Chess for Dummies, 4th edition: a great beginner guide?

Rating 3/5

Buy Chess for Dummies if you want to give a fun present. But if you’re looking for the best book to learn chess, there are better alternatives out there.

When I tried to get into chess at the age of ten, I bought the Dutch version of Chess for Dummies from my own pocket money and tried to read through it. Due to my lack of concentration and the fact that nobody around me knew anything about chess, I did not finish it and even quit chess not much later, unfortunately.

Now, about 25 years later, I still have fond memories of the book and decided to give it another try. I discovered that my Dutch version was incredibly outdated, as it still contained old fashioned ways of online chess and even those were only considered briefly. And in the chapter of the tens, a very important modern chess player was missing: Magnus Carlsen. So I had to buy a new version, the 4th edition.

Chess for Dummies does what the title promises: you start with the very basics of chess. What the pieces are, what the board looks like and what every piece can do. It kind of builds up from that with openings and strategy and covers a broad range of topics. And I actually do like the tone within the book. Although the language and the material can be quite dry at times, the author uses jokes throughout to lighten it all up.

However, I feel like it is more a reference guide to look up what you need at that moment. There is no natural progression in the chapters, but kind of hops from subject to subject. I would have liked a more hands on approach. In addition, sometimes I feel additional information would have helped to understand the material better. The standard knight’s distance for the queen during a king and queen vs king endgame is not even mentioned.

If you are looking for a book which covers a lot, it is definitely recommended. There is a lot of interesting background information about certain players and reasons behind the names of openings. You learn who cut off the heads of all queens in the black of night after he was called out for touching his queen.

All in all, it is not a bad book. There are just better alternatives if you really want to learn the gist of the game. It’s a fun present for others and a nice book to be gifted, though.

If you want to pick it up: It is €11.81 at Amazon right now.