Chess Fundamentals

A Fantastic book by one of the All-Time Greats! ("Chess Fundamentals," by J.R. Capablanca.)
First, it might be good for you to read most of the reviews on this page if you are seriously considering purchasing this book. You should also know I a Chess Master, and I teach chess for a living.
IF you are a relative beginner, then this would be a GREAT first book for you!! (You should probably read "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" first, if you are a raw beginner who is just learning the game.)
This book has two parts. Part One is instruction in six separate chapters. Part two contains 14 illustrative games.
Most of what is in this book is simply outstanding. (A little of the material in this book is over-simplified and a little hackneyed. But it is still stuff you need to know if you are taking your first steps in chess.)
Chapter One covers all of the simpler, basic mates. It covers pawn promotion and endings. There are a few examples of some very simple ideas of methods to win in the middle-game. There is a discussion of the relative value of the pieces, the general strategy of the opening, and a little bit on the importance of controlling the center.
Chapter Two covers "Further Principles in Endgame Play." Chapter Three covers the Middle-game and how to win in that phase of the game. Chapter Four is general theory. Chapter Five is "Endgame Strategy." (This Chapter is very valuable. I have tested these positions on all categories of players. MANY MASTERS CANNOT CORRECTLY SOLVE THE ROOK & PAWN ENDINGS that are given here!) And Chapter Six covers, "Further Openings and principles."
And as I said earlier, Part TWO covers 14 well-annotated games by Capablanca. The discussions in this part are in great detail and very well-explained. (I believe going over a COMPLETE game that is carefully annotated may be one of the best teaching tools there is, especially for the beginner!!)
I taught a young man for a while on the Internet during the year 2000. He was fairly young and had been playing Tournament chess for over two years without much improvement. His dad told me he thought he needed more basics. I had him read and study this book IN GREAT DETAIL. He and his Father went over every word and every variation. The process took several months to complete. When they got finished, they went back through the entire book again!! [His Dad said the young man in question had virtual memorized the 14 annotated games!] The bottom-line? The young man in question had increased his rating close to 300 points in a single year!!! (This is a very significant increase.)
Now while I cannot promise you that kind of improvement, I CAN guarantee that you will learn a tremendous amount. This book is so good, I may require ALL my beginning students to get and read this book. 'Nuff said?

Capablanca is widely regarded as one of the all-time great chess players, and possibly the greatest natural chess genius in history. His games were the greatest influence on modern great world champpions Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov. Mikhail Botvinnik (three times world champ) also related how much he learned from Capablanca, and even pointed out that Alekhine received much schooling from him in positional play, before the struggle for the world title made them bitter foes.
Capa's famous book is designed for players who know the moves and elementary tactics. It is ideal for helping players keen to improve, and was my first non-beginner's book.
Capablanca stresses the importance of learning the endgames first, and he was renowned for his great strength in this area.
Capa's book has good lessons about middlegame attacks -- the need to attack 'en masse' as Capa said, or as modern US GM Yasser Seirawan put it, 'inviting everyone to the party'. Capa also pointed out the the bishop was generally better than the knight, but queen + knight were often better than queen + bishop. According to Botvinnik, Capa was the first with this insight.
Capa's book also gives common-sense opening principles.
This book is very old now, and chess has developed tremendously. But most of this book has stood the test of time, especially for its intended audience.
Chess teachers take note -- your pupils can't afford to skip this book!

Note added 2016: this refers to the classic paperback edition. Do NOT get the butchered Nick De Firmian edition which ruins Capablanca's clear writing style and deletes a number of his games. Also, if you want a Kindle edition, don't get this one which is still in the original descriptive and the diagrams are not especially clear. Instead get this very nicely produced algebraic Kindle edition https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Fundamentals-Algebraic-Illustrated-Capablanca-ebook/dp/B0154WKH8S/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469116210&sr=1-2&keywords=chess+fundamentals+capablanca

Now I know why my older brother always beat me at chess and I'm ready to take him on again! Look out Jim!