How a King Plays: 64 Chess Tips from a Kid Champion

Since this is book about chess was written by a kid, I thought it best to review it with a kid. Hit it, Aaron!

How a King Plays: 64 Chess Tips from a Kid Champion by Oliver Bodell has lots of great tips to help players learn to play chess better. It was helpful that it was written by a kid, and, well, I’m a kid too! My favorite part was learning how to protect my king and about castling. That sounds like a fun move. The castling move is all about tricking an opponent (Aaron, age 9).

And mom says… As the author intended, this book is clear and precise, able to be enjoyed by many ages. Each tip explains itself in short form with the title, then gives the reason why the tip is something you should remember. In cases where a move may have downsides, they are also listed, giving readers a full view. All of these entries are simple and useful, easily applicable, but take time to master. This helps readers take a step toward making what can be a very complex game into something a little easier to handle and more enjoyable to learn.