<CENTER>From America's foremost chess teacher and author comes a new standard: a comprehensive course covering all aspects of the game, to improve your technique whether you are a newcomer or a longtime fan.</CENTER><P>One of America's best-known chess masters, Bruce Pandolfini has helped millions learn the intricacies of chess through his acclaimed books and workshops. In this exciting volume, he presents a complete overview of the entire game and its culture. Structured as a dialogue between a beginning student and an expert teacher, <I>Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess</I> takes the student step-by-step from fundamentals to advanced, highly strategic play. Combining easy-to-follow diagrams with trenchant and up-to-date analysis, Pandolfini puts a new twist on accepted chess theory, offering a seamless beginning-to-end approach, including: <P><BLOCKQUOTE>&#149; a short introductory history of the game<P>&#149; the moves, rules, and contemporary notation forms<P>&#149; the basic principles of chess<P>&#149; how to develop an opening repertoire<P>&#149; the art of tactical play<P>&#149; pattern recognition and memory aids<P>&#149; traps and pitfalls to be avoided<P>&#149; middlegame play, strategy, and planning<P>&#149; defense and counterattack<P>&#149; transitions to the endgame and the endgame itself<P>&#149; computers and the future of chess<P>&#149; the best websites for playing chess online</BLOCKQUOTE><P>With Pandolfini's expert insight into the history and modern world of chess, as well as several appendices to enhance play and appreciation, <I>Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess</I> makes the perfect gift for players of all ages and will be the benchmark title for chess players for years to come.