The Secret of Chess

[jefk]

SF and Komodo would agree with my suggested moves all too often in an analysis session, and I am able to find these moves by the sheer force of evaluation.

maybe you also should have a look at Houdini-5. Yes it looks slow but with ht off and large pages memory it's not so bad in slow games (is my impression). and it often gives different evals thus different moves than SF and Komodo.

[BrendanJNorman]

Lyudmil, how many copies did you end up selling?

I hope it did well for you.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

Lyudmil, how many copies did you end up selling?

I hope it did well for you.

looking at my first dozen, but still not there...

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

porn, on the other hand, seems to sell very well.

but then, obviously, no one is interested..., it is a pity because this book will be a reference in 20 years.

anyway, Nimzovich also died in poverty...

[BrendanJNorman]

Lyudmil, how many copies did you end up selling?

I hope it did well for you.

looking at my first dozen, but still not there...

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

porn, on the other hand, seems to sell very well.

but then, obviously, no one is interested..., it is a pity because this book will be a reference in 20 years.

anyway, Nimzovich also died in poverty...

I think some of your ideas warrant a bigger audience - whether right or wrong haha.

If you'd like my help with marketing - that is - to relaunch the book (and perhaps your other book "pawns" as well) and use good marketing, professional book covers, revamped website, social media promotion, email promotions, etc... just let me know.

We'll work out a deal that satisfies both of us, and hopefully brings a ton more sales.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

Lyudmil, how many copies did you end up selling?

I hope it did well for you.

looking at my first dozen, but still not there...

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

porn, on the other hand, seems to sell very well.

but then, obviously, no one is interested..., it is a pity because this book will be a reference in 20 years.

anyway, Nimzovich also died in poverty...

I think some of your ideas warrant a bigger audience - whether right or wrong haha.

If you'd like my help with marketing - that is - to relaunch the book (and perhaps your other book "pawns" as well) and use good marketing, professional book covers, revamped website, social media promotion, email promotions, etc... just let me know.

We'll work out a deal that satisfies both of us, and hopefully brings a ton more sales.

thanks.

I will leave things like that for another month, till the middle of September, to get a clearer picture, and then probably I will have to change my strategy.

I don't believe anything could be changed by social media, professional covers, etc.

this is a book for persons who like to read and engross themselves, and not stay on the surface.

if such person reads the book, he will like it, if not, I guess no covers will help.

what I need is probably someone to 'spot' the book, and expert in the field, preferably a GM, and spread word.
a couple of positive reviews might also help, but I am afraid my reviews will still be 0 in couple of months' time.

there simply seems not to be interest.
for example, there are 30 SF active developers, not a single one is interested in buying; I will certainly give free copies to a dozen persons on the framework in a while, but if no one from SF is interested in the book, what to expect from others?

also, from the existing 10 or so commercial chess engine programmers, only Komodo has bought a copy. what to expect after that?

I also sent some copies to solid chess publishers like quality chess, etc., they will have to read it, but I am very much afraid they will either find it stupid, or not understand it, which is basically the same.

[zenpawn]

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

Thanks for this option. Just purchased it there.

[BrendanJNorman]

Lyudmil, how many copies did you end up selling?

I hope it did well for you.

looking at my first dozen, but still not there...

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

porn, on the other hand, seems to sell very well.

but then, obviously, no one is interested..., it is a pity because this book will be a reference in 20 years.

anyway, Nimzovich also died in poverty...

I think some of your ideas warrant a bigger audience - whether right or wrong haha.

If you'd like my help with marketing - that is - to relaunch the book (and perhaps your other book "pawns" as well) and use good marketing, professional book covers, revamped website, social media promotion, email promotions, etc... just let me know.

We'll work out a deal that satisfies both of us, and hopefully brings a ton more sales.

thanks.

I will leave things like that for another month, till the middle of September, to get a clearer picture, and then probably I will have to change my strategy.

I don't believe anything could be changed by social media, professional covers, etc.

this is a book for persons who like to read and engross themselves, and not stay on the surface.

if such person reads the book, he will like it, if not, I guess no covers will help.

what I need is probably someone to 'spot' the book, and expert in the field, preferably a GM, and spread word.
a couple of positive reviews might also help, but I am afraid my reviews will still be 0 in couple of months' time.

there simply seems not to be interest.
for example, there are 30 SF active developers, not a single one is interested in buying; I will certainly give free copies to a dozen persons on the framework in a while, but if no one from SF is interested in the book, what to expect from others?

also, from the existing 10 or so commercial chess engine programmers, only Komodo has bought a copy. what to expect after that?

I also sent some copies to solid chess publishers like quality chess, etc., they will have to read it, but I am very much afraid they will either find it stupid, or not understand it, which is basically the same.

Sure man, no problem.

That's okay, I'm pretty busy anyway - was just trying to help.

I'll make a few notes on what you said anyway, it's like an itch I can't help but scratch lol.

Firstly, people DO judge a book by its cover.

No offense, but the current covers of your books look like they were made in MS Paint by super-imposing some text over a stock image.

If a prospective buyer sees that, they'll assume (incorrectly) that the contents of the book is of the same quality.

Your books titles also aren't descriptive and tell prospective buyers nothing about how the book will help them.

"Secret of Chess" and "Pawns"? - with MS Paint covers?

You aren't giving your books a chance like this, man.

Don't you think that with an improved title - something like "Secrets of Chess: How ANY Programmer Can Create a 3800 Elo Engine" and a nice, appropriate cover, plus nice sales copy written in the description you'd get at least 10x sales?

Have you defined exactly the market you're trying to sell to?

I mean...if the market is people interested in a FREE chess engine (SF programmers), I wouldn't say that's a good market.

They haven't proven a habit of spending money on this stuff.

Could you not aim it at the average, working, adult chessplayer?

Something like "800 Points Higher Than Magnus: Crushing Chess Secrets Even Stockfish Doesn't Know"

My point is, it is well known in business that creating a product and then searching for someone to buy it is the fastest way to go out of business.

Its far better to choose your market, and then create a product they'd love.

Sending it to quality chess (a mass market chess publisher) as well as engine programmers, makes me think that you havent decided who it is EXACTLY the book is for.

I'd say that the computer chess community is too small for real economic success of a eBook.

But on the other hand, chess players who have an INTEREST in chess engines is a HUGE market of which I myself have a decent sized mailing list.

About having an expert or GM "spot" the book - I don't agree.

If this happens, I'd guess the prospective customer will get convinced, will see the cover and lose trust.

You simply can't assume that "if they read it they'll love it".

Why do you think booksellers trying to sell certain books, place them cover out on the shelf?

They don't leave them hidden and say "well, if they read it they'll love it" - that's naive man.

I know a guy who used to think like this, who used to change hourly for his services and say "ahhh just pay me whatever you think it was worth" - the guy is still struggling years later.

You have to be realistic in business.

Anyway Lyudmil, good luck with your ventures.

[hgm]

there simply seems not to be interest.
for example, there are 30 SF active developers, not a single one is interested in buying; I will certainly give free copies to a dozen persons on the framework in a while, but if no one from SF is interested in the book, what to expect from others?

Considering the incredible amount of nonsense you habitually dump on this forum, it can be called a miracle that anyone reading here would be willing to pay for anything written by you.

Note that strictly speaking you are violating the charter by advertizing stuff you sell commercially. I guess I failed to act against it because I didn't really take it seriously.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

I even published on amazon for lower prices, but it is just a trickle.

Thanks for this option. Just purchased it there.

thanks.

still don't see it, but if this is true, 2 more until I get to a full dozen from all prices and all over.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

there simply seems not to be interest.
for example, there are 30 SF active developers, not a single one is interested in buying; I will certainly give free copies to a dozen persons on the framework in a while, but if no one from SF is interested in the book, what to expect from others?

Considering the incredible amount of nonsense you habitually dump on this forum, it can be called a miracle that anyone reading here would be willing to pay for anything written by you.

Note that strictly speaking you are violating the charter by advertizing stuff you sell commercially. I guess I failed to act against it because I didn't really take it seriously.

yeah, I thought the length of the thread was sufficient for the purpose, but what to do when people ask questions?

violate the charter, or being rude?

why would you allow Houdini, Shredder and Komodo posting regularly here about a new version, but not me about a product of mine, that also closely concerns computer chess?

seems like double standards.

but I acknowledge that going into the direction of discussing sales details is not right, I never intended it, but had to be kind to people asking.

you have very bad opinion of me and my book, some commercial programs already do report some gains from my posts/book.

whatever...