GothamChess Book Review | Levy Rozman, How to Win at Chess

Summary

In this video, Vitualis the Chess Noob reviews Levy Rozman’s book 'How to Win at Chess: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond.' A fan of Rozman (aka GothamChess), Vitualis praises the book for its beginner-friendly content and simplicity. However, he notes that the book’s brevity leads to a lack of depth on certain topics, relying too much on additional online content. While the book is great for fans and beginners (rated up to 1200 ELO), intermediate players may find it lacking. He especially highlights Chapter 14's 'CCA' tactics as a standout.

Takeaways

• 📖 The speaker reviews Levy Rozman's book 'How to Win At Chess: the ultimate guide for beginners and beyond.'
• 🧑‍🏫 The book is primarily aimed at chess beginners (0-800 ELO) and early intermediate players (800-1200 ELO).
• 🎉 The speaker is a fan of Levy Rozman (GothamChess) and was inspired by his YouTube content, particularly during the pandemic.
• ♟️ The book covers basics such as board layout, piece movement, openings, tactics, and strategies for both beginner and intermediate players.
• 📚 The speaker feels that while the content is useful and simply written, many topics are covered too briefly, lacking depth.
• 🔗 Some chapters include QR codes that link to more content on Rozman’s Chessly platform, which the reviewer feels should have been more integrated into the book.
• 📑 Chapter 10 on intermediate openings (including London System, Vienna System, and Alapin Sicilian) is considered too brief to be highly useful for readers.
• 💡 Chapter 14 on 'Intermediate Tactics' is praised for introducing the 'CCA' heuristic (checks, captures, attacks) and is seen as one of the book's highlights.
• 📘 The speaker compares Rozman's book to Bruce Pandolfini's 'Ultimate Guide to Chess,' noting Pandolfini's deeper exploration and interactive teaching style.
• 👍 The speaker recommends the book for recreational players and fans of GothamChess but suggests intermediate players might need a more in-depth guide.

Q & A

Who is the author of the book being reviewed?

The author of the book is Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess.

Why does the reviewer recommend buying the book?

The reviewer recommends buying the book if you're a fan of Levy Rozman, as it serves as a way to support someone who has inspired many chess players, including the reviewer.

What inspired the reviewer to get back into chess?

The reviewer was inspired to get back into chess by two major influences: the Netflix series 'The Queen’s Gambit' and Levy Rozman’s YouTube channel.

What is the primary audience for Levy Rozman's book?

The primary audience for the book is beginners and early intermediate players, specifically those with an ELO rating of 0-1200.

What does the reviewer think of the content depth of the book?

The reviewer believes the book covers many topics briefly, without much depth. It tends to describe and show rather than explain and explore, which may not be the best approach for adult learners looking to deepen their understanding.

What is the reviewer’s opinion on the online material accessed via QR codes?

The reviewer appreciates additional content but feels that the primary content should be in the book. They dislike relying on an external platform like Chessly, as future access depends on the platform's success.

Which chapter of the book does the reviewer consider the best?

The reviewer considers Chapter 14, 'Intermediate Tactics,' to be the best, particularly because of the 'CCA' heuristic (checks, captures, attacks) expounded by Rozman.

How does the reviewer compare Levy Rozman's book to Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess?

The reviewer finds Pandolfini’s guide more in-depth, with an approach that explores and explains principles rather than just describing. Pandolfini’s book uses a Socratic dialogue style, which helps readers engage more interactively.

What does the reviewer think about the book's coverage of chess openings like the Vienna Game?

The reviewer believes the coverage of chess openings, such as the Vienna Game, is too brief, making it difficult for readers to gain a meaningful understanding of these openings without prior knowledge.

Who would benefit the most from reading Levy Rozman's book?

Recreational chess players with an ELO rating of up to 1200 and fans of GothamChess would benefit the most from this book. It provides easy-to-follow tips and is visually appealing.