Matthew Sadler's Tips for Young Players [Repost]

Don't let the title fool you–Matthew Sadler's Tips for Young Players is not just for children. Anyone who wants to improve their chess game would profit from this book. Sadler, one of England's top grandmasters, has a knack for demystifying some of the more abstruse aspects of the game and presenting them in a clear and easily understood manner.

In the first half of this book, Sadler concentrates on establishing general principles for the opening, middlegame, and endgame. (A basic understanding of the game is assumed–if you are looking for an introductory book for absolute beginners, try Byron Jacob's Starting Out in Chess.) For instance, the section on the opening discusses the principles of good development, king safety, center occupation, and the initiative. Each section concludes with a summary of the important points and selection of exercises to help you see how much you've internalized before you go on.

The second half of the book delves more deeply into the game, discussing the development of and opening repertoire to suit your individual style and the elements of planning and strategy, positional play, and some of the subtleties of the endgame. The final chapter offers tips and exercises for improving your play as well as suggestions for further reading. Tips for Young Players is sure to improve the game of casual players or anyone rated under 1400 who wants to take their game to the next level. With his lucid and engaging writing style, Sadler is well on his way to becoming one of the top chess writers around.