I Read GothamChess's Book So You Don't Have To (But You Should)
By PawnMasters Admin | April 10, 2026
Why I Was Skeptical — And Why I Was Wrong
Let me be honest with you. When I first heard that Levy Rozman — better known as GothamChess on YouTube — was releasing a chess book, my first thought was: "Is this just a cash grab riding on his fame?"
I've been burned before. Too many chess books written by celebrities of the game that read like dry encyclopedia entries or, worse, like they were written for a PhD thesis. I've got a shelf full of them gathering dust.
So I picked up How to Win at Chess: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond with real skepticism. Two weeks later, I'm recommending it to everyone I know who plays chess. Here's why.
Who Is Levy Rozman, Really?
If you're not familiar with Levy Rozman, he's an International Master (IM) with a FIDE rating that regularly sits above 2400 — genuinely elite. But what makes him unique is that he also happens to be one of the most gifted communicators chess has ever produced. His YouTube channel, GothamChess, has over 5 million subscribers and his "guess the Elo" series has made chess accessible to millions of people who never thought the game was for them.
This background matters, because writing a great chess book is not the same as playing great chess. Levy is rare: he can do both.
What's Actually Inside the Book?
The book is structured brilliantly — it doesn't assume you know nothing, and it doesn't assume you know everything. Levy builds a foundation and then layers on complexity in a way that never feels overwhelming.
Here is what you can expect across its chapters:
- ♟️ Opening Principles (Not Memorization): Levy doesn't make you memorize 20 moves of the Ruy Lopez. Instead, he teaches you why the first moves matter — controlling the center, developing pieces, keeping your king safe. This is the chess education most beginners never get.
- 🧠 Tactical Patterns: Forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks — the bread and butter of winning chess under 1500. He explains them with clarity I haven't seen since Silman's books, but with a modern voice.
- 🏰 Middlegame Strategy: This is where the book earns its price. Levy covers pawn structure, piece activity, and how to build a plan when there are no obvious tactics. Most beginners lose in the middlegame because they have no plan. This section fixes that.
- 👑 Endgame Fundamentals: King and pawn endgames, rook endgames, the basics of converting a winning position. Not exhaustive, but exactly what you need to stop throwing away won games.
- 🎯 Mindset & Common Mistakes: This is uniquely Levy. He dedicates real pages to the psychological side of chess — tilt, time pressure mistakes, the habit of resigning too early. It reads like advice from a coach, not a textbook.
The Writing Style: Refreshingly Human
This is the part that surprised me most. Chess books are notoriously dry. Levy writes the way he talks — with humor, self-deprecation, and genuine enthusiasm. There are actual jokes in this book. There are moments where he calls a move "absolutely horrible" and you can practically hear his voice.
This makes a massive difference when you're 80 pages in and grinding through endgame theory. You don't feel like you're studying. You feel like you're having a conversation with someone who genuinely loves chess and wants you to love it too.
If you've ever watched his YouTube videos, you know exactly what I mean. The book has that same energy, compressed into a format you can take anywhere.
Who Is This Book Best For?
Here's my honest assessment of who will get the most out of this book:
- ✅ Complete Beginners (0–500 ELO): Yes, absolutely. The early chapters give you a structured foundation that most beginners skip over entirely. Starting here will save you months of bad habits.
- ✅ Casual Players (500–1200 ELO): This is the sweet spot. If you've been stuck at the same rating for months, this book will directly address why — and what to do about it.
- ✅ Returning Players: Haven't played seriously in years? This is the perfect re-entry point. It's comprehensive enough to refresh everything without being overwhelming.
- ⚠️ Intermediate Players (1200–1800 ELO): You'll still find value here, especially in the strategy and mindset sections, but some of the foundational content will feel familiar.
- ❌ Advanced Players (1800+ ELO): This isn't for you. Levy knows his audience and doesn't pretend otherwise.
My Honest Criticisms
No review is complete without the downsides, and I want to be fair.
1. It's not a deep dive. If you're looking for exhaustive opening theory or grandmaster-level endgame technique, this isn't the book. Levy is very clear about that in the title — it's a guide for beginners and beyond, not a master class for titled players.
2. The diagram density could be higher. Some concepts would benefit from more visual examples. A few sections rely on descriptive language where an extra board diagram would have been more effective.
3. Advanced players may outgrow it quickly. If you're already playing seriously, you'll blast through this in a week and need something more specialized next. But that's not a flaw — it's just a scope limitation.
These are minor gripes. None of them change my overall recommendation.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth Buying?
Yes. Without hesitation.
At its price point, How to Win at Chess is one of the best investments a beginner or intermediate chess player can make. It's the chess book I wish had existed when I started playing. It's practical, entertaining, and structured in a way that actually produces improvement — not just knowledge, but results on the board.
Levy Rozman could have written a lazy book and sold millions of copies on his name alone. He didn't. This book is clearly a labor of love from someone who has spent years thinking about how to teach chess effectively. It shows on every page.
If you're serious about improving your game — or just want to finally understand what you're doing when you sit down at the board — pick this one up.
Quick-Reference: Rating Summary
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Engaging, funny, and clear. Reads like a conversation. |
| Teaching Effectiveness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Concepts are explained with genuine depth and clarity. |
| Beginner Friendliness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Perfect entry point. No chess background needed. |
| Intermediate Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Strategy and mindset sections are genuinely useful. |
| Advanced Value | ⭐⭐ | Not the target audience. Look elsewhere above 1800. |
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | One of the best price-to-improvement ratios in chess. |
💡 Pro Tip: Pair this book with a smart chess board (like the GoChess Mini or ChessUp we reviewed) to practice the positions Levy describes in real-time. The combination of a strong coaching book and a light-guided board is genuinely unbeatable for rapid improvement.