Chess Queens

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to promote greater gender equality in chess. One of the most influential chess profiles in this regard is Jennifer Shahade. A few months ago, I heard an interview with her on Daniel Lona's podcast, where Shahade talked about her latest book and some compelling stories about the most prominent female chess players throughout history. After hearing this interview, I felt that I was painfully uninformed about female chess players. Curious to find out more, I read her book Chess Queens.

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What can you expect from this book?

Jen Shahade is an American chess player, writer, and commentator. She is a WGM and two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion. In addition to her work in chess, Shahade has also been involved in advocacy for women in chess and other fields, and has served as an ambassador for the game.

Chess Queens is a book about the history and cultural significance of female chess players. The book explores the contributions of women to the game of chess, and profiles some of the most notable female chess players throughout history. It is an updated version of Shahade's previous book Chess Bitch (2005).

In Chess Queens, Shahade provides a comprehensive and engaging look at the history and cultural significance of female chess players. From the earliest recorded female players to modern-day grandmasters, Shahade profiles some of the most notable women in chess and explores their contributions to the game. Through a blend of historical analysis and personal anecdotes, Shahade delves into the challenges and triumphs faced by women in the chess world, offering insight into the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

In Chess Queens, Shahade duscusses the role of feminism in the chess world. Shahade is only one of many people who have pointed to the inequalities and biases that women have faced in the game. These can include a lack of support and opportunities for women to participate in chess at the highest levels, as well as a lack of recognition for their achievements.

Chess Queens is an important book. As a chess trainer in my local club, creating a female friendly environment is a continually ongoing struggle. Like many clubs, we have a similar volume of girls and boys among our youngest newcomers, but for some reason, the girls do not stay to the same extent. One of many reasons is the lack of female role models. Showcasing female players, their games and accomplishments can help to amend this by providing inspiration and create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for female chess players.

With her book, Shahade address the lack of representation of women in the chess media and popular culture and thereby contributes to challenge stereotypes and biases that may discourage women from participating in the game.

Chess Queens has received a lot of praise since its publication earlier this year. Several people in the Twittersphere has mentioned it as the best chess book of 2022. It also has a solid 4.5-star rating on Amazon. In a recent review on Chessbase, we can read the following summary:

In my opinion, Chess Queens can be an excellent advertisement for chess itself, as it is portrayed as exciting, complex, and at the same time attractive for women and men alike. I encourage chess players (of all levels and ages) and people interested in inspirational life stories to read the book, as it provides an enormously valuable insight into the chess world, the minds of players, and the benefits of being a professional chess player.

I definitely agree with the opinion in this quote, and give the book my whole-hearted recommendation. If that is not enough for you, and you want to find out more about the book, I recommend the interviews with Shahade on The Chess Experience (Ep. 14) and The Perpetual Chess Podcast (Ep. 269).

Who should read this book?

Chess Queens is a welcome addition to the literature on chess history. By showcasing the many great female players, the book contributes to breaking the bias towards male playes in chess literature. The book aims to provide a comprehensive and engaging look at the role of women in chess, and is suitable for chess players and non-players alike. I would consider it mandatory reading for anyone interested in chess history.

About this book

Author:	Jennifer Shahade
Title:	Chess Queens
Type of book:	Biography
Level:	Any

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