Kevin Houston's book, Chess Puzzles for the Casual Player Volume 1, is an excellent reference for the amateur chess player. He employs his vast chess experience to craft a well organized, informative and entertaining book. From the brief clarifying intros to the last page, this volume delivers what it promises.


The book itself is laid out as a series of puzzles, where each puzzle starts with a bad chess move. As Kevin states in the intro, “Your job as the puzzle solver is to figure out how to take advantage of the opponents’ blunder."

All the puzzles are shown in illustration form, with text explanations, and are simple to follow. He leads you through each scenario, making it easy to comprehend the moves, and exposing the disadvantage of the error. Then you go back to the beginning to figure out the correct chess move.


It is an excellent way to learn, utilizing this comparison technique. Kevin even offers you alternative lines of play for some of the puzzles.


Deciphering the puzzles was fun, and I was actually surprised at my chess knowledge. I managed to work out many of the problems, possibly because I have made similar bad moves in my own game. It was not so easy to figure out the right moves to make, but that is why I, and any casual chess player, can benefit from this book.


I highly recommend this book to any player needing help with their game. If you just want quick tips or plan to pour over it for weeks, it can only improve your chess play.

If you're someone who loves a book full of complex formulas and paragraphs so long that it takes a whole page of explaining one thing at a time, then this is NOT the book for you.

Kevin's book, "Chess Puzzles for the Casual Player" is very professionally organized with basic English wording that even the most rookie chess player will not get bored of reading after the first page.

Kevin uses simple text while all along putting together a wonderful collection of illustrations that are very easy to understand.

With his 30 plus years of chess experience, you can tell he knows the game and he knows what he is talking about.

I hope you enjoy Kevin's book and God Bless You

Jordan Earle

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