Learn Chess Fast

Book Description

IN THIS remarkable book, a great master and a great teacher have collaborated to produce what is probably the clearest and simplest guide to the game ever written. Containing more than 300 diagrams, Learn Chess Fast! Has been specially designed and streamlined to impart a knowledge of chess in an entertaining and effortless manner. This book is attractively produced to introduce many thousands of Americans to the delight of the Royal Game.

Sammy Reshevsky was born on November 26, 1911. Most chess players reach their peak at age 30. It was Reshevsky's misfortune that he reached his peak during the World War II years. He played in the World Championship tournament in 1948 and in the Candidates Tournament in Zurich 1953. In both events there were rumors and reports of collusion by the Soviets to prevent Reshevsky from winning the world championship which he probably would have won in a fair contest. Fischer is quoted as saying that Reshevsky was the strongest player in the world and would have easily defeated World Champion Botvinnik in a match at that time. However, Reshevsky never got the chance. There is no doubt at all that Reshevsky was the strongest USA player. He won the US championship seven times, in 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946 and 1969.

Although Fred Reinfeld is now remembered as a writer about chess and other subjects, he was also a strong player. In the 1950 USCF Rating List he was rated number 6 in the United States with a rating of 2593. He defeated Reshevsky twice and Fine once in tournament games and drew World Champion Alekhine in the grandmaster tournament in Pasadena 1932, the strongest tournament ever played in the Western United States. Reinfeld wrote more than one hundred chess books. In his day, almost all young chess players started off on his books.