Algebraic Notation

If you fast forward through the sentences where Pandolfini is trying to teach the basics of chess even as he is annotating every move (with a diagram per few moves) to cater to a complete novice, this is a good read. Ideal if you don't have a pocket chess set or PC or handheld handy.

He goes over the chess content and the psychology of Kasparov's opening choices, the human's win in the first game, his squeeze and resignation in a drawn position in the second (a Ruy ), and the turns and twists of the match, including the final debacle of the CaroKann in the last game where Kasparov lost ignominously.
There are little boxes of explanation that break the thread such as "Even when both sides castle long, the files a,b,c,d are referred to as the queenside, and e,f,g,h are referred to as the kingside". Duh! The book tries to impart such basic chess knowledge as a primer might. I still liked turning its pages. ( )