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     The first book to look at is my favorite of the bunch, but I’m prejudiced about it. Joel Benjamin’s “American Grandmaster” (Everyman Chess, $24.95) tells of his rise from patzerdom to starhood in the chess world. I have known Joel since he was much younger, and his dad (to whom the book is dedicated) was one of my closer friends in the Chess world. Alan and I often roomed together at the World Opens we directed at. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on Joel’s working with IBM on the Deep Blue project. (Yes, I was rooting for the computer!) The games are easy to follow, and not all of them are tri-umphs. If you want to get a personal perspective on chess over the past 30 years or so, this is one for you. If you want to go over instructive games, this is also for you. This is well worth the investment in money and time.
   Everyman Chess also has several more new books out. Two of them are in the series, “Dangerous Weapons.” Richard Palliser, Glenn Flear, and Chris Ward combine on “The Queen’s Gambit ($24.95). This book looks at the opening in quite a bit of depth, more than my mind wanted to worry about. It is a very good reference book, with much new material and ideas.
    The next issue in the series is “1 e4 e5," (by John Emms, Glenn Flear and Andrew Greet, $25.95) an opening I usually use. The authors explore many ideas through 16 chapters, using games as well as their own new ideas. Both of these two “Dangerous Weapons” books could be improved with a list of games actually in usage in the book. Both of these are for the middle to higher players.
   In the “Starting Out” series, Gawain Jones has written one on the “Sicilian grand prix attack” ($24.95), which starts with 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 and then goes on. Three of the games explored are from 2007, with most of the rest from this century. It includes an index of variations as well as a list of games used. This one is a bit easier to follow than the previous two books, and seems to be aimed at the lower end of players’ abilitites.
   Another series being published is their “Practical Endgame Play - mastering the basics” ($25.95) by Efstratios Grivas. This book is a very practical one, and should be part of most lower-rated players’ libraries. Grivas takes the reader through endings that involve Pawns, Rooks, Minor Pieces, Rook and Minor Pieces, and Queens. I especially appreciated the order of the material, as fewer games end up with Queens battling it out than other situations. The author is a trainer for both the Greek and Turkish Olympiad Teams, and knows how to present material well. I could follow what he wanted me to learn almost always. This book is one to study over the course of time, dipping into it to learn new material. Highly re-commended for those of us rated under 1500 or so, and it will probably help quite a few higher-rated as well.
Next is Play 1 b4! ($24.95) by Yury Lapshun and Nick Conticello. This opening is also know as the Sokolsky. I have often fianchettoed with 1 b3, but never used 1 b4 myself. The opening first seems to have been used in the 1800s, with dire results for White. Tarkatower used it in his match with Reti in 1919 with much success, but it has languished since then. Through 7 chapters, the reader is shown many vari-ations, including some QIDs. Contincello comments that his first job was to ensure that Lapshun’s fractured English was readable, then he became a full collaborator on the book. It reads very well, contains a full index, and is a lot of fun. If for no other reason than the shock value, it is worth reading and studying this book.
   In the “starting out:” series, we now have the accelerated dragon ($25.95) by Andrew Greet. This starts off 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 g6, which allows a fianchettoed Bishop. This book is an in-depth look, but does not take itself all that seriously. There is a good bit of humor interspersed throughout, and the multitude of diagrams is very helpful. This is for the more serious chess players than I am.
   Next is Jonathan Levitt and David Friedgood’s 2nd edition of Secrets of Spectacular Chess ($24.95). Discussed are four aspects: paradox, depth, geometry, and flow. I enjoyed most the section on paradox, where having too much material is looked at. This is a mostly practical work, aimed at the tournament player who is not yet to the master level but aspires to learn much more. The authors have updated previous material and included many more games than the original edition.
Starting out: the c3 Sicil-ian ($24.95) by John Emms is the newest in the series. Emms covers 2 ... d5, in which Black either goes for aggressive play or pos-itional lines; and 2 ... Nf6, looking at traditional lines with cd4 or newer Modern Lines. The final chapter examines some move-2 alternatives. This is aimed at the better club or tournament players.

   NewInChess, besides publishing tremendous yearbooks, also puts out books, in case you were unaware. “Hooked on Chess: a Memoir” by Bill Hook $22.95) recently arrived for review. This one is fun, in the same manner as Joel Benjamin’s book. If you look very hard, you can find some games in here but that is not why you should rush out and get this book. Enjoy it for the reading’s sake. Hook has a lot of memories he shares with us, as well as many pictures (in color, no less). This book is a work of love, and I loved it.
     Charles Hertan’s book, “Forcing Chess Moves’ ($28.95) is much more serious in nature. I would recommend reading the “afterthought” first to get an idea why the book was written. Hertan comments that this is the book he should have read when starting out, not after trying to teach all this to students. The book is about tactics, tactics, and more tactics. But, and this is a big BUT, it is also about learning to look at positions and seeing what is there, thinking ahead a bit. If you want to improve your tactical ability, this is for you.
   Another new book dealing with tactics is Bruce Alberston’s “Chess Opening Trap of the Day,” from Cardoza Press ($14.95). Cardoza publishes many, many books on poker and other games. They are quite prolific in the chessic publishing genre as well, putting out the series by Alberston and Fred Wilson (202 Checkmates, etc.). In this book, Bruce (a former eastern PA resident) presents 217 positions in which tactical shots are available. Read through and analyze the ones in the Petroff Defense section! This is a lot of fun and well worth getting for the beginner-intermediate player. Advanced players should know all of these traps by now.
Brand new are two more from NiC. The Chess Instructor 2009 is edited by Jeroen Bosch and Steve Giddins. This included training methods, exercises, and various tools for one who is teaching the sport. It features articles by well-known experts, who explain what and how they improve other players. Chapter 5, by Jan van de Mortel provides “Top Ten of Things to Remember as a Chess Teacher.” His comments on having Chess included during the student day as a class are relevant and quite important. Philadelphia Schools are working with Philly ASAP to bring Chess to a multitude of new players, quite successfully. Priced at $26.95, this is quite well worth the money.
NiC also has a “Secrets of Opening Surprises” series, with Volume 9 just arriving, edited by Jeroen Bosch, listing at $21,95. I have enjoyed dipping into these books as they arrive. This one also includes a chance to win a contest. If you play one of the opening surprises listed in this book and submit it to NewIn Chess, it could win both inclusion in a future book and a cash award! Each chapter looks at a different opening and provides the reader with a new line of play. This is fun if you want to startle your opponent, unless he has also read this book.

Another chess publishing company is Cardoza Publishing Co. They just recently moved to Las Vegas, which is quite appropriate, as Cardoza publishes a wide variety of gaming books, especially of the gambling types. (Of course, chess players do not gambit, ... er... gamble at all, we know!)
Up first is 200 Capture Mates by Fred Wilson and Bruce Alberston. (Bruce used to live in Allentown, so I still consider him a local player making good!) This combination of authors is responsible for a series of numbers books, such as 202 Checkmates, 303 Tactics, etc. In this book ($15.99), the reader is presented with 100 1-move capture mates and then another 100 positions in which you first must capture a piece that forces a response, to which you provide a checkmate move. This is for the beginner to intermediate players, and a lot of fun.
Alberston also authored Chess Opening Trap of the Day ($14.95), also for beginners to intermediate players. Bruce ex-plores 217 opening traps using over 500 diagrams and 40 open-ings. A very comprehensive index is used to show which opening goes with each type of trap. Also highly recommended.
Eric Schiller is a prolific author and terrific teacher. The next four books are his, some with co-authors. 100 Awesome Chess Moves ($18.95) is a bit pricey, but you get your money’s worth. Games run from 1901 to 1999, so it is a century’s worth of “awesome” moves. This is more for the advanced player than the intermediate. If you want good explanations as to why a move is a good one, Schiller is great at explaining and teaching.
First Chess Openings ($12.95) is written for the be-ginning student. He begins with “Fool’s Mate,” the 2-move help-mate, which I actually saw happen in a collegiate match!!! As usual, Eric’s writing is easy to follow. He uses lots of dia-grams, even starting off with a good explanation of chess notation. If you are a parent looking for a first book, or a coach needing such, this is one for your library.
John Watson is a very strong British player, who combines with Schiller for Survive and Beat Annoying Chess Openings: the Open Games. ($17.95) The book presents defenses against such oddbal openings as the Fried Liver (I love that one, by the way.), Latvian Attack, and the Elephant Gambit. There is a lot of material is this book, and it is not one to read at one sitting. Rather, pick and choose what you wish to learn about. Remember, however, you cannot use this during one of your games in progress! This is for the more advanced players, although some beginners and intermediate players would benefit from it.
Schiller and the “Whiz Kids” team up for Whiz Kids Teach Chess: winning chess for young players. ($14.95) The only problem with this book is its datedness. It was published in 1999 and gives ages of the various youngsters as if they were the current ages. Other than that, this is a terrific book, as the players themselves provide their thoughts. Both Jenn and Greg Shahade are from Masterman School here in Philly, and came up through tournaments in Philadelphia! Jenn is also a best-selling author and former USCF Champion! Great read!