What exactly makes the greatest players of all-time, such as Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov so different from the also-rans? The basic aspects of chess (calculation, understanding of opening theory and technical endgame ability) are of course of great importance. However, the more mysterious aspect of chess ability lies within the thought processes. In particular: * How does one evaluate certain moves to be better than others? * How does one improve their feel of the game? This work will tackle this woefully under-explored aspect of chess: the logic behind the game. This book will explain how chess works at a basic level. Topics include: * What to think about when evaluating a position. * How to generate and make use of the initiative. * How to formulate and execute plans. The reader also has plenty of opportunities to test their understanding by attempting 270 puzzles. These are mostly designed to develop understanding, as the justification of the moves is more important than the actual correct answer.