How Not to Play Chess

A Guiding Light for the Royal Game

Almost 100 years ago, one of the classics of chess literature was published in French. It was How Not to Play Chess by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky. It clearly and very simply set forth the basic principles of the game and was immediately embraced by chessplayers worldwide. That first edition originally in French was translated into many languages and became a staple of chess instruction everywhere.

However, it is not widely known that there were two more editions. The second edition was published in 1937. The final, third edition was released in 1948. Now, for the first time, this expanded third edition has been translated into English. Many diagrams have been added and algebraic notation is used.

The result is a brilliant manual for the modern generation of chessplayers.

Znosko-Borovsky, whom I consider one of the great chess teachers, explains the hard work and mindset required to improve your chess ability…The advice and wisdom he offers is relevant for both beginners and grandmasters. In truth, this book describes a process of study…I was delighted to reread How Not to Play Chess this time in a refreshing new translation of the third and final edition. Once again, the book energized me. I wish you all well on your chess journey and believe that this gem will act as a guiding light. From the Foreword by Sal Matera

About the Author

Eugene Znosko-Borovsky (1884-1954) was a Russian master who eventually settled in Paris. He enjoyed some success playing internationally. However, his main claim to fame in the chess world was as an instructor and author. His books were and still are considered some of the best instructional manuals ever written.

Hersteller Informationen

Name	Russell Enterprises
Adresse	234 Depot Road Milford, CT 06460 USA
Internet	www.Russell-Enterprises.com
E-Mail	hwr@russell-enterprises.com

Verantwortlicher Importeur:

Verantwortlicher Importeur

Name	Schachversand Niggemann
Adresse	Schadowstraße 5 48163 Münster Deutschland
E-Mail	info@schachversand.de
Internet	www.schachversand.de

‘Lord, make me a saint, but not yet!’
When walking through the streets of Liverpool, the city of the great Amos Burn, Eugene Znosko-Borovsky hit upon a striking topic for his talk at the chess club later that evening. His emphasis would be on the errors that amateur players (and not only they) commonly make, the biases of thought and approach that must be eradicated if they are to play a decent game of chess. And he would urge his listeners to put their ambitions on a modest footing. As he puts it here, in a memorable turn of phrase: ‘before making saints, let us first show how not to sin.’

The talk was evidently a grand success and it became the basis of a popular book, written in French and translated and published around the world. It has never been out of print. This is a newly minted translation of the third French edition of 1948, rendered into vibrant English prose by Royce Parker.

What you have is a series of about 40 short sections, most 2 or 3 pages long, headed usually with a negative injunction such as ‘Do not play too quickly’, ‘Do not change your plan’ and ‘Do not lose tempi’; you get the idea. The premise is that by eschewing the manifold, myriad byways that lead to error and Darkness, the Pilgrim will eventually find the path that leads to Light. It is a neat conceit and Eugene Znosko-Borovsky makes the most of it. He is a wonderfully entertaining and instructive writer, a natural teacher, and here he’s at the top of his game.

I would, however, make two points, not really critical but by way of elucidation. The first is that many, maybe all, of these injunctions can be reformulated in a positive manner. For example: ‘Make each and every move (tempo) count’ would be a rephrasing of the third of the three examples set out above. This is an interesting and worthwhile exercise in itself, in my view (try it!), but it does point to the (fruitful) contrivance at the heart of the book. The second is that there are a few (though to be fair, not many) positive imperatives too, with one being ‘Create threats.’ Sometimes avoiding vice is not enough; you must cultivate virtue.

On a first reading, my initial thought was that Znosko-Borovsky’s rules were all sound and sensible, but perhaps also a little dated? And altogether too dogmatic? Then I noticed that the penultimate section of his book is entitled ‘Avoid dogmatism’ and I all but applauded. There is, in actual fact, quite a lot of subtle nuance and key, complex discussion to be found in the book as a whole.

This is a book that has made near-absolute beginners into decent club players and one can readily see why. It will surely continue to do so in the future, despite its venerable age (it’s well over three score and ten), because Znosko-Borovsky’s rules are guardrails that make good play possible. They will never be entirely abandoned, even as players gain in strength, since they form the bedrock of chess wisdom. But the rules will likely be argued with, added to, deepened and elaborated upon – as is only natural. One such rule that comes to mind is the one where Znosko-Borovsky advises that you should seek to understand openings and not learn variations by rote. Well, Yes, certainly, you should understand the strategic basis of any opening, but with most sharp openings exact knowledge is also necessary. So, you would do well to learn at least some variations by rote also.

How Not to Play Chess is one of those books that you’d do well to regularly revisit, because it is a dead cert that you’ll hit upon something that will make you think differently about chess. In other words, it is a stone cold classic.
Paul Kane
https://thecaissakid.wordpress.com/2026/04/17/how-not-to-play-chess/