Amazon.com
This is the second in Seirawan's four volumes, taking the reader from the very basics of chess through appreciation of advanced play. He does a remarkable job of discussing tactics that usually appear only in books for advanced players and communicating them to anyone with a grasp of playing fundamentals. The first part of the book deals with basic tactics and how they can be used individually and in combination. In the second part, Seirawan introduces some of the great chess tacticians and their games, further illustrating tactics as they work out in real-life play.
Book Description
The essential guide to the use of tactics, the watchdogs of strategy that take advantage of short-term opportunities to trap or ambush an opponent and change the course of a game in a single move.
Customer Reviews:
I'm a better player now ........2007-07-05
I used to lose almost every game I played. I never took Chess serious until I played a thirteen year old and was thoroughly beaten. I knew I needed help and fast. This book broke tactics down to a level I never got from other chess books. It was not hard to follow and I learned a lot in just the first few chapters.
A good introduction to the basics of chess tactics.......2007-06-25
It has been said that chess is 99% tactics. So studying tactics is a requirement for getting better at chess.
This is the 2nd book in Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess" series. It discusses all of the fundamental tactical tools which should form the foundation of a solid chess player's skill. In addition Seirawan introduces readers to some of the great attacking players in chess history and their games.
Overall, I think the book did a superb job explaining the different tactics and provided ample examples and exercises to drive the points home. The only problem I noticed was either a diagram was wrong (#77) or the analysis appears to be incorrect.
I would highly recommend this book as a first book on tactics.
A must read for all serious chess players.......2007-06-25
Nobody who calls themselves a serious chess player should be without this book. With every turn of the page, my game improved. HIGHLY recommended for beginners and masters alike. Very friendly, easy to read, easy to follow book that makes you go "Ohhhh...wow!" more than once.
EXCELLENT.......2007-03-12
I have been a casual student of chess for many years, and purchased this book during a more serious phase of my playing. While I was familiar with many things in book, It does an excellent job of teaching the different tactics with different examples and a very challenging problem solving section at the end; my rating has improved as has my confidence in my playing ability.
I would recommend it regardless of your level of expertise; also good for kids, as long as they are familar with basic chess rules, terms, and principles to begin with. Great for the casual player that would like to increase their skill level
One of the best books on tactics for advanced beginners through intermediate levels. A real gem!.......2007-01-27
This book is an appropriate tactics book for every class of player. It begins with more simple motifs and proceeds to the more complex in a logicall progression. There are detailed explanations for each type of tactic with good examples and descriptive high quality analysis.
This book is organized by tactical motif and is probably the only tactics book that most beginners and intermediates will ever need. If you are very serious about the game, you may want to add a book on traps in the opening and drill different positions with a computer program or problems book. However, this book in itself along with game experience will take you to the next level of play. It is ideal for advanced beginners!
If you advanced, then CHESS TACTICS FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS by Yuri Averbakh is a nice continuation at a higher level. I also like the ART OF CHESS COMBINATION by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky. While not related to tactics at all a useful book I stumbled upon that will help with "how to practice" is called RAPID CHESS IMPROVEMENT by Michael de la Maza. This is basically a methods book about how to take all of this information on various topics and internalize it in the most rapid possible way. This last book is geared primarily to competitive players.
Book Description
In Winning Chess Traps for Juniors, nationally-renowned chess coach Robert M. Snyder takes his Chess for Juniors book a step further by covering sixty-four additional opening traps. . Traps are arranged by opening to help students improve their knowl- edge of the most important openings. . Traps contain important tactical themes designed to improve pattern recognition. . Students are challenged at various points to find the best move. . Written for the beginner to intermediate player-this book is clear and easy to read, though not just for juniors!
Customer Reviews:
Improve both your knowledge of tactics and ideas behind the openings simultaneously! .......2006-11-08
In General about Trap Books: Books on chess traps should be an excellent way to learn tactics and openings at the same time. This is because you see all of the moves leading up to the actual tactic being employed (unlike books that give a diagram and the tactic starts from there). You can learn important ideas in specific openings also knowing how to avoid traps as well as well as executing them.
"Winning Chess Traps for Juniors": Has 64 short games with often numerous traps within a single game (unlike numerous other trap books that will create separate traps and use up space for nothing). They are arranged by type of opening (openings can be looked up quickly in the table of contents). The analysis is very accurate (I have computer checked the analysis and wow! Perfect in every respect, unlike some of the other traps and tactic books I have seen that contain faulty analysis). There are a nice variety of openings containing your most common type of traps and tactics. There is an analysis of moves leading up to the trap (unlike numerous trap books I have seen that have most if not all of the analysis when the trap is reached) and where the player went wrong along with the improvement is pointed out. This book fits in well as part of a series by the author with material being consistant (however, you don't need the author's other books to get full use of this book as this does just find as a stand-alone book).
Who this book is for: Written is easy to understand language, it is at about a fourth or fifth grade reading level. If you are an adult, don't let the easy language snub this book - it is perfect for adults! Once you know the very basics of chess (know how the pieces move, and have just been introduced to the ideas behind the openings) this book becomes very useful. However, it contains analysis that an advanced beginner or intermediate player will very extremely useful.
A sick mind wrote this book!.......2006-10-15
Author Robert Snyder plead guilt to charges of molesting one of his former students! (I also like how he ripped of the title of Chernev's classic book!)
One of the best ways to learn tactics and even a 3rd grader can use it!.......2006-09-21
I just got this book (in the new LARGE PRINT edition that is exactly the same book, except it is super-sized and is like a big workbook) and have not been able to put it down! Instead of just being given a position and trying to find the solution like lots of tactics books, in this book you get to see everything that happened before the tactics happen. This book also tells the ideas behind the moves and you are learning about the openings that have the tactics. You are asked to "find the best move" and there are plenty of diagrams to make it easy to follow along. You can use a sheet of paper to cover up the next moves so you do not accidentally see the answer. This is a fun book and I think it is one of the best ways to learn tactics and improve your understanding of the ideas behind the openings.
Effective way to IMPROVE TACTICS and IMPROVE OPENING KNOWLEDGE: My favorite book on Opening Traps and Tactics.......2006-09-01
I have finally found a book on opening traps that gives an explanation of the ideas behind the moves from the very beginning of the game (covering ideas behind the openings) to the end of the tactical trap. No cheap tricks! Good, solid analysis is given for both common and less common openings (very well rounded when it comes to having a variety of different openings).
You will learn the important tactics found in the opening such as, Legal's Mate, analysis of Philidor's Legecy, Noah's Arc Trap, Classic Bishop Sacrifice, Poisoned Pawn, Double Rook Sacrifice, with all of the usual forks, pins, skewers, and much, much more. Seeing the moves leading up to the tactics makes this a more effective way to learn traps and tactics than a book that has just diagrams with problems to work on. Within the sixty four short games there are actually hundreds of traps covered. The reasons why a weak move is weak and what should have been played in its place is explained. You have detailed analysis!
This is a book for any age. It is good for a beginner who has perhaps read an introductory book and now wants to learn tactics and openings. I also would recommend it for intermediate players or for chess teachers to use as material with students. Throughout the book the reader is asked to find the best move at critical points (makes it a fun challenge).
The traps are organized by type of opening with a good table of contents allowing you to quickly find different tactics you might be looking for or to focus on a specific opening. Where a lot of detail is covered in one of the author's other books the reader is told which other book and where it can be found. Most traps average 2-3 pages. This is a solid book with lots of material that is made clear and easy to understand. There are nearly 400 diagrams making so that an intermediate player can usually follow without a board.
I give this book my highest recommendation!
FANTASTIC MINI-LESSONS for a classroom use by CHESS TEACHERS or STUDENTS on their own........2006-08-06
As a chess teacher (and tournament player) who has been teaching grades 3 through 8 in local schools "Winning Chess Traps for Juniors" has been a lot awaited book.
When given a short period of about 20 to 25 minutes for instruction a chess teacher needs to maximize the use of time with the most efficient way to teach a variety of important ideas to the students. With this book I can cover the most important tactics along with teaching opening concepts at the same time - kill two birds with one stone! The students like being shown how a tactic is reached before it is executed! So, here we go with these 64 mini-lessons (each often containing many tactics and traps on the side - clearly pointed out) that the students enjoy.
This book has a nice lay-out making it easy to read. The language is clear (I certainly feel than an upper level elementary school student could easily understand the reading level). The games being are in order of openings with the main theme shown in the title (also covered in the table of contents). Therefore, a teacher (or student) can select games based on type of opening or type of trap/tactic and find them quickly. The 196 pages contain a lot of extremely useful information. There is a nice variety of openings (1. e4, 1.d4 and others) without an over emphasis on any one type.
The level of this book is ideal for children or adults who are just past having grasped the basic rules and maybe know some very basic strategy, right on up to the average tournament player. Because of the material being covered and the way it is presented this book is for beginning players rated from 500 up to intermediate players rated 1600.
I have seen most of the other books on chess traps. None of them provide the detail and quality of analysis found in this book (and most others are not up to date). I also have found going through a short game containing a tactic to be a far superior way of providing instruction as opposed to using a book that only has the tactic, but not how it was set up.
I am looking at this book from a "chess teacher's" point of view and highly recommend it for anyone running a chess class or for students of all ages who want to simultaneously improve their knowledge of tactics and openings.
Book Description
This book is an easier version of Combination Challenge!, also by Lou Hays. It contains 535 one- two- and three-move combinations to solve and teaches a study method for learning to play combinative chess. This is the quickest and easiest way to improve your chess rapidly.
Customer Reviews:
Good Tactics Workbook for the Advanced Beginner to Intermediate Player.......2006-09-18
This is not just a tactics workbook for juniors! It is useful for anyone wanting chess tactical problems to solve that are not too easy and not too hard! I like chess tactics workbooks and books that cover opening traps to learn the tactics in the openings as well.
Recommended.
Start with this book.......2006-06-15
Excellent tactics book for beginners and improving players. Start with this one before moving on to "Combination Challenge" also by Hays or other tactics and puzzle books. Good for players up to USCF 1500.
Over 500 Tactics.......2006-05-19
There are over 500 different tactics positions to work on and solve. They are arranged by type of tactic so you can focus on the type of tactic you like. The answers are in the back (would have rather had them at the bottom of the page so I wouldn't have to go all the way to the back each time).
Some of the tactics are harder than others so there is a variety. This is in a work book style. I also learned a lot of good opening tactics from "Winning Chess Traps" that i also recommend. If you learn tactics you will win a lot more games.
This Practical Practice Pays Off Quickly.......2006-05-18
Ever see those chess diagrams in the newspaper? Well, essentially this book has 534 of those type of problems for you to solve. I'm going through this book for my 3rd time now, which is what Hayes recommends. My tactical ability has improved greatly--not so much being able to pull one over on others, but in being able to AVOID allowing others to pull one over on me. In the end, that is just as good for me.
The book covers the major tactical themes: discovered attacks, Queen sacrifices, pins, Knight forks, double attacks, attraction, overloading, removal of the guard, and back rank mates. If you don't know what each of these is, Hayes explains it to you. Additionally, there is a section that mixes all of the above and leaves it to you to figure out which tactic is at play-just like in real over-the-board play.
Each problem diagram is solved either in one, two, or three moves. Generally there are 6 diagrams to solve on each page. The print quality is not as sharp as I would like, but its not so bad as to make the book unpleasant to use. On the whole, this is a good book for those who have some basic knowledge beyond the rules, and who want to take the next step to improve their play.
I often keep my copy in the car, and also take it to appointments. Is not a large book, so can fit into a large coat pocket. Its amazing how many diagrams you can go through when waiting at the physician's office or for an oil change. My copy has taken a great deal of abuse from day to day use, and I found that for a paperback it really takes a beating without losing pages.
One of my favorites.......2005-05-18
I own a pretty large collection of chess books, but I've always been partial to this one. There are some things that a reader must know first hand. Yes, it is part of the larger "Combination Challenge" and yes, it is simply a workbook, not an instruction book. But as far as helping you learn tactics, I loved it. It's full of simpler problems so it's obviously better suited to beginners or intermediates. (Maybe 1000-1600) I agree with other readers that it has very few errors and I really liked it's sense of pattern recognition. There are times when it will have 3 or 4 very similar puzzles within 2 pages so that when you don't get it the first time, by the 3rd or 4th time you think to you yourself "I see, I get it now." I've gone through it 5 times and my copy is worn and dog-eared but definitely cherished. Plus its only 8 bucks, how can you beat that? Watch out for those small diagrams though, they'll hurt your eyes after a few hours of reading.
Average customer rating:
|
Winning Chess Tactics & Strategies
Ted Nottingham ,
Al Lawrence , and
Bob Wade
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Board Games
| Games
| Sports & Activities
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Children's Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 080699956X |
Book Description
Kids love to win--and any kid who has begun (or wants to begin) learning and loving this timeless game will cherish this clever follow-up to Winning Chess Piece by Piece. These brilliant tactics and techniques will hone and develop young players' skills and give their brains a real workout...while they're having a great time. They'll learn all the chess master's tricks of the trade: how to calculate moves far in advance, with the help of examples from winning games; strategies used by world champions--including Gary Kasparov's "discovered check" and "skewer"; improving the pieces to get in the best position to strike; and end-game techniques. Along the way, quizzes help players chart their progress--plus you get a "certificate" for successfully completing the "course"! 128 pages, 285 b/w illus., 8 x 10.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Tool For Improvement.......2004-07-28
When I was given this book in the summer of 1995 I never figured that it would influence my playing as it had. Nearly ten years later I still thumb through many of the positions and review its many themes.
This is th book for the beginner and intermediate player. It presents 700 positions divided up into 8 chapters, starting with the first chapter on the basics. The beginning player will benefit tremendously from this first chapter while intermediate players will find it to be excellent to skim through. The subsequent seven chapters deal with positional play, tactics, and endgame tequnique. There are generally two positions presentd per page, with a very clear and easy to understand analysis below. I must have read this book twenty times, and don't leave home without it. It is excellent for sharpening tactics, positional play, and I think that this is the best introduction to the endgame I've ever read. Unlike other chessbooks The Genesis of Power Chess makes learning easy and enjoyable rather than some monotonous, herculean task.
Dr. Ault has created a classic and it is surprising that more chess players are not relying on this invaluable tool for improvement.
Superb guide to chess strategy and positional thinking.......2000-06-27
This is a terrific book by a relatively little-known author. Ault is an experienced tournament chess player, and a recognized authority in psychology and training methods. His book should be better known, since it is one of the best approaches I have ever read (and I've read quite a few) to the complex and abstract subject of positional chess thinking. He has developed a very logical and systematic approach, building from simple concepts (basic mates, basic endgames) to more difficult ones (knight outposts, knights vs bishops, controlling key squares, etc). He wrote another, earlier chess book (The Chess Tutor: Elements of Combinations) addressing the basic tactical themes of chess (pins, skewers, forks, etc). This is another gem of a book. He also co-authored the classis book Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, and developed the chess training method pioneered by that book. If you're looking to improve your understanding of positional chess, then The Genesis of Power Chess will be well worth your time. I'm working my way through it for the third time - each time I read it, my game gets a little better.
A GEM!.......2000-02-05
I cannot believe that this is not a wildly popular book! Somonerecommended it to me on the newsgroup, and I cannot get over how greatthis teacher is! He is lifting me gently, challenging me, and bringing me along! I feel like this is private lessons! Everything he does is logical and makes sense! This ought to be right up there with "Reassess Your Chess" with Silman, and Yasser's books also! Are there MORE by this author?
Concise and Informative.......1998-09-24
I studied my paper back copy of this book so much that I had to make my own hardcover binding to help preserve it from further destruction. No useless diagrams, overbearing alternate line analysis or complete game transcripts to sift through. The author has made sure that everything presented has a logical reason for being included. The author has also organized the material in a logical order starting with simple endgame positions and building from these into more complex positions and concepts throughout the book. This may be the only chess puzzle style book that doesn't contain only worthless mate-in-2, and similar, positions. Most positions focus on application of correct chess principles to obtain a winning advantage and not necessarily the flashiest mate-in-x combination. Buy this book if you want to study and learn effective ways to improve your game, as opposed to reading someone's post game analysis inserted into the listings of their favorite games.
An Excellent Chess Strategy Tutorial.......1997-01-16
Unlike many chess books, this book leads you along as if the author is standing over your shoulder.
Rather than provide just a set of positions for you in a random fashion, Ault presents each position
along with a paragraph or two of commentary containing the lesson he is trying to push across. The
positions proceed along systematic, progressive themes beginning with simple mates, through endgame
play, then strategic considerations such as pawn play, piece play, and attacks. The last section has
a variety of positions with themes randomly chosen from the preceding discussions. An very instructive
and well-organized tutorial on chess strategy, that has certainly improved my chess understanding and
actual play!
Customer Reviews:
Uneven Effort.......1999-07-22
This book is not a collection of one-move mates, queen sacrifices, or forced tactical sequences. It is a series of positions, actual and possible, from K's games, that Pandolfini analyzes in detail. However, the book is often irritating because Pandolfini's analysis is either wrong (according to Fritz, a GM-rated program) or his "hint" about the tactical trick in a postion("pin," "skewer," etc.) isn't what the diagram is really about. Still, there are plenty of the world champion's tricks in this book, enough to make it worthwhile if purchased cheaply.
it's very good.......1999-07-03
i like it very much
Chess Tactics Clearly Explained.......1999-06-28
One of Pandolfini's better works, Kasparov's Winning Chess Tactics really is instructive and fun to read. I am not a fan of Pandolfini. His books are mainly for the extreme novices, I know, but even so, they all seem so "gimmicky." Oh well, I don't want to be a snob but I will relay this bit of trivia: I've never heard anyone, in any club, tournament, or chat group, speak positvely of his Fireside series. However, this is worth buying if you can get it cheap.
Customer Reviews:
Something good to learn from but not super great.......2006-08-13
I have been playing chess at my schools chess club for 4 years. I got this book 2 years ago. It is ok and have learned some thing from it. I also like my juniors chess trap book but a lot more because it shows you things from the first move, how to set up the tactics and go for it! I am about second at my club that goes to 8th grade from kindergarten. But I am working on beathing number 1 this coming year.
Basic, but good.......2003-05-18
After about 15 years off, I started playing chess again about three months ago. I did so badly -- I couldn't beat my PalmPilot at the easy level! -- I realized I needed help. Alhough unrated, I would probably clock in somewhere between 1000-1100 (According to the Chessmaster 9000, anyway. Take that as you will).
I've read two of Robertie's books, this one and "Winning Chess Openings." Both of them deserve the same review:
Although this is a very basic book, it's PERFECT for a beginner like me. He starts out with simple concepts and then builds up, and spends his time teaching the basic ideas, whereas other books emphasize material too advanced for a beginning player.
"The Road to Chess Mastery".......2001-09-26
Tactics is the most important part of chess game.
The best place to start learning basic concepts of tactics is in WINNING CHESS TACTICS.
Bill Robertie, organized his book in 14 chapters, each chapter is divided by a theme, like pin, skwer, forks, etc. and they are very well ilystrated and coments are made in good english.
The author explain each tactic concept, step by step, the reader will learn easy and fast, and the most important is the information inside this book will be burned into your memory, because his metod is fantastic.
If you are under 1500 rating, and you desire to become a more serious chess player, a recomend this book. There are other good books about tactics. Chess tactics for the tournament player, by lev Albert. I hope a have helped you with my review.
Book Description
A comprehensive, practical guide to playing chess from beginner to more advanced play with over 700 colour photographs and artworks.
Books:
- World of Warcraft Master Guide, Second Edition (World of Warcraft)
- Adobe Photoshop CS2 Classroom in a Book
- Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer (Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer) (Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer)
- Arcane Corrridors Dungeon Tiles, Set 2 (Dungeons & Dragons Supplement)
- Art Fun (Art and Activities for Kids)
- Ascended Masters Oracle Cards: 44-Card Deck and guidebook
- Backgammon 2004 Edition
- Barron's Mastering Spanish : Level 1 (Foreign Service Institute)
- Bat Boy Lives!: The WEEKLY WORLD NEWS Guide to Politics, Culture, Celebrities, Alien Abductions, and the Mutant Freaks that Shape Our World
- Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Contemporary Thai
- The Sexiest Man Alive : A Biography of Warren Beatty
- Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star
- Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays: Fundamentals and Applications
- Control High Blood Pressure Without Drugs: A Complete Hypertension Handbook
- Alpine flowers: 36 colour plates from watercolours specially prepared by Paul A. Robert
- Essentials of Capacity Management
- The World Economy: Resources, Location, Trade and Development
- A Place Where the Sea Remembers
Winning Chess Strategies, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)
Play Winning Chess
Winning Chess Openings (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)
Winning Chess Endings (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)
Winning Chess Combinations (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)
![Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors [McKay Chess Library for Kids]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/081293511X.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
