Schiller has selected 100 game positions, one each from the years 1900-1999, which feature brilliant or beautiful continuations. Here we have some of the most dramatic combinations and swindles of the last century. Each player is limited to appearing as a winner once so, although many famous games are included, there are opportunities for lesser known masterpieces to be included. Enjoy the most brilliant moves of the century and be inspired to create your own masterpiece at the board.pub.2000, softback, 288 pages.
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Chapters on Basic Mating Examples, Checkmates in One Move and Checkmates in Two Moves. 100 diagrammed examples for solving with solutions at the end. Larry Evans is a Grandmaster and well known chess author. Pub. 2003, softback, 144 pages.
Do you build up promising positions but lack the attacking ideas to break through a tough defence? Joe Gallagher demonstrates many typical attacking methods in a variety of diagrammed examples. The book begins with some well known checkmates and sacrificial ideas before moving on to cover attacking plans in several common positions arising from popular openings. As well as being a textbook on attacking play this is a chance to see some of the greatest masters of attack in action. An entertaining and instructive read.pub. 2000, softback, 128 pages. £12.99
This instructive manual, written by two experienced chess teachers, concentrates on one- and two-move checkmates that encourage players to keep alert to new possibilities. Instructive manoeuvres feature queen sacrifices, "smothered" mates, "quiet moves," castling, en passant pawn capture, and other techniques. 202 exercises. Solutions included. Pub. 1998, softback, 112 pages.
303 diagrammed tactical puzzles on various themes arranged in order of difficulty and aimed at Advanced Beginners, Intermediate Players and Tournament Players. Solutions provided at the end. This is the official Mensa puzzle book for chess and most of these puzzles will challenge club or tournament players. Pub. 2004, softback, 222 pages
Improve your checkmating skills by solving these 303 diagrammed positions with mate in 2, 3 or 4 often involving unlikely looking moves in the solution. Answers given at the end. Pub. 2002, softback, 184 pages.
Find the best move in 303 diagrammed positions taken from real play. Arranged by tactical theme and level of difficulty, solving these should help your tactical vision. Can be played through without a set & board. Pub. 2003, softback, 187 pages.
Puzzle book with 365 diagrammed checkmate positions to be solved. The puzzles, many of which have never been published previously, are arranged according to level of difficulty (1-5) with hints and solutions available. A final test section omits the hints leaving you on your own to find the checkmate. As usual with this type of book no chess set is required to work through the puzzles making it ideal travel or holiday reading. Joe Gallagher is a Grandmaster who was British Champion in 2001. Pub. 2004, softback, 208 pages.
5334 diagrammed puzzles from beginner level (mate in one) through to Grandmaster level. Laszlo Polgar used these positions to train his three daughters, the famous Polgar sisters, to grandmaster level and at this price this bumper book is an asbsolute bargain for any chess coach or budding Grandmaster! Pub. 2006, softback, 1104 pages.
Alekhine's Block is defined as the placement of a piece directly in front of the opposing king's castled position and exposed to immediate capture. This is done to break up the king’s pawn cover or to obstruct the lines of communication of the enemy pieces. In this book, Russian I.M. Victor Charushin has collected 164 games (plus 32 game fragments or study positions) which contain examples of this tactic and arranged them in order according to the blocking square used. Many of the games are concluded, as might be expected, by spectacular attacks and the author hopes that these games will be seen as both instructive and examples of chess art. Each game has a diagram and a few have light, languageless annotations. pub. 1997, softback, 95 pages.
This new edition of the definitive collection of tactical methods is divided into two main parts: educational and practical examples. As a foundation for the first part, the previous edition of the Anthology has been used with the 300 examples arranged in sections according to tactical motif. Part two is more like a workbook. Here the 2409 diagrammed problems have been subdivided into three groups to maintain clearcut structure. Each group has three difficulty levels without any classification keys, to make sure that the prospective solver cannot benefit from any hints. Solutions are included at the end of each section and the book includes indexes by material, theme and end result. From the publishers of the world famous Chess Informator series. Pub. 2005, hardback, 575 pages.
This book classifies the 23 different possible types of mate showing the idea behind each. Includes Morphy's, Damiano's, Boden's and many other mates. Each mate is illustrated in one or more games (there are 78 complete, annotated games in all) together with some endgames and quizzes for the reader. This book should help you forsee mating patterns in your own games more easily. In old style 1.P-K4 etc. notation. The authors are ex-champions of France. Pub. 1962, softback, 215 pages.
This book asks "What is a combination" and "Can the art of combination be learnt"? In part I the author attempts classification of combinations. In parts II and III he illustrates combinational ideas such as interception, geometric motifs and overworked pieces. He also examines positional factors which can lead to typical sacrifices and attacking ideas. Part IV explains the preparation and execution of combinations. Illustrative examples from play are used throughout. In English descriptive notation (1.N-KB3 etc.) Pub. 1959, softback, 223 pages.
This book contains the 300 best puzzles taken from over 20,000 which have appeared in Barden's newspaper columns in the Guardian, Evening Standard and F.T. They require you to calculate the right move in a tricky position or find the only way to win from promising alternatives. Mostly these puzzles are taken from real play but some are mate in 2 or 3 problems. The puzzles are in eleven chapters according to their theme. This is the kind of book you can dip into at any time without needinbg a chess set in front of you. Pub. 2002, softback, 176 pages.
A tactical quiz book with 180 diagrammed positions of varying levels of difficulty and a points scoring system to monitor your progress. An "Ask a Grandmaster" option exists for each test allowing you to have a hint in exchange for some of the available points. Some of the test positions have immediate tactical solutions whereas the more difficult examples involve in depth analysis to find ideas and lines of play which offer good prospects. GM Jim Plaskett is renowned as an imaginative, attacking player and an experienced author. Pub. 2002, softback, 144 pages.
This book teaches you various checkmating patterns involving queens, rooks, bishops, knights and pawns alone and in combination and then presents test positions for solving, each ending in checkmate. The chapters are themed according to the type of mate and pieces involved. Contains over 275 examples in all. Pub. 1998, softback, 152 pages.
An introduction to various checkmating patterns and how to achieve them. Each themed chapter begins with an example of the relevant mate after which the reader is invited to solve various examples with a similar theme. Chapters include Queen Sacrifices, Pawn Promotion, Long Diagonal Mates, Double Check, How Chess Masters use Mating Threats and much more. pub. 1999, softback, 182 pages.
In The Chess Kid’s Book of Checkmate, chess teacher David MacEnulty teaches different forms of checkmate in a style aimed at players between the ages of 6 and 10. Many checkmates fall into well-known patterns and the player who remembers common checkmate patterns will have an advantage over the one who doesn’t. Step-by-step, with more than 170 diagrams, The Chess Kid’s Book of Checkmate reveals how to recognize basic checkmate patterns, how to force checkmate with different combinations of pieces and the special circumstances involving checkmate with one piece acting alone. It is packed with diagrammed examples and puzzles for the reader to solve. David MacEnulty is a chess teacher and coach living in the Bronx, New York. Pub. 2004, softback, 206 pages.
In chess, tactics are the tricks and techniques players use to get a quick advantage over their opponents. David MacEnulty, a coach in New York City's award-winning Chess-in-the-Schools program, teaches students how to develop a tactical mindset. In The Chess Kid's Book of Tactics, he instructs 6-10 year-old players in how to recognize the basic chess patterns and how to apply those patterns to understand-and win-the game. He includes plenty of practice examples and introduces tactics such as forks, pins, overload, trapping and decoy. This is an ideal first book on tactics for children or teachers. br> Pub. 2003, softback, 176 pages.
A unique tactical training book designed to help visualisation and to eliminate blunders such as leaving pieces en prise. The maze problem consists of checking Black's king in the minimum number of moves without putting your own piece en prise. Sounds easy? On a crowded board these can be really tough problems requiring accurate calculation of the type needed in game play. Includes 204 diagrammed bishop, rook, knight, pawn, queen and king mazes for solving with the rules for each maze explained and solutions provided at the end. Bruce Alberston is a chess teacher and author based in New York. Pub. 2004, softback, 138 pages.
A new edition of a bestseller by experienced coach Sergey Ivashchenko. Over 200,000 copies of his books were sold in the Soviet Union in the late 1980's! This book is intended for beginners, both children and adults. The themes are: Mate in one, Mate in two, Win a queen, Win a rook, Win a piece, Draw etc. The book is designed for chess players with ELO 900-1200 points. Includes 719 diagrammed, tactical problems classified according to theme and difficulty. Solutions included at the end. Pub. 2006, softback, 142 pages.
960 diagrammed tactical puzzles with solutions, arranged into 20 chapters according to the combinational motif involved. This is a follow-up to the author's previous work Chess Tactics for Beginners and so the puzzles are more difficult to solve. Level: club player upwards. Pub. 2004, softback, 288 pages.
A collection of 480 diagrammed puzzles for solving by players from beginner level up to club player standard. The puzzles are in ten sections beginning with mate in one, two and three moves before going on to various types of material winning combinations, back rank tactics and pawn promotions. Solutions to all puzzles are provided at the end. A handy tutor for inexperienced players of all ages which can be enjoyed without the use of a chess set. Pub. 2004, softback, 127 pages.
Chess enthusiasts of all ages and levels will find this book an instructive delight. In a simple, easy-to-understand format it explains how to bamboozle your chess opponents using commonly occurring tactical motifs. The illustrative positions, all taken from real games, show the 50 Tricky Tactics that experienced chess masters use to win their games. Recognising frequently occurring tactical ideas is vital to success in chess. One of the fastest and most enjoyable ways to improve at chess is by learning these thematic manoeuvres. Beginners will benefit from the clear explanation of basic concepts, such as how to utilise a fork, pin, or skewer. Advanced players will delight in the many devious middlegame tricks - some classified here for the first time - which can catch out even grandmasters. Chess Tactics for Kids makes improving easy and fun, and is full of helpful explanations on how to approach chess games with confidence - and success. Pub. 2003, softback, 128 pages.
Volume 3 of the training course based on Soviet methods illustrates the basic tactical concepts such as decoys, pins and forks before showing how these ideas are used in real game situations. There are practical examples and test positions in each chapter. Lev Alburt is a former Soviet GM who now lives in the USA and is a chess coach there. He has been U.S. Champion three times. Pub. 1996, softback, 250 pages.
An entertaining quiz book with four diagrammed positions for solving per page and solutions overleaf. The positions are taken from tournament play and vary in difficulty - easiest first, most difficult last. Ideal for train, plane or boat travel as no set or board is required. Julian Hodgson is an English Grandmaster and chess coach. Pub. 1993, softback, 128 pages.
Contains 1154 diagrammed examples of tactical play in 11 themed chapters. Solutions are given. Solving positions like this is an excellent way of improving your over-the-board tactical play. pub. 1991, softback, 230 pages.
In volume 2 of the series is a study of spectacular pins. Double and triple pins, intersecting pins and counter pins, all culminating in the Combination Cross - one of the most visually stunning patterns on the chessboard! The complexity of these multiple pins is mind boggling. The book contains 130 games plus 45 diagrammed positions in which various forms of the cross occur. Entertainment and beauty combined! pub. 1997, softback, 89 pages.
Blokh's classic course in combinational play contains over 1200 diagrammed positions with immediate tactical solutions. The book is really a detailed analysis of all the combinational motifs (e.g. overloading, pawn promotion, geometrical motifs). The positions vary in difficulty (level of difficulty is indicated above each diagram) and many offer solutions for both White and Black. Author Maxim Blokh, an experienced coach and an ICCF Grandmaster, intends this book for use in school and chess club training sessions. A CD version "Chess Tactics Art 3.0" is also available. (click here to go to CD version) pub. 2006, softback, 304 pages.
A refreshingly original look at the role of combinations in chess from one of the most entertaining of chess authors. In over 350 examples Chernev shows various types of combination in actual play, allowing you to either play through these brilliant examples or attempt to solve them yourself. Chapters 8 to 21 look at combinations played by some of the world's strongest players up to 1960 including Botvinnik, Alekhine and Anderssen. In English descriptive notation (N-KB3 etc) Pub. 1967, softback, 245 pages.
The ability to find and calculate combinations accurately is a key component in a strong player's armoury. This book is a training manual in both pattern recognition and calculation skills. With 500 diagrammed exercises, mostly taken from the 1990s onwards, Jacob Aagaard tests your ability to identify combinational themes and select the winning path from amongst many tempting moves. The positions are not easy (suitable for club players and above and get harder as you progress) but the constant practice of solving puzzles like these should help in your over-the-board efforts. Introductory chapters explain how to spot the indications that a combination may exist and how some typical combinations in the Sicilian Defence work. Jacob Aagaard is a Danish I.M. and an experienced author with a reputation for diligence. Pub. 2004, softback, 239 pages.
Find the Winning Move has 400 puzzle positions in which one player has a continuation to win material or force mate. The sixteen chapters each feature puzzles with a different attacking method and author Gary Lane offers clues (if needed) as well as solutions and a point scoring system to test your rating. The puzzles vary in difficulty but are aimed at players ranging from novice to intermediate strength. Chapters include: Winning in Two Moves, Essential Endings, Fantastic Moves, White to Play and Lose, Chasing the King, Smashing the Defence and Tough Puzzles. IM Gary Lane is an experienced chess author as well as being a coach for the England junior team. Pub. 2004, softback, 176 pages.
Rate your chess by solving these 100 positions, choosing one of three possible continuations in each case. Solutions provided at trhe end of the book. Be warned, some of these are not easy to solve! Pub. 2004, softback, 138 pages.
A fine example of the puzzle book genre because, from the 250 diagrammed positions, the reader is asked only to find the best continuation and given no hint as to what tactical theme is involved or whether a checkmate may arise. Nunn includes original ideas such as 'Find the wrong move' and a chapter on the standard of play in the Karlsbad 1911 tournament (pretty low he thinks!) with test positions. Includes hints and solutions.pub. 1999, softback, 208 pages.
Lasker's Combination involves the sacrifice of both bishops in order to destroy the pawn defences in front of the opposing king. Here I.M. Charushin has collected 160, mostly annotated, games featuring the double sacrifice in differing forms. A feast of fantastic sacrificial chess. pub. 1998, softback, 109 pages.
This introduction to basic tactics adopts a practical approach with a varying number of test positions for the reader to solve in each chapter and not too much theoretical waffle. The format of each chapter involves a brief discussion of the tactical idea followed by a few examples from tournament games and then the test positions for the reader. The examples and positions used here are almost all from post 1990 games and so should be new to most readers. Chapters one to five introduce the basics such as the fork, skewer, pin, discovered attack and deflection whilst following chapters cover more advanced ideas including pawn promotion, removing the guard, back rank mate, trapped piece and opening & closing lines. Contains fourteen chapters in all and over three hundred test positions with solutions at the back. GM John Nunn is a world renowned author who has won medals for England in several chess olympiads. Pub. 2004, softback, 160 pages.
This book is about learning to identify and react to tactical threats. Most games at beginner and intermediate level are lost because one player misses a direct threat and yet this is an area of the game which is under represented in other coaching books. Author Dan Heisman provides over 200 problems in which you have to identify a tactical threat and work out the best response. These are at varying levels of difficulty from beginner to strong club player and separated into chapters on opening, middlegame and endgame threats. Throughout the book Heisman offers sound, practical advice on various aspects of the game in amongst the solutions to the problems. This is the sort of book that can be read for entertainment as well as instruction and in most cases you wouldn't need a chess set to work through the problems. Pub. 2003, softback, 144 pages.
This second volume completes Ivashchenko's course on chess tactics, taking you from 1600 up to 2200 strength player (about national master strength). Volume 2 contains 1188 diagrammed positions, of varying difficulty, in which you have to find a tactical solution. There are six chapters, each more difficult than the previous and solutions to all examples are included. Together volumes 1 and 2 form a complete tactics course from the level of beginner up to expert. Pub. 2002, softback, 255 pages.
Volume 3 in this Russian published series is aimed at players with rating 2000 ELO (175 BCF) and above. As before diagrammed positions for solving are arranged in chapters according to their tactical theme. Altogether there are 750 positions with solutions given at the end of the book. The chapters are based around the ideas of Dvoretsky and Yusupov with titles such as "Accurate Calculation of Short Variations", Rational Choice of Candidate Moves", Searching for Unusual Solutions" and "Finding Strong Moves During Calculation". There are eight chapters in all with text given in English, Russian, German and Spanish. Author Alexander Mazja is an International Master and director of the chess school at the Pioneers Palace, Sparrow Hills, Moscow. Not for beginners! Pub. 2003, hardback, 183 pages.
Volume three of the "Chess Tactician's Handbook" series contains many examples of deflection as a tactical theme including the famous "Mitrofanov's Deflection" in which the piece sacrificed is captured with check! In all the book contains over 200 diagrammed examples of beautiful combinations taken from games and compositions. pub. 1998, softback, 92 pages.
The author's selection of the 200 greatest moves of all time. In order to qualify the moves have to be of "astounding complexity, unearthly beauty, deep paradox - or all three." Presentation is in a quiz format with a diagram at the critical moment just before the "astounding move." Now it's your chance to try and find the show-stopping continuation! Solutions provided of course; in fact in almost all cases the complete game score is given - a valuable bonus.pub. 2000, softback, 192 pages.
365 Tactical Tests to Improve Your Chess. 365 diagrammed positions, each with a tactical solution, of increasing difficulty. The random (unthemed) order of the puzzles gives a more realistic challenge than found in some puzzle books and the layout of the solutions section makes it more difficult to "accidentally" spot the key move in the next test! Heinz Brunthaler is a German chess coach and author. Pub. 2007, softback, 167 pages.
The exchange sacrifice is often over-looked in play because, unlike more obvious sacrifices it rarely leads to immediate victory or even to victory at all. In many cases the exchange sacrifice is made and the game continues for many more moves with perhaps just some positional compensation for the sacrificed material. This book, part self-test part game collection, contains 220 examples of games featuring exchange sacrifices. In the test games (about half the total number) the reader has to find the best continuation from the position after the sacrifice. Solutions are provided at the end. Other chapters examine the role of the exchange sacrifice in the play of former world champions Tigran Petrosian and Bobby Fischer and typical exchange sacrifices in the Sicilian Defence and other openings. A nice book with plenty of inspirational material. Pub. 2002, softback, 136 pages.
This training book contains 1125 diagrammed tactical puzzles, starting with simple mates and moving on to some of the most difficult combinations ever played. Your task is to solve them! The level of difficulty is indicated and solutions provided at the end of the book. This book can be enjoyed without a chess set in front of you. Pub. 1996, softback, 270 pages.
Once you have figured out how all the chess pieces move, what is the next step up the chess ladder? This helpful and entertaining book provides you with the complete answer. In this easy-to-follow guide, Grandmaster Chris Ward explains all the crucial checkmating patterns, plus how to catch out your opponents with an assortment of tricks and traps, commonly known as chess tactics. There is something for everyone in this book: improving players can benefit from learning the basic checkmates and the key tactics such as attacking and defending pieces, forks, pins and skewers, while more experienced players can discover the delights of advanced checkmates and sneaky tricks, ones that can flummox even the world's best players! Learning chess tactics is fun and one of the quickest ways of improving your chess, and it's even more enjoyable when your opponents begin falling for your tricks! Read this book and, with the help of a Grandmaster, you will be ready to unleash your weapons in your chess battles, whoever your opponent may be. This is an ideal chess tactics and checkmates guide for the improving player. Written by a distinguished chess author, it is full of notes, tips and warnings to help the reader. Pub. 2006, softback, 172 pages.
The fifth volume in the "Tactician’s Handbook" series focuses on pawn combinations and, in particular, the pawn's charge up the obstacle filled board to the 7th or 8th rank. In many examples the humble pawn overcomes several pieces in it's tactical dash for the line; this is the Steeplechase! Over 200 complete games provide examples of the Steeplechase in action. Games are arranged by opening variation for the main part of the book. Further chapters examine the Steeplechase in the middlegame, in compositions and in the games of Alexander Alekhine.pub. 1999, softback, 123 pages.
This book concentrates on various methods of building a successful attack. Topics covered include when and when not to attack, king hunting, how not to attack and seizing opportunities. All these themes are illustrated with annotated games. Christiansen identifies the key elements in each game and explains the right strategy for conducting the attack. He concludes with his choice of ten best attacking games of the 1990s. A chance to enjoy some of the best attacking play of all time and learn how to create your own attacking masterpieces! pub. 2000, softback, 176 pages.
The authors have selected 300 brilliant tactical sequences, taken from games played since 1985, and analysed them to break down each combination into it's component parts. They separate the tactical themes involved in each operation and allow you to study them by using the tactical theme index. It is no accident that modern players are far more tactically alert than their predecessors, they have learned all the fundamental tactical ideas and use them to orient themselves quickly in any situation. Tactical Chess Training will help you to use these tactical patterns in your own games. Pub. 1996, softback, 176 pages.
