, inane mean devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character. insipid implies a lack of sufficient taste or savor to please or interest <an insipid romance with platitudes on every page>. vapid suggests a lack of liveliness, force, or spirit <an exciting story given a vapid treatment>. flat applies to things that have lost their sparkle or zest <although well-regarded in its day, the novel now seems flat>. jejune suggests a lack of rewarding or satisfying substance <a jejune and gassy speech>. banal stresses the complete absence of freshness, novelty, or immediacy <a banal tale of unrequited love>. inane implies a lack of any significant or convincing quality <an inane interpretation of the play>.

Originally posted by Paul Leggett
It must be one of the most overused words among chess annotators. I can separate the chess book readers from the non-readers at a tournament by walking to a board position in the skittles room and simply saying "insipid" after looking at it.

The book readers laugh, and the non-readers adopt the "It must be an inside joke, because I don't get it" loo ...[text shortened]... lack of any significant or convincing quality <an inane interpretation of the play>.

I guess I haven't read that many annotated books. I couldn't remember ever coming across that word.

...And then I did remember one - Rampant Chess. 🙂

Originally posted by Mad Rook
I guess I haven't read that many annotated books. I couldn't remember ever coming across that word.

...And then I did remember one - Rampant Chess. 🙂

I'm probably showing my age as well, as books are being supplanted by video and computer methods- I have to laugh at myself a little!

I've often wondered it there is a popular corresponding word in Russian that is in more general use in the language, and that it just came out as "insipid".

I think there's another thread (several, probably) that talks about cliched words and phrases in annotated chess games, and "insipid" ranks right up there with "lightning from a clear blue sky" and "wrong rook" as a perrenial favorite!