Scholastic Chess Syllabus

by Kenneth Sloan

This is one selection from the vast array of chess books for scholastic
players. There are many other worthy books out there - these are simply the
ones with which I have had some experience, and which I can recommend to the
parent/coach for home use.

A few very good books are not on this list because, in my opinion, they are
aimed at more formal instruction, and require the guidance of a professional
teacher.  Such a teacher does not need guidance from me!  But, if you are a
parent of a child just starting to play the game and are confused about "what
to buy" - the list below is my answer.  The first 5 books cover everything,
with little duplication.  The others represent "extra" books, or different
approaches.  They are worth looking at, but no longer my first choices.

0) Pawn&Queen and In Between, Volume 1, Number 1.
   Available from USCF.  In quantity 10, it comes with a Teacher's Guide.

   This is the book that I give to everyone who walks in the door.  I consider
   it an excellent starting point.  In spite of the title, there will be no
   "Number 2".  It's a good guide to large-group lecture-style teaching - but I
   prefer to have "good readers"  go through it by themselves (or with their
   parents) and then use it as the basis for questions.  

1) Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, by Fischer, Margulies,& Mosenfelder
   ISBN 0-553-25735-8, paperback from Bantam.

   Kids love this book.  No notation.  Every page contains a single problem.
   The answer (and the next problem) is overleaf.  After reading the right-hand
   pages, you turn the book over and go through it again, reading the left-hand
   (upside-down) pages.  Concentrates on MATE!  No board required.  I give this
   book as a prize to the bottom scoring player in beginners' tournaments.

2) Play Winning Chess, by Seirawan (with Silman)
   ISBN ?-???-?????-?, paperback by Tempus Books of Microsoft Press.

   Explanation of basic strategic concepts (space, time, etc.)  Combining this
   book with Winning Chess Tactics (see below) gives a consistent, enjoyable
   2-book sequence.  Highly recommended.  Now a 4 book series (#3 is Winning
   Chess Strategies, #4 is Winning Chess Brilliancies).  Both "Strategies" and
   "Brilliancies" are well out of the "beginners' books" - but if you like the
   first two, it's a good bet you'll want to continue the series.

3) Winning Chess Tactics, by Seirawan and Silman.
   ISBN 1-55615-474-7, paperback by  Tempus Books of Microsoft Press.

   Explanation of basic tactics, examples, and tests.  Biographies of famous
   "tactical" players, from Anderssen to Kasparov,  along with  representative
   games.  (see note above about more books in this series.) 

4) Pandolfini's Endgame Course, by Pandolfini.
   ISBN 0-671-65688-0, paperback from Fireside (Simon & Schuster).

   Highly recommended.  Short lessons on the endgame, beginning with KQRk and
   ending (238 endgames later) with KNPkb.  KBNk is handled in Endgames 16
   through 24, one small step at a time.  Beginners will need a board the first
   time (or two) through the book.  When the material is well understood, the
   player should be able to read through each lesson without benefit of a
   board. 

5) Let's Play Chess: A Step-By-Step Guide for all First-Time Players, 
   by Pandolfini. ISBN 0-671-61983-7, paperback from Fireside 
   (Simon & Schuster).

   For the text-oriented kid.  Every paragraph has a point, and a number.  Can
   easily be skipped - but has lots of useful ideas, in pithy prose.

6) Square One: A Chess Drill Book for Children and Their Parents,
   by Pandolfini. ISBN 0-671-65689-9, paperback from Fireside (Simon &
   Schuster).

   Workbook format.  The paragraphs are still numbered.  Lots of diagrams, lots
   of questions to answer.  A few years ago, it was the only book in it's
   class; now there are others.

7) Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps (202 Openings Designed to Instruct 
   Players of All Levels). ISBN 0-671-65690, paperback from Fireside 
   (Simon & Schuster).

   One opening (actually, one line) per page - showing an instructive shot, and
   a bit of analysis of the ideas.  Useful as a source of 202 short lessons -
   but also a good book for a low-beginner to read through in search of opening
   ideas - there are 202 to choose from! 

8) Weapons of Chess: an Omnibus of Chess Strategy, by Pandolfini.
   ISBN 0-671-65972-3, paperback from Fireside (Simon & Schuster).

   A collection of short ruminations on every topic you can think of -  almost
   always with a diagram, and a lesson attached.  No board necessary, even for
   low-beginners.  An "idea" book. 

9) Chessercizes: New Winning Techniques for Players of All Levels, by
   Pandolfini.  ISBN 0-671-70184-3, paperback from Fireside (Simon &
   Schuster) .

   Not exactly "problems"; not exactly "lessons".  Written in the modern
   Pandolfini style - one idea/example per page.  Easy to take in short
   segments, or as fodder for lessons. 

10) Chess for Tigers, 2nd edition, by Simon Webb.
   ISBN 0-08-037788-2, paperback from Permagon Press

   General advice on varied topics, with a lesson woven into every chapter.


Finally, my recommendations on opening books - don't buy ANY!  In general,
scholastic players do not need to spend a lot of time on the opening.  Avoid at
all costs books which promise an easy opening repertoire for all situations.

But, if you must buy something - here are my suggestions:

Students who learn general opening principles will "naturally" play double
K-pawn openings.  I see no reason to interfere with this for quite some time.
Eventually, they reach the limit of what they can invent from first principles
and want more formal guidance in the opening. My approach is to first introduce
the Evans Gambit - and then the Ruy Lopez.

I haven't found anything really good on a repertoire for Black - especially in
response to something other than 1. e4.  Suggestions are welcome!

11) Evans Gambit And A System Vs. Two Knights Defense, by Tim Harding.
   ISBN 0-87568-194-8, paperback from Chess Digest.

   An excellent presentation of opening ideas which will appeal to the young
   player. Beginners need to be cautioned to simply follow the "bold type" - on
   later passes they can come back for another level of detail, and then
   another, etc.  Emphasis on complete games. 

12) How to Play the Ruy Lopez, by Shaun Taulbut.
    ISBN 07134 4873 3, paperback from Batsford.

   Good presentation of essential opening material.  Can be read at several
   levels - starting with simply the text introductions to each chapter and
   "just the bold type" for the main line.  Details can be picked up in later
   passes through the book, and in analysis of games actually played.  This
   book can be used for ideas on how to meet the Ruy Lopez *as Black*, while
   still aiming for the Evans Gambit with White.
   
By now - we're well out of the "kids books" area.  I believe that any 6th
grader (and most 4th graders) can read all of the above books.  I suspect that
these books will take any beginner to at least USCF 1400.  By that time, the
student will be ready for the "adult" literature, and the choice of books
becomes much more personalized, depending on choice of openings, style, etc.