★A book that explains chess in a simple and witty way, through rules, stories, and anecdotes, introducing a world that has been captivating more and more people in recent years.

How much chess knowledge is needed to navigate today’s world? Not much, honestly. However, it’s impossible to ignore that interest in chess has been dangerously growing in recent years, and with it, the risk of finding yourself helplessly trapped in a conversation on the topic. A friend, colleague, or potential partner might one day talk to you about the Sicilian Defense—their favorite opening—effectively excluding you from the conversation. Maybe it’s already happened, leaving you with a subtle sense of inadequacy.

The good news is: you only need to know what an opening, a sacrifice, checkmate, and a few other basics are to make a good impression, skillfully mixing technical terms and anecdotes. Knowing the rules doesn’t hurt, but it’s secondary to exploring a world that involves stories of fraud, espionage, experiments on children, freemasonry, and madness. This way, you’ll be able to understand and participate in the unexpected and unpredictable recent success of a slow, reflective, and antisocial game-sport.

Giorgio Ricca
Giorgio Ricca holds a degree in mathematics and is a Candidate Chess Master. He is the proud vice president of the ASD Poldo’s Chess Club and once saw Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand in person.