Chess
The Game of Kings
Published on 19. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-83886-653-2 (ISBN)
Description
The joy of chess lies in its endless possibilities. With each move, you immerse yourself in a world of strategy, calculation and creativity. Every game presents a unique challenge, testing players' intellect and intuition to the maximum. Chess is also known for its ornate and beautiful pieces as much as it is for strategy and tactics. Even many people who don't play will often display a polished wooden set in their homes. Chess offers a concise, accessible introduction to the pieces, classic sets and basic moves of this supreme game of strategy. Learn about the Staunton chess pattern, which provides a model for most modern chess sets; marvel at the Isle of Lewis chess pieces, which offer a fascinating insight into the culture and wider connections of medieval Scotland; and understand how skilled players use pawns to control the centre of the board. The book also includes features on some of the great players and classic games of the modern era. A compact edition featuring more than 100 illustrations and photographs, Chess will fascinate anyone interested in the material culture of one of the world's oldest and most widely played games.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Amber Books Ltd
Product notice
Flexible plastic/vinyl cover
Illustrations
Halftones, color; Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 166 mm
Width: 124 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
399 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83886-653-2 (9781838866532)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Alastair Horne is a lecturer in Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling, in Scotland. The author of four previous books for Amber - Abandoned Scotland, Graves of the Great and Famous, Paris: City of Light, and London: Treasured Capital of the United Kingdom - he is currently completing a doctorate on how smartphones are changing storytelling, and a novel set in an unnamed Parisian cemetery in the early twentieth century.
Content
Contents:
1: THE HISTORY OF CHESS: From Ancient India to Chess Computers Chess, originating in ancient India around 6th century AD, evolved from the game Chaturanga. It spread to Persia, where it was named 'Shatranj', and to the Islamic world and Europe by the 9th century. The modern rules started shaping in the 15th century in Spain, Italy and France. Chess became a symbol of intellect, strategy, and nobility, with players like Philidor and Morphy shaping its tactics. The 20th century saw a surge in interest, with champions like Fischer and Kasparov dominating.
2: CHESS SETS: A Guide Through the Ages Although the standard chess set for international competition has been the same Staunton pattern pieces for the last one and a half centuries, there are many other traditional styles of chess pieces that were in use before the Staunton set became the standard, ranging from the elegant Northern Upright pieces to the iconic characters of the Isle of Lewis chess set. The most famous styles include: * Northern Upright * Staunton Pattern * Zagreb & Dubrovnik style * English Barleycorn * French Regency * Selenus * Isle of Lewis * Lund Pattern
3: CHESS PIECES: Their Roles and Movements There are six different kinds of chess pieces, each with circumscribed movement: Pawn: Limited to forward movement, pawns advance to occupy space, capture diagonally, and promote to stronger pieces upon reaching the opponent's back rank, crucial for controlling the board's centre. Knight: Moves in an L-shape, two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular. Its unique leap allows for manoeuvring around other pieces and launching surprise attacks. Bishop: Moves diagonally across the board, controlling long-range paths and influencing both flanks simultaneously. It excels in open positions, particularly when supported by its own pawns. Rook: Moves horizontally or vertically across the board, dominating ranks and files. Its power increases in open positions and endgames, where it can control entire lines. Queen: The most powerful piece, combining the abilities of rook and bishop. It can move horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or any combination thereof, dominating the board and facilitating powerful attacks. King: Limited in mobility but central to the game's objective: avoiding checkmate. It moves one square in any direction, usually seeking safety behind a pawn shield or castling for protection.
4: PLAYING THE GAME: 10 Basic Openings and Moves Chess can be both a simple but ultimately highly complex game. All players learn a few basic moves in order to develop their skill and strategy. Below are some of the most common moves: Pawn to e4 (1. e4): This is one of the most common opening moves in chess. It controls the centre, frees the queen and bishop, and allows for rapid development. Pawn to d4 (1. d4): Another popular opening move, it also controls the centre and allows for quick development of pieces, particularly the queen and bishop on the c1-h6 diagonal. Knight to f3 (Nf3): Developing the knight towards the centre and preparing to castle kingside. This move supports the central pawn and prepares for further development. Knight to c3 (Nc3): Another way to develop the knight, aiming for central control and supporting the pawn on d4. It also prepares for potential pawn advances. Bishop to c4 (Bc4): This move develops the bishop to an active square, exerting influence on the central d5 square and preparing for castling kingside. Bishop to f4 (Bf4): Similar to Bc4, this move develops the bishop to an active square, controlling the central e5 square and preparing for further development. Queen to e2 (Qe2): This move connects the rooks, prepares for kingside castling, and supports the central pawns, often seen in various opening lines. Castle kingside (0-0): This move brings the king to safety and connects the rooks, simultaneously preparing for potential pawn storms on the kingside. Castle queenside (0-0-0): Similar to kingside castling but involving the queenside, bringing the king to safety and connecting the rooks while preparing for an attack or defense on that flank. Pawn to d5 (d5): This move aims to control the centre, challenge white's central pawn structure, and open lines for pieces, particularly the queen and bishops. It's a common response to e4 or d4 openings.
5: FAMOUS PLAYERS: And 10 Classic Games I used to attack because it was the only thing I knew. Now I attack because I know it works best. - Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov Players: 1. Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) 2. Jose Raul Capablanca (1888-1942) 3. Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946) 4. Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-95) 5. Mikhail Tal (1936-92) 6. Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) 7. Anatoly Karpov (born 1951) 8. Garry Kasparov (born 1963) 9. Judit Polgar (born 1976) 10. Magnus Carlsen (born 1990) Games: * Lasker 1 Capablanca 0; 1914 * Capablanca 1 Spielmann 0; 1927 * Reti 0 Alekhine 1; 1925 * Botvinnik 1 Capablanca 0; 1938 * Tal 1 Smyslov 0; 1959 * Byrne 0 Fischer 1; 1956 * Karpov 1 Korchnoi 0; 1978 * Karpov 0 Kasparov 1; 1985 * Anand 0 Carlsen 1; 2013 * Shirov 0 Polgar 1; 1994
1: THE HISTORY OF CHESS: From Ancient India to Chess Computers Chess, originating in ancient India around 6th century AD, evolved from the game Chaturanga. It spread to Persia, where it was named 'Shatranj', and to the Islamic world and Europe by the 9th century. The modern rules started shaping in the 15th century in Spain, Italy and France. Chess became a symbol of intellect, strategy, and nobility, with players like Philidor and Morphy shaping its tactics. The 20th century saw a surge in interest, with champions like Fischer and Kasparov dominating.
2: CHESS SETS: A Guide Through the Ages Although the standard chess set for international competition has been the same Staunton pattern pieces for the last one and a half centuries, there are many other traditional styles of chess pieces that were in use before the Staunton set became the standard, ranging from the elegant Northern Upright pieces to the iconic characters of the Isle of Lewis chess set. The most famous styles include: * Northern Upright * Staunton Pattern * Zagreb & Dubrovnik style * English Barleycorn * French Regency * Selenus * Isle of Lewis * Lund Pattern
3: CHESS PIECES: Their Roles and Movements There are six different kinds of chess pieces, each with circumscribed movement: Pawn: Limited to forward movement, pawns advance to occupy space, capture diagonally, and promote to stronger pieces upon reaching the opponent's back rank, crucial for controlling the board's centre. Knight: Moves in an L-shape, two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular. Its unique leap allows for manoeuvring around other pieces and launching surprise attacks. Bishop: Moves diagonally across the board, controlling long-range paths and influencing both flanks simultaneously. It excels in open positions, particularly when supported by its own pawns. Rook: Moves horizontally or vertically across the board, dominating ranks and files. Its power increases in open positions and endgames, where it can control entire lines. Queen: The most powerful piece, combining the abilities of rook and bishop. It can move horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or any combination thereof, dominating the board and facilitating powerful attacks. King: Limited in mobility but central to the game's objective: avoiding checkmate. It moves one square in any direction, usually seeking safety behind a pawn shield or castling for protection.
4: PLAYING THE GAME: 10 Basic Openings and Moves Chess can be both a simple but ultimately highly complex game. All players learn a few basic moves in order to develop their skill and strategy. Below are some of the most common moves: Pawn to e4 (1. e4): This is one of the most common opening moves in chess. It controls the centre, frees the queen and bishop, and allows for rapid development. Pawn to d4 (1. d4): Another popular opening move, it also controls the centre and allows for quick development of pieces, particularly the queen and bishop on the c1-h6 diagonal. Knight to f3 (Nf3): Developing the knight towards the centre and preparing to castle kingside. This move supports the central pawn and prepares for further development. Knight to c3 (Nc3): Another way to develop the knight, aiming for central control and supporting the pawn on d4. It also prepares for potential pawn advances. Bishop to c4 (Bc4): This move develops the bishop to an active square, exerting influence on the central d5 square and preparing for castling kingside. Bishop to f4 (Bf4): Similar to Bc4, this move develops the bishop to an active square, controlling the central e5 square and preparing for further development. Queen to e2 (Qe2): This move connects the rooks, prepares for kingside castling, and supports the central pawns, often seen in various opening lines. Castle kingside (0-0): This move brings the king to safety and connects the rooks, simultaneously preparing for potential pawn storms on the kingside. Castle queenside (0-0-0): Similar to kingside castling but involving the queenside, bringing the king to safety and connecting the rooks while preparing for an attack or defense on that flank. Pawn to d5 (d5): This move aims to control the centre, challenge white's central pawn structure, and open lines for pieces, particularly the queen and bishops. It's a common response to e4 or d4 openings.
5: FAMOUS PLAYERS: And 10 Classic Games I used to attack because it was the only thing I knew. Now I attack because I know it works best. - Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov Players: 1. Emanuel Lasker (1868-1941) 2. Jose Raul Capablanca (1888-1942) 3. Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946) 4. Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-95) 5. Mikhail Tal (1936-92) 6. Bobby Fischer (1943-2008) 7. Anatoly Karpov (born 1951) 8. Garry Kasparov (born 1963) 9. Judit Polgar (born 1976) 10. Magnus Carlsen (born 1990) Games: * Lasker 1 Capablanca 0; 1914 * Capablanca 1 Spielmann 0; 1927 * Reti 0 Alekhine 1; 1925 * Botvinnik 1 Capablanca 0; 1938 * Tal 1 Smyslov 0; 1959 * Byrne 0 Fischer 1; 1956 * Karpov 1 Korchnoi 0; 1978 * Karpov 0 Kasparov 1; 1985 * Anand 0 Carlsen 1; 2013 * Shirov 0 Polgar 1; 1994