Pushing Pawns


Book Description

Urban high school kid Moses Middleton hoped that organizing a chess club could be a ticket out of mediocrity, but everything goes pear-shaped after a disastrous tournament. That's when he meets Viktor, a mad Russian grandmaster who agrees to coach the team by revealing the secrets of Soviet chess. Together with his crew -- charismatic psychopath P.D. Morales, gifted violinist and expert fencer Esther Toussaint, shy anime fan Maggie Wang, and the new boy, Albanian chess wizard Zamir Hoxha -- Moses vows to take the world of New York City scholastic chess by storm. But trouble's on the way, in the form of neighborhood bullies, a vengeful vice principal, racist gentrifiers, the snooty rich kids from Galton Prep, and, worst of all, a sexual predator who could destroy a young woman's life and the team's newfound solidarity.




Understanding Pawn Play in Chess


Book Description

Chess owes its strategic depth to pawns, which take many roles in the chess struggle. In this text, an experienced grandmaster explores the pawn's multi-facted nature, and provides the reader with a range of pawn-play concepts.




The Power of Pawns


Book Description

If you want to improve at chess, you must know the characteristics of typical pawn formations. Understanding the pawn structure is a key tool when you are evaluating a position on the board. One simple pawn move can ruin your position or win the game. Post-beginners should know the basic essentials of chess structures and that is what this modern training manual focuses on. Experienced chess teacher Grandmaster Jörg Hickl helps you to recognize the important characteristics of pawn structures, learn how you can and should develop your pieces, identify how you can improve your position and develop a plan of action. This book provides common sense guidance and Jörg Hickl uses practical examples to explain typical structures, strategies and plans. His tips and exercises are both highly enjoyable and to the point.




Winning Pawn Structures


Book Description

Pawns are the soul of chess--and one of the aspects of the game that chess computers just don't handle well. This modern guide to pawn structures, written by an experienced grandmaster, analyzes a variety of typical formations, and explains the approaches, patterns, and techniques used by professionals in all phases of the game. The know-how gained from the sample matches presented will give any player a practical advantage on the board.




The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess


Book Description

Confused by esoteric chess terms like castling, forking, and making Luft? Can't tell whether you've got your opponent in check or checkmate? This book will tell you everything you need to know to become a budding Kasparov, from the names of pieces and their movements to tactics and strategies, from advanced maneuvers to setting up chess tournaments and clubs where you can test your skills. Also covered: a history of chess, from its beginnings in ancient India to how it became the world's most played game; all the basics of the board and the pieces; elementary rules and object of the game; famous openings and well-know tactics; sneak attacks and other tricky plays; exercises that explain strategies and chess-move annotations (often found in newspapers); and advice for using the Internet and computer programs to better your game and tips on starting a chess club or tournament.




Small Steps to Giant Improvement


Book Description

The correct use of the pawns is one of the most difficult aspects of chess strategy, but GM Sam Shankland breaks down the principles of Pawn Play to basic, easily understandable guidelines every chess player should know. He starts with extremely simple examples, but then lifts the level, showing how grandmasters could have made better decisions by using the book's guidelines.




Magic's Pawn


Book Description

Groundbreaking epic fantasy series in Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar universe • Lambda-Award winning novels with heartfelt high adventure and magic Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wanted no part in such things. Nor does he seek a warrior’s path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his, if left untrained, may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the fame Herald-Mages of Valdemar. But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin’a’in Adept, Vanyel’s wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone’s ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril.




Pawn Power in Chess


Book Description

Profoundly original book demonstrates how basic relationships of one or two pawns constitute winning strategy. Multitude of examples illustrate theory. 182 diagrams. Index of games.




Mastering Chess Strategy and Tactics


Book Description

Unearth the secrets of chess mastery with "Mastering Chess Strategy and Tactics," your ultimate guide to elevating your game through the strategic art of pawn play. Pawns may be the most humble pieces on the chessboard, but they hold the power to shape the outcome of your matches and dictate the course of play. This comprehensive eBook offers a deep dive into understanding and harnessing their potential to dominate your opponents. Explore how pawns can define the opening and set your strategy in motion. Learn to identify and exploit isolated, doubled, and backward pawns, turning what appears to be a weakness into a formidable strength. Delve into tactical pawn breakthroughs that disrupt your opponent's plans and create unassailable advantages. Discover the strategic value of pawn chains and how their structure can either fortify your position or unravel your enemy’s defenses. Harness the power of the pawn majority to launch devastating attacks or execute a precise minority assault to weaken your rival’s position. From the basics of pawn endgames and creating passed pawns to using pawns as offensive weapons in dynamic middlegame play, this guide covers it all. Understand the nuances of pawn storms in attack, secure your king's safety, and emerge victorious with advanced pawn tactics. Unlock the psychological aspects of pawns, balancing intuition with calculation to outthink your opponent. Artfully wield strategic and tactical pawn sacrifices to surprise and conquer. Examine famous games where pawns turned the tide of battle, and use these lessons to craft your personal pawn strategy. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, this eBook is your gateway to mastering the silent but powerful soldiers of chess. Transform your understanding and command of pawn structures to become an unstoppable force on the chessboard. Your journey towards greatness begins here.




How to Win at Chess


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Learn chess from International Master and YouTube’s top chess teacher Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess) in this refreshing and fun guide for beginner and intermediate players. Clever and informative, How to Win at Chess teaches you everything you need to know about the game, including all the important moves and strategies to start off strong and keep you thinking several steps ahead. Full of Levy Rozman's signature charm and humor that have made him beloved by millions of fans, the first half of this unique guide introduces rising players (0-800 Elo rating) to the four key areas to consider when playing chess—openings, endings, tactics, and strategy—and the second half builds upon these core skills for more experienced players (800-1300 Elo rating). Brimming with practical and easy-to-follow tips for improving your game, How to Win at Chess includes over 500 instructional gameplay illustrations to help you better visualize the board, as well as chapter-specific QR codes for exclusive bonus content on Chessly, Rozman’s teaching platform. Whether you want to become a recreational chess player or are training to be a Grandmaster, How to Win at Chess is the perfect interactive introduction to the world of chess!