Beginning Chess: Over 300 Elementary Problems for Players New to the Game

Make the first move with National Master Bruce Pandolfini—America’s foremost chess coach and game strategist for Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit—in this accessible guide for beginning chess players​.

Pandolfini has taught the game of chess to hundreds of players of all ages and levels and this is his prized collection of lessons for newcomers.

What makes this book different from others of its kind is its simplicity. Every problem can be answered in one move, and no problem requires more than ten pieces on the board. The most common tactical themes are featured, including forks, pins, skewers, underminings, x-rays, and traps—giving the novice a well-rounded introduction to the game.

Bruce Pandolfini is one of the world’s most sought-after chess teachers and one of the most widely read chess writers working today. His role as analyst for PBS’s coverage of the 1972 match between chess superstars Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky first launched him into the public eye. His coaching of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin was portrayed in the book and film Searching for Bobby Fischer. He is a regular columnist for Chess Life, the bible of the chess world, and continues to coach young players professionally and consults for CEOs from numerous Fortune 500 companies. Pandolfini also created over 300 hypothetical games as a consultant for Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. He lives in New York City.