Chess Master vs. Chess Amateur

by Max Euwe, Walter Meiden

These 25 chess games played between master and amateur were chosen, arranged, and annotated to help amateurs improve their games. What better way could the amateur have of learning to exploit the weak play of fellow amateurs than to study how a master would handle such situations? Selected by former World Chess Champion Max Euwe and Walter Meiden, a typical amateur player, the games point out graphically how the chess master takes advantage of characteristic errors of the amateur.
In general, the games have been presented in order of the degree of skill of the amateur. The early games were played against beginners; later games, against "coffeehouse" players of various skill levels; the last games, against amateur "book" players. Each game, with commentary by Dr. Euwe, was chosen to illustrate a specific aspect of chess, from various openings to a number of typical chess situations. By carefully studying these games, the amateur player will learn how to recognize and avoid a variety of weak strategic and tactical moves.
Dr. Euwe's helpful and informative commentary on each contest consists of a discussion of significant moves in the game, an analysis of the opening used and explanations of important chess concepts as they arise. Often, he includes a detailed analysis of tactical variations that might have been played as alternatives. The result is an indispensable aid for amateurs seeking to raise the quality of their games as well as a book that can be read with profit by chess players at every level of expertise.

Genres: Chess

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[P.E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in the French edition published by Payot - Diffec, Paris (1977), along with Amateur Becomes Master

The pros :

=> This is as progressive a method as can be when it comes to learn about practicing openings, tactics, minority attack, quality sacrifices, pawn structures, planning, decision-making. Each game is structured and centered on a set of those topics.

=> Euwe, former World Chess champion (1935-1937) is also a very apt teacher in those matters.


The cons :
=> It is an series of games entirely created by Max Euwe. So, comes to, this book is a sheer collection of games made up by the author. It is the keystone idea behind these two books.


Matching Soundtrack :
Red Queen to Gryphon Three - Gryphon

[Puneet Gurnani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice book for novices. Here the amateur plays with the master and looses in around 20-21 games. Euwe demonstrates the mistakes an amateur makes and how the master exploits them. In the whole process the amateur is also learning and improving his game till at last he becomes an expert and turns the tables on the master with some classic games.
The annotations are mostly for every move, with quite some variations given in complex positions. The explanations are quite lucid and easy to follow. The ideas behind each opening is also clearly articulated... especially the french!! Very highly recommended for under 1600 players.
All said and done! I would recommend "the road to chess mastery" by the same author over master vs amateur, simply because the kind of games in the former are better and of a higher quality. Also The annotations are better and more deep.
So that is that. you decide! if you are a below 1600 go for Master vs Amateur first followed by road to chess mastery else give "master vs amateur" a skip and jump directly to "The road to chess mastery".
you wont go wrong on either!!

[Ernest Cadorin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for my current level.

[Goetz Holic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Useful as a first games collection, but otherwise outdated for intermediate players

[Cody Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to do 5 for what it is. Not sure if Euwe (oovay) had any input other than the moves, but the analysis was good and the games were good.

I really enjoyed this book.

[Frederick Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have book in your arsenal.