Chess is not a difficult game to learn. It is, however, one of the most rewarding games ever devised and this book will show you exactly why.

The Beauty of Ideas is an introduction to chess unlike any other. Written with warmth, wit, and a deep personal love of the game, it takes the complete beginner by the hand and walks them through the world of chess from the very first move to the breathtaking complexity of grandmaster play without ever losing sight of what makes the game so endlessly fascinating.

Rather than presenting chess as a dry list of rules and diagrams, author Michael Joseph Hand guides the reader through a series of real master games, explaining not just what happened on the board but why. The ideas, the beauty, the logic, and the moments of genius that have made chess the most enduring game in human history.

Inside you will find: A clear, engaging introduction to every piece, every rule, and every principle of sound playStep-by-step analysis of classic games from the Romantic Era through to the legendary Kasparov versus Karpov world championship matchesAn exploration of chess strategy, tactics, planning, and positional thinking, explained in plain EnglishA complete glossary of chess terminology

Whether you have never touched a chess piece in your life, or whether you play occasionally and want to truly understand what you are doing, this book will open your eyes to the extraordinary world that lives inside sixty-four squares.

The Beauty of Ideas was written decades ago by a self-taught club player who believed, passionately, that chess deserved to be shared. It is finally, and belatedly, in print.