Boost Your Chess 1: The Fundamentals (Yusupov's Chess School) Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 2010

I was pushing 1700 USCF before lapsing, and for a time I thought about starting this nine book series at a later stage. Not sure why I went with the second book...maybe too proud to start at the very first book. It turns out, I could have started there. This book is challenging. I haven't failed any tests (not quite done yet), but haven't achieved all possible points for any test either. And this while taking more time than I likely would at the board.There isn't much instruction here, just a few examples. For the more tactical chapters (the windmill, the seventh rank), I didn't need any. For the more strategic topics (the semi-open file, outpost), I thought the examples were just what I needed. A less experienced player might disagree, and find the explanations lacking for the strategic topics. I found those chapters to be excellent. It's hard to deal with strategic issues through choose-the-move problems, but this book succeeds.I also really like the fortress chapter, which somewhat improbably teaches you an awful lot about minor piece endings. Yusupov also spends a chapter on N+B vs. K endings. I always assumed that was a waste (when am I ever going to see one?), but now I'm convinced that it's worthwhile nonetheless.A final point: I followed Y's suggestion to set up every position and move the pieces for all variations. I think this really helps, and shouldn't be limited to this book. What the author understands is that chess study is hard work, and it's easy to become passive while studying. This isn't a book where you just read words and nod your head ("Oh, I get it"). Chess isn't hard to get, it's hard to do.

This is Vol. 2 of Yusupov's great 9 Vol Chess course. It is designed to be studied by players under 1500 ELO ( roughly 1500-1600 USCF). But if you are a US player rated even higher, say up to even 1800 USCF, you still may want to start w/ the first 3 Vols. to fill in the gaps of knowledge that we tend to have when compared w/ players from more chess-centric parts of the world. This material is extremely well chosen, examples all selected based on GM Yuspov's great chess strength and extensive experience as a trainer. There are 24 concise lessons (chapters), including such key topics as pawn weaknesses, weak back rank, fortresses, pawn wedges, combinations involving files and those on diagonals, outposts, and mates in 2. Each lesson is followed by a series of related exercises. You must play through all examples and exercises on a board, including all variations. NO computer help is allowed. This is a great series, for serious students. No extravagant claims of the 'master these 300 positions and become a strong tournament player' type are made, unlike those from another famous Russian GM author. Ideally you should have a strong coach for maximal progress, but if you can't go this route, this series is a great way of advancing your game. Play lots of tournaments at slow controls, study master games, analyze your games in depth, and read supplemental materials, and you will be on your way to improving that rating!

This is the best chess course ever. Period. Great coverage of important chess ideas . Great Chess exercises. Small Chapters with examples from Grandmaster chess, followed by graded Exercises. And the exercise solution is complete including other solutions i.e. for the best solution say, 1. f4 you get 3 points but 1.Ne3 you get 1 point. And this is only the second of nine books. I intend to go through them all, and do believe my chess will improve.

Not for the faint of heart, so you use to play? This might be too difficult for you. Steady effort and time to think are required to make the most of this book.

A well organized book of succint instructive examples paired with excellent exercises. I plan to acquire and study the complete series.

I have all three books (I don't know of more) it is cheaper and they all compliment each other. so go and put all there in your shopping cart NOW.

You expect a new book to be in reasonable well kept condition (new), and not in the state shown in pictures.