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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) What are the best tactics books -1150 rated? (Read 9559 times)
sagwa
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #15 - 06/08/09 at 16:45:01
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Instruct1 wrote on 06/01/09 at 10:22:16:
sagwa wrote on 05/31/09 at 18:46:15:

Now I have a question for you. In Predator at the Chessboard the author highly recommends (among other books) the Chess Tutor by Ault, p. 1975. Have any of you read this or know about it? I ask because I just ordered a used copy today from Amazon...


I signed up on the forum to say that I have the 1975 hardcover edition of The Chess Tutor by Leslie Ault, and depending on the physical condition of the book you purchased, I think you made a sound purchase. Since you state you have already purchased the book you will learn this soon enough yourself.

In the book the author basically presents diagrams of positions, usually from grandmaster games, and ask the reader to find the best move for black to play and for white to play, and then presents the best move and explanation on the following page.

It is not a book that can be rushed through and it will require tremendous thinking and patience on your part and I think you will enjoy it.

You write in your post that you have - Bain's Chess Tactics for Students, Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan and The Chess Tutor on the way. May I suggest you work through these books before acquiring any more tactics books at present? You have a nice selection already for a great base of beginner's knowledge. Good luck with what ever you decide.


The Ault book came and is really wonderful and in very good condition. I'm having to learn descriptive notation, but it really does not get in the way of how clearly this book explains things.

I was able to get a good second hand hardback copy at a decent price, and I would urge anyone needing a good book on tactics (not just the same old stuff with short answers in the back) to find a copy. Ault talks you through each step of each problem.

This book and Predator at the Chessboard are my best books. (Along with Bain.)

Thank you again  for encouraging me to get this book.

sagwa
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #14 - 06/08/09 at 06:58:14
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GeneM wrote on 06/06/09 at 18:14:36:

The owner of the publishing rights to Reinfeld's books is unwilling to invest to fix the three major layout flaws in the books, because the books still sell well.
Until the publisher (1) makes the diagrams clearer and larger, (2) moves the answers to the page after the diagrams instead of having answers hard to find in the back, and (3) converts from old Descriptive notation to Long Algebraic Notation/LAN or better; I would recommend other shot puzzle books instead -- because since Maza's influential 2002 manifesto a huge number of puzzle books have flooded the market.


1. There are a couple dozen positions where the diagrams are not clear. Specifically the black pieces on dark squares are very difficult to see in maybe 20-40 or so diagrams. This has held true over 4-5 copies I've looked at so apparently it's a problem at the presses.

2. This is obviously a matter of taste and kind of a silly thing to criticize this specific book for since 90%+ of tactics books I've used have the answers at the end.

3. Unfortunate, but old books tend to have descriptive notation. If you want to jack the price by 80% or so, I'm sure they could fix this. I'd prefer the very affordable price and stay with the descriptive. 

I wouldn't recommend Reinfeld for a 1100 player simply because too many of the problems are likely to be too difficult.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #13 - 06/07/09 at 19:50:09
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Antillian wrote on 06/06/09 at 23:42:16:
GeneM wrote on 06/06/09 at 18:14:36:
The owner of the publishing rights to Reinfeld's books is unwilling to invest to fix the three major layout flaws in the books, because the books still sell well.

Funny.... I never noticed any of those "flaws". Perhaps the books continue to sell well because the value of the books in most persons' minds far outweigh these perceived flaws.

Yes as you imply, whether an aspect is a "flaw" is a matter for personal perception.

Obviously Reinfeld could not have used algebraic notation in the USA in the 1950's. And obviously he could not verify his puzzles with Fritz.
Yet I dare guess that most people who buy chess books these days would prefer algebraic, and would prefer that errored puzzles be corrected.

For example, in my previous post I did not remember to mention that some of the 1001 puzzles have errors that Fritz quickly finds, such as #782 where 1...e65 defends successfully.

Years ago I bought Reinfeld's "1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations", and I find that Reinfeld chose/found/composed puzzles of high quality, with a well-gauged degree of difficulty for the student to solve.
That does not mean the book seems flawless to me.


In a private communication with the author of a chess puzzle book (an author you have heard of), I mentioned that I thought the layout of his book could have been different & better. He replied that the publisher had a major say in the format, and that he might have formatted it differently otherwise.
.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #12 - 06/06/09 at 23:42:16
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GeneM wrote on 06/06/09 at 18:14:36:

[color=#0000ff]I would recommend against the three books (assuming TN meant *Lazlo* Polgar's book).

The owner of the publishing rights to Reinfeld's books is unwilling to invest to fix the three major layout flaws in the books, because the books still sell well.
Until the publisher (1) makes the diagrams clearer and larger, (2) moves the answers to the page after the diagrams instead of having answers hard to find in the back, and (3) converts from old Descriptive notation to Long Algebraic Notation/LAN or better; I would recommend other shot puzzle books instead -- because since Maza's influential 2002 manifesto a huge number of puzzle books have flooded the market


Funny.... I never noticed any of those "flaws". Perhaps the books continue to sell well because the value of the books in most persons' minds far outweigh these perceived flaws.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #11 - 06/06/09 at 18:14:36
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TN wrote on 06/01/09 at 07:44:03:
...some of the best tactics books for c.1150 rated players would be Reinfeld's
'1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate' and
'1001 Brilliant Sacrifices and Combinations', ....
Polgar's book with over 5000 checkmate puzzles.


I would recommend against the three books (assuming TN meant *Lazlo* Polgar's book).

The owner of the publishing rights to Reinfeld's books is unwilling to invest to fix the three major layout flaws in the books, because the books still sell well.
Until the publisher (1) makes the diagrams clearer and larger, (2) moves the answers to the page after the diagrams instead of having answers hard to find in the back, and (3) converts from old Descriptive notation to Long Algebraic Notation/LAN or better; I would recommend other shot puzzle books instead -- because since Maza's influential 2002 manifesto a huge number of puzzle books have flooded the market.

The L.Polgar book is dull. Composed mate-in-2 puzzles are the last form I would expect to succeed with a paying customer.

There are many other shot puzzle books that are good, but none that I think are "great". If I ever encounter a great shot puzzle book, I will publicly recommend it.


One of the good shot puzzle books I will mention is geared for stronger class-level players or above, in terms of improving your chess Elo rating.  However, in terms of fun it can be fun for weak class players too. I speak of....
'John Nunn's Chess Puzzle Book', its 2009 revision (original was 1999), ISBN-13 = 978-1-906454-03-6.
The most distinguishing attribute of Nunn's book is that the winning variations are often very long; maybe you like that or maybe you do not.
The layout of the book has the nice aspect of repeating the diagram in the back where the answers are (a lot better than no diagram in the back). Also, the book has a separate section where a "hint" to each puzzle is given.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #10 - 06/01/09 at 20:13:39
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sagwa wrote on 05/31/09 at 18:46:15:
Most of the tactics books I have had have just been too hard and over my head, so that I struggle with the solution and still don't really absorb it.

I now have acquired Predator at the Chessboard (from Lulu press) and I think it meets me right where I am. The author suggests Bain's Chess Tactics for Students, Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan, among other good books. I have both of these and need to start studying from square one.

Somehow in these last few months when I have started playing chess, I just thought a knight fork would suddenly appear and I would seize the day. Now I am seeing that you have to prepare and plan those forks, maybe 3 moves ahead, and often they involve a sacrifice on your part.

How did I miss out on this knowledge???? I think it was  because my books were just too advanced for me and left me bewildered, though thinking I was absorbing something.

Now I have a question for you. In Predator at the Chessboard the author highly recommends (among other books) the Chess Tutor by Ault, p. 1975. Have any of you read this or know about it? I ask because I just ordered a used copy today from Amazon...

Also, if any of you could recommend any other tactics books that would meet me at my level and help me move forward, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
sagwa

I would try Ward's book Starting Out: chess tactics and checkmates http://www.everymanchess.com/chess/books/Starting_Out%3A_Chess_Tactics_and_Check...
You can find the basics in it and the exercises will help you improve your level.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #9 - 06/01/09 at 11:44:54
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Thanks to all of you who replied to my post. Your thoughts were very helpful.

I'm especially glad to hear that Ault's Chess Tutor is good. I look forward to receiving it.   

Chess School 1a and 1b are written by a Russian, aren't they? I wonder if they are anything like Convecta's Chess School? (I downloaded a demo of that, however it was "Advanced Chess School" and very incomplete as it was a demo.)

Thanks again for your replies.

sagwa
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #8 - 06/01/09 at 10:59:31
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I stil think Littlewood's book on tactics is the best. Walker's tactical chess is good too.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #7 - 06/01/09 at 10:22:16
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sagwa wrote on 05/31/09 at 18:46:15:

Now I have a question for you. In Predator at the Chessboard the author highly recommends (among other books) the Chess Tutor by Ault, p. 1975. Have any of you read this or know about it? I ask because I just ordered a used copy today from Amazon...


I signed up on the forum to say that I have the 1975 hardcover edition of The Chess Tutor by Leslie Ault, and depending on the physical condition of the book you purchased, I think you made a sound purchase. Since you state you have already purchased the book you will learn this soon enough yourself.

In the book the author basically presents diagrams of positions, usually from grandmaster games, and ask the reader to find the best move for black to play and for white to play, and then presents the best move and explanation on the following page.

It is not a book that can be rushed through and it will require tremendous thinking and patience on your part and I think you will enjoy it.

You write in your post that you have - Bain's Chess Tactics for Students, Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan and The Chess Tutor on the way. May I suggest you work through these books before acquiring any more tactics books at present? You have a nice selection already for a great base of beginner's knowledge. Good luck with what ever you decide.

  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #6 - 06/01/09 at 08:32:00
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I recommend Chris Ward's Starting Out: Chess Tactics and Checkmates and Paul Littlewood's Chess Tactics.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #5 - 06/01/09 at 07:44:03
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In my opinion, some of the best tactics books for c.1150 rated players would be Reinfeld's '1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate' and '1001 Brilliant Sacrifices and Combinations', both of which contain a combination of trivial and very challenging exercises, but where in most cases the difficulty increases steadily. 

I second the recommendation of Bain's book on Chess Tactics, but I would also recommend 'Chess Tactics for Beginners' by Convekta and, if you can find it, Polgar's book with over 5000 checkmate puzzles.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #4 - 06/01/09 at 02:45:05
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I haven't heard of Chess School before. I'm going to have to check it out.  

I certainly agree that tactics, tactics tactics plus basic endgames, endgames, endgames with just a dash of opening principles is an excellent recipe for improvement.

The missing ingredient is to have fun while you're learning.  So play blitz, play online, play.  And remember that chess is a game.  

If you're not having fun, you may be doing it wrong!  Cool
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #3 - 06/01/09 at 02:24:23
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dfan wrote on 05/31/09 at 19:27:45:
Chess School 1a is a wonderful collection of simple tactical problems for exactly your level.  It's nothing but problems (no instructional text), but they're very good and cover the gamut of basic tactical methods.


Chess School is pretty much always the right answer whenever someone asks about tactics. 1a is precisely for the beginner level. 1b is great for the moderate strength club player.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #2 - 05/31/09 at 19:27:45
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Chess School 1a is a wonderful collection of simple tactical problems for exactly your level.  It's nothing but problems (no instructional text), but they're very good and cover the gamut of basic tactical methods.
  
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Re: What are the best tactics books -1150 rated?
Reply #1 - 05/31/09 at 19:21:55
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I think "Back to Basics: Tactics" by Dan Heisman is probably just what you're looking for.
  
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