Chess for Kids: Chess Shop

sales@chessforkids.co.uk

Here are a few ways of keeping a chess addict occupied. The books are available directly through Amazon.co.uk, just click on the pictures below. The other things are direct from me, either use the shopping basket (powered by the brilliant Paypal secure payment facility) or use the order form at the bottom of the page. Your order should be with you within five working days. If you don't use the shopping basket then you will need to send your payment by cheque, made payable to Chess for Kids. Postage for items directly from us is already included.

Chess Books

There are a bewildering number of chess titles so I have carefully selected a list of very good ones. Clicking on the title or the book cover will take you to the book on amazon.co.uk where you can then buy it.

Beginners

Super.activ: Chess
Written by Mike Basman, this is a great introduction to chess, as well as a source of invaluable ideas for novices. Essential knowledge, presented with excellent cartoons and text.
Chess for Kids
Another book by Mike Basman, this is a bigger introduction to chess, with clear explanations, good pictures and well-proven ideas. He was my chess coach so I could be biased!
Comprehensive Chess Course: Vol 1
This volume of twelve thorough lessons takes the reader from beginner to winner. Each chapter has lots of puzzles to solve, and short games to play through.
Novices/
Intermediates

How to beat your Dad at Chess
"Dad" means anyone better than you, but your Dad is probably a good start. Lots of great ideas and plans with which to ambush your opponents. This will be a potent source for many years.
Chess Tactics for Kids
Chess enthusiasts of all ages and levels will find this book an instructive delight. In a simple, easy-to-understand format it explains how to bamboozle your chess opponents using commonly occurring tactical motifs. The illustrative positions, all taken from real games, show the 50 Tricky Tactics that experienced chess masters use to win their games. Recognising frequently-occurring tactical ideas is vital to success in chess. One of the fastest and most enjoyable ways to improve at chess is by learning these thematic manoeuvres. Beginners will benefit from the clear explanation of basic concepts, such as how to utilise a fork, pin, or skewer. Advanced players will delight in the many devious middlegame tricks - some classified here for the first time - which can even catch out grandmasters. Chess Tactics for Kids makes improving easy and fun, and is full of helpful explanations on how to approach chess games with confidence - and success.
Chess Fundamentals
An absolute classic written by a World Champion with very clear and intuitive explanations. This should be part of everyone's chess library.
Chess
A huge collection of checkmates in 1, 2, and 3, plus short games, endgames, and attacking patterns carefully organised by Laszlo Polgar, who coached his three daughters to Master level! A fantastic resource that I still use to sharpen my claws!
Comprehensive Chess Course: Vol 2
This volume carries on from where Vol 1 left off. It is in the same format, has lots of examples, puzzles, and games to learn from. At the end of this you will be a tough nut to crack for any chess player.
The Art of Checkmate
Similar in approach to How to beat your Dad at Chess. This gives a thorough classification of 23 essential mating situations, including Legal’s pseudo-sacrifice, smothered mates, Greco’s mate, the Corridor mate, and many others. These ideas are drawn from 127 master games by Tartakower, Janowski, Rubinstein, Blackburne, and others. An excellent book
The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery
This book focuses on the beautiful paradox in chess that it is easy to learn how the pieces move but difficult to play even a moderately good game. It takes the student on a journey through his own mind and returns him to the chess board with a wealth of new-found knowledge and the promise of a significant gain in strength.
Everyone's Second Chessbook
Although the book is marketed at beginning chess players, and particularly children, most non-expert players will benefit from it. It gives advice that works. Well-written and illustrated, this charming book is a delight.
Chess for Tigers
There are few chess books which deserve a place in the library of every player, but Chess for Tigers is one of them. It tries to get you to play to the best of your abilities by making you aware of your strenghs and weaknesses and by showing how to focus on what is critical to your goal of WINNING. Essential for the competitively minded player (i.e. all of us!)
202 Surprising Checkmates
This excellent book covers hundreds of positions from actual game situations which appear to be drawn but actually have a hidden mate. The reader who applies themself will take away invaluable practical knowledge, just waiting for the right moment in actual play.
General

Searching for Bobby Fischer
Whilst offering a fascinating look into the world of competitive chess this book about a father who discovers that his seven-year-old son is a genius at playing chess, it is more a poignant study of the differences between parental idealism and proper parenting. It is also an observantly witty portrait of a precocious child who is still, after all, a child, and still eager for the joyful discoveries of youth. The boy plays chess for fun, but when he's tutored by a former champion and entered into high-pressure competitions, an enjoyable pastime becomes a source of tension and resentment, forcing the father to reconsider his parental priorities.
The Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes:...
Accompanied as ever by the faithful Watson, Holmes is summoned to investigate why chess games at a number of clubs and stately homes have been mysteriously abandoned. Using his remarkable powers of deduction and retrograde analysis, Holmes reconstructs, move by move, the events that occurred at the scene of the crime - the chessboard. No sooner is the solution arrived at than the game is afoot once more - this time in pursuit of the murderous Moriarty, whose contribution of 10 devilish chess problems can be found at the end of the book. This is a compelling read and poses some real brain-breaker puzzles.
Chess Software

Fritz and Chesster
A very good way to introduce chess to a child at home. it starts with simple "baby-chess" games and steadily increases the complexity. Chesster the mouse can play at many levels so won't become redundant for a long time. There are sequels too, which take you well beyond the basics.
Fritz 10
Consistently the best chess program in the business. Do not buy this product thinking it is going to be a beautiful virtual teacher from basics of chess - buy Fritz and Chesster instead. The chess it playsis fantastic. Assuming you have a few books on strategy and simple tactics to hand or already mastered, this is all you will need. There are also many great features in terms of game analysis, which can help anyone improve their own game. It can also play at many different levels making it a match for all members of your family.

Chess boards

Pocket Chess	Folding wallet board with magnetic pieces. Black, red or white cover.	Ł 5
Standard "Club" chess set.	Large solid plastic pieces, with a durable container. As used in our chess coaching courses.	Ł 10
Roll-up vinyl board.	Standard board to go with the "Club" chess pieces	Ł 4

Chess Clocks

Turnier Wooden Chess Clock	Sturdy german clock	Ł 40
Saitek Digital Chess Clock	Solid clock, lots of useful features. I use one!	Ł 50

Chess for Kids
48 Station Road
Fulbourn
Cambridgeshire
CB21 5ES

	Super.activ: Chess Written by Mike Basman, this is a great introduction to chess, as well as a source of invaluable ideas for novices. Essential knowledge, presented with excellent cartoons and text.
	Chess for Kids Another book by Mike Basman, this is a bigger introduction to chess, with clear explanations, good pictures and well-proven ideas. He was my chess coach so I could be biased!
	Comprehensive Chess Course: Vol 1 This volume of twelve thorough lessons takes the reader from beginner to winner. Each chapter has lots of puzzles to solve, and short games to play through.

	How to beat your Dad at Chess "Dad" means anyone better than you, but your Dad is probably a good start. Lots of great ideas and plans with which to ambush your opponents. This will be a potent source for many years.
	Chess Tactics for Kids Chess enthusiasts of all ages and levels will find this book an instructive delight. In a simple, easy-to-understand format it explains how to bamboozle your chess opponents using commonly occurring tactical motifs. The illustrative positions, all taken from real games, show the 50 Tricky Tactics that experienced chess masters use to win their games. Recognising frequently-occurring tactical ideas is vital to success in chess. One of the fastest and most enjoyable ways to improve at chess is by learning these thematic manoeuvres. Beginners will benefit from the clear explanation of basic concepts, such as how to utilise a fork, pin, or skewer. Advanced players will delight in the many devious middlegame tricks - some classified here for the first time - which can even catch out grandmasters. Chess Tactics for Kids makes improving easy and fun, and is full of helpful explanations on how to approach chess games with confidence - and success.
	Chess Fundamentals An absolute classic written by a World Champion with very clear and intuitive explanations. This should be part of everyone's chess library.
	Chess A huge collection of checkmates in 1, 2, and 3, plus short games, endgames, and attacking patterns carefully organised by Laszlo Polgar, who coached his three daughters to Master level! A fantastic resource that I still use to sharpen my claws!
	Comprehensive Chess Course: Vol 2 This volume carries on from where Vol 1 left off. It is in the same format, has lots of examples, puzzles, and games to learn from. At the end of this you will be a tough nut to crack for any chess player.
	The Art of Checkmate Similar in approach to How to beat your Dad at Chess. This gives a thorough classification of 23 essential mating situations, including Legal’s pseudo-sacrifice, smothered mates, Greco’s mate, the Corridor mate, and many others. These ideas are drawn from 127 master games by Tartakower, Janowski, Rubinstein, Blackburne, and others. An excellent book
	The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery This book focuses on the beautiful paradox in chess that it is easy to learn how the pieces move but difficult to play even a moderately good game. It takes the student on a journey through his own mind and returns him to the chess board with a wealth of new-found knowledge and the promise of a significant gain in strength.
	Everyone's Second Chessbook Although the book is marketed at beginning chess players, and particularly children, most non-expert players will benefit from it. It gives advice that works. Well-written and illustrated, this charming book is a delight.
	Chess for Tigers There are few chess books which deserve a place in the library of every player, but Chess for Tigers is one of them. It tries to get you to play to the best of your abilities by making you aware of your strenghs and weaknesses and by showing how to focus on what is critical to your goal of WINNING. Essential for the competitively minded player (i.e. all of us!)
	202 Surprising Checkmates This excellent book covers hundreds of positions from actual game situations which appear to be drawn but actually have a hidden mate. The reader who applies themself will take away invaluable practical knowledge, just waiting for the right moment in actual play.

	Searching for Bobby Fischer Whilst offering a fascinating look into the world of competitive chess this book about a father who discovers that his seven-year-old son is a genius at playing chess, it is more a poignant study of the differences between parental idealism and proper parenting. It is also an observantly witty portrait of a precocious child who is still, after all, a child, and still eager for the joyful discoveries of youth. The boy plays chess for fun, but when he's tutored by a former champion and entered into high-pressure competitions, an enjoyable pastime becomes a source of tension and resentment, forcing the father to reconsider his parental priorities.
	The Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes:... Accompanied as ever by the faithful Watson, Holmes is summoned to investigate why chess games at a number of clubs and stately homes have been mysteriously abandoned. Using his remarkable powers of deduction and retrograde analysis, Holmes reconstructs, move by move, the events that occurred at the scene of the crime - the chessboard. No sooner is the solution arrived at than the game is afoot once more - this time in pursuit of the murderous Moriarty, whose contribution of 10 devilish chess problems can be found at the end of the book. This is a compelling read and poses some real brain-breaker puzzles. Chess Software
	Fritz and Chesster A very good way to introduce chess to a child at home. it starts with simple "baby-chess" games and steadily increases the complexity. Chesster the mouse can play at many levels so won't become redundant for a long time. There are sequels too, which take you well beyond the basics.
	Fritz 10 Consistently the best chess program in the business. Do not buy this product thinking it is going to be a beautiful virtual teacher from basics of chess - buy Fritz and Chesster instead. The chess it playsis fantastic. Assuming you have a few books on strategy and simple tactics to hand or already mastered, this is all you will need. There are also many great features in terms of game analysis, which can help anyone improve their own game. It can also play at many different levels making it a match for all members of your family.