Fred Reinfeld’s timeless Attack and Counterattack in Chess starts with the basic premise that White plays to build on the natural initiative that is inherent in having the first move, while Black plays to sap White’s divine right to this initiative, only to take it over the moment it is possible.

The book is neatly divided into two sections: How White manages to make good use of his right to the first move by taking advantage of typical mistakes by Black, and how Black succeeds in challenging that right and taking over the initiative by jumping on blunders by White.

The first seven chapters cover how to control the center; how to exploit superior mobility; how to exploit Black’s premature opening of the position; how to exploit Black’s premature counterattack; How to exploit Black’s weakening pawn moves; how to exploit Black’s errors of judgement; and how to exploit irregular defenses. All these subjects are covered by a close look at a chess game in which the bungles are followed by their natural punishment

The last five chapters look at how to seize the initiative as Black; how to play against gambits; how to defend against a powerful attack; how Black can seize the attack; and how to exploit unusual openings. Again, each topic unfolds during a chess game with faulty play by White and its logical destruction by Black.