|
Title/Author
|
Notation
|
Type
|
Level
|
Language
|
Language
Skill Req’d
|
Comments
|
|
1001 Chess Combinations and Sacrifices
Reinfeld
|
Desc
|
Tactics
|
1-4
|
English
|
None
|
A few mistakes and analytical omissions, but considered a
classic. Pretty good book.
|
|
1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate
Reinfeld
|
Desc
|
Tactics, mate only
|
1-4
|
English
|
None
|
A few mistakes and analytical omissions, but considered a
classic Pretty good book.
|
|
202 Surprising Checkmates
Wilson, Albertson
|
AN
|
Tactics, mate only
|
1-3
|
English
|
None
|
Inexpensive beginner's book.
|
|
Art of Combination
Blokh
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
2-5
|
English
Russian
|
None
|
Excellent book, very instructive.
|
|
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
Weeramantry
|
AN
|
Opening
Strategy
Tactics
|
1-4
|
English
|
Essential
|
An excellent book. Weaker players may want to set up a board
for some analyzed positions.
|
|
Chess: 5344 Problems, Combinations, and Games
Polgar
|
AN
|
Tactics
Mate
|
1-3 |
English
|
None
|
An immense book, like the other Polgar offerings. Good first course in tactics. |
|
Chess Choice Challenge
Ward, Emms
|
FAN
|
Endgame
Studies
Tactics
|
4-5
|
English
|
Essential
|
An odd, devious book. Mostly a test of endgame skill.
|
|
Chess Solvebook
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Mate
|
1-3
|
English
German
Russian
|
None
|
A cheap book with some omissions. Very little analytical
detail, but almost all exercises are easy.
|
|
Chess Tactics for Advanced Players
Averbach
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Studies
Games
|
3-5
|
English
|
Essential
|
A wide ranging book. Considered a classic, but you will need
a board for the games especially.
|
|
Chess Tactics Training
Shumilin
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
4-5
|
English
German
Russian
|
None
|
A very good book. Analysis is very detailed. Many classic
combos.
|
|
Chess Training Pocket Book
Alburt
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Endgames
Studies
|
2-4
|
English
|
Essential
|
Mostly tactical exercises, but endgame positions as well. Nice
book, some typos.
|
|
Chess Traveller’s Quiz Book
Hodgson
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
|
None
|
A good book, tough exercises. The emphasis is on attacking
the king.
|
|
Combination Challenge
Hayes/Hall
|
AN
|
Tactics
|
1-5
|
English
|
None
|
Could have used some more analysis on certain positions.
Exercises get quite difficult at the end. Diagrams may be a
little hard on the eyes. Much material seems to be copied
wholesale from the Reinfeld 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and
Combinations book.
|
|
Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations (Anthology of Chess
Combinations)
Informant
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
None
|
None
|
A very odd scheme for categorizing combos. Otherwise,
detailed analytical content.
|
|
Endgame Challenge
Hall
|
AN
|
Endgames
Studies
|
2-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
Gives you all the basics, although previous exposure would be
helpful. Diagrams are not the clearest. An underrated book.
|
|
Endgames
Polgar
|
FAN
|
Endgames
Studies
|
4-5
|
None
|
None
|
A pretty good book, but too big to carry around. You will
need a board for many of the exercises. Some duplicated
positions. Many positions from late middlegame.
|
|
Endgame Magic
Beasley, Whitworth
|
FAN
|
Studies
|
4-5
|
English
|
Essential
|
Studies selected more for beauty than practicality. There is
no need of a board. A nice book, with slavish attention to
detail.
|
|
Genesis of Power Chess
Ault
|
FAN
|
Endgame
Positional play
Tactics (few)
|
2-4
|
English
|
Essential
|
An underrated fantastic book. Has the material that every B
class player should know.
|
|
John Nunn’s Chess Puzzle Book
Nunn
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Studies (few)
|
4-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
A difficult book, with incredible analytic detail. Many
corrections of previously published analysis.
|
|
Just the Facts!
Krogius, Alburt
|
FAN
|
Endgame
Studies
|
2-4
|
English
|
Essential
|
A good course on the endgame, with many practical examples. A
nice mix of simple and complex positions.
|
|
Kombinationen lernen und lehren
|
AN (German)
|
Tactics
|
2-4
|
German
|
None
|
Diagrams are not the greatest, but otherwise ok.
|
|
Masterpieces of Chess Composition
|
AN
|
Studies
|
4-5
|
English, German, Russian, Spanish
|
None
|
Pocket sized, cloth covers.
|
|
Middlegames
Polgar
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Strategy
|
4-5
|
None
|
None
|
An interesting book, but too big to carry around. You will
need a board for some of the exercises. Some tactical and
positional themes in this book are not discussed in many
other works of this genre.
|
|
Modern Chess Self-Instructor
Pozharsky
|
FAN
|
Strategy
Planning
Intuition
Tactics
Studies
|
4-5
|
English
Russian
|
Helpful
|
I haven’t had these books that long. But they are quite
unique. Some exercises will require a board. This is a three
volume set.
|
|
More Chessercizes: Checkmate!
Pandolfini
|
AN
|
Mate
|
1-4
|
English
|
None
|
Many errors and omissions.
|
|
More Fun with Chess Miniatures
Lincoln
|
AN
|
Mate
|
1-4
|
English
|
None
|
A collection of mate in two studies.
|
|
Queen Sacrifice
Neishtadt
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
4-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
A book just on queen sacs! You’ll need a board for some
examples.
|
|
Systematisches Lehrbuch der Kombinationen
Trautmann
|
FAN
|
Tactics
Studies (few)
|
3-5
|
German
|
Helpful
|
Looks hilarious. Good examples.
|
|
Tactical Chess Training
Shamkovich, Cartier
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
Board is necessary for some exercises. Detailed analysis,
so-so diagrams. A good book.
|
|
Tactical Targets in Chess I
Pongo
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
Hungarian
German
|
Helpful
|
Bizarre translation in the English version. Computer checked
and detailed analysis.
|
|
Tal the Magnificent
Soltis
|
AN
|
Game collection
|
2-4
|
English
|
Essential
|
Ad copy says you can study this book without a board, but
only very strong players will be able to do so.
|
|
Test Your Chess IQ 1
(First Challenge)
Livshitz
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
2-3
|
English
|
None
|
Excellent book, very instructive.
|
|
Test Your Chess IQ 2
(Master Challenge)
Livshitz
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-4
|
English
|
None
|
Excellent book, very instructive.
|
|
Test Your Chess IQ 3
(Grandmaster Challenge)
Livshitz
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
4-5
|
English
|
None
|
Excellent book, very instructive.
|
|
Test Your Positional Play
Bellin, Ponzettot
|
FAN
|
Positional play
Planning
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
|
Essential
|
A board is not needed for doing the exercises, but it is
helpful for going over the annotated game scores. Good unique
book.
|
|
Test Your Tactical Ability
Neishtadt
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
Excellent book. A classic. Teaches you how to think.
|
|
Test Your Tactical Ability I
Kuligowski
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
None
|
None
|
Some analytical errors, a fair number of typos. Needed to be
edited and checked.
|
|
Saha Rieksti
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
2-5
|
English
Russian
???
|
None
|
A good book. Cheap.
|
|
Win at Chess
Reinfeld
|
Desc
, AN |
Tactics
|
2-4
|
English
|
None
|
Cheap
|
|
Your Move!
Neishtadt
|
FAN
|
Tactics
|
3-5
|
English
|
Helpful
|
A good book, instructive.
|
