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Chessville
Advertise to Single insert:
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Chessville readers are likely familiar with Bruce Albertson, co-author of 303 Tricky Chess Tactics, 303 Tricky Chess Puzzles, 303 More Tricky Chess Puzzles, 303 Tricky Checkmates, 202 Checkmates for Children and 51 Chess Openings for Beginners. According to the Publisher's website, "Bruce Alberston is a well-known chess trainer and teacher in the New York City area and has recently written collaborated with Fred Wilson on 303 Tricky Checkmates and 303 Tricky Chess Tactics (both with Fred Wilson) for Cardoza. He also wrote and narrated the best-selling CD-ROM, Quick Kills on the Chessboard, and collaborated with Fred Wilson on 202 Surprising Mates (for Dover). He has also done significant research and analysis for Bruce Pandolfini (who has written 17 books for Simon & Shuster)." I started off wrestling with the title of this book. Take “Trap of the Day.” It reminded me of a chess calendar by Robert Byrne that I had received a number of years back which had 365 problems to solve, one for each day of the year. But Albertson’s book has “217 traps, 40 openings, 500+ diagrams” none of which, either individually or grouped, add up to a year’s worth. Perhaps the title suggests that the reader tackle a trap a day, in order to not be overwhelmed by the totality of it all? That would take the reader from New Year’s Day through July 4th of next year. Then I read the Introduction, which started off: The everyday opening mistakes made by amateurs often go both unnoticed and unpunished. “Everyday” and “Trap of the Day” – might there be some sort of a connection? No matter. I also got caught up in the word “Trap” itself in the book’s title. I think of a trap as a move that one makes, or a position that one sets up, which has a hidden threat which an opponent might overlook. If that is the case, then Albertson has paired together both traps and outright blunders in his collection. (Falling for a trap may itself be a blunder, but there are other kinds of blunders as well.) For example, #59 in the Italian Game, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 is a trap set by Black. Number 22 in the King’s Gambit, however, 1.e4 e5 2.f4 d6 3.Nc3 Be6 4.Nf3 Nd7 is simply a blunder by the second player. In the Pirc Defense #79 1.e4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c3 is a trap (3…Nxe4? 4.Qa4+ wins the Knight) while # 118 in the Queen’s Pawn, 1.d4 d5 2.f4 Be6 3.Qd3 Nd7 and #8 in the Irregular 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Ke7 are gross blunders. Perhaps Cadoza could have titled the book Catastrophe in the Opening, Learn How to Avoid Opening Traps and Pitfalls, or Opening Traps and Zaps, if those names are not already in use. That being said, Chess Opening Trap of the Day is an absolute hoot. If Zukertort is right, that chess is the struggle against error, then Albertson systematically chronicles episode after episode of slacker perfection. Every beginner who has ever said “Struggle? Struggle? I don’t need no stinking struggle!” should grab this book with two hands, thumb through it, and try not to die of either fright or laughter. Things can get pretty ugly when you’re starting out if nobody struggles. And that’s the author’s point. With chapters on Double King Pawn Openings, Asymmetrical King Pawn Openings, Double Queen Pawn Openings, Asymmetrical Queen Pawn Openings and Flank Openings, Albertson delivers 217 painful lessons with two basic themes: a) Don’t do this! and b) If your opponent does this, here’s how to deliver the smack-down. Once learned, the lessons can be applied elsewhere. Besides the requisite Opening Index there is a useful Tactical Index which groups the “Traps” according to Checkmate, Deflection, Desperado, Discovery, Double Threat, etc. Chess Opening Trap of the Day is not merely a source of amusement and schadenfreude, it’s a beginner’s first tactical treatise. A one-page "Suggestions for Improving Your Play" seems caveman primitive – until you see the carnage that follows. The book is attractively produced, with readable double-columns and usually three diagrams per page. I did not note any typos or dypos.
Although the back cover of the book engages in hyperbole when it assures
prospective buyers that “this book will have you armed to the teeth and
ready to conquer opponents with your new tactical weapons”, players new to
the game, and coaches of the same, should give Chess Opening Trap of the
Day a serious look. In any struggle, it is better to do the
laughing than be the one laughed at.*
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