Look man. I just came back from a tourney( few hours ago). That notion that lower rated players should study just tactics EXCLUSIVELY is frankly, plain garbage. I've studied 2 basic tactics books intensively did the tactics quiz and was confirmed to have grasped basic tactics. However getting to the tourney, I lost all my games. I was losing pieces in the opening due to my lack of knowledge on it. I'd advice lower rated players to study openings as hard as they study tactics.
Now to your question: I'd recommend winning chess tactics by yasser seirawan.
Sorry for raving like this. I'm pretty upset and I don't want other lower rated players to be swindled like I have.
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperhttp://tinyurl.com/lu9mr4
Do they tend to just be puzzles to solve with solutions or do they talk about tactical theories and how to look for vulnerabilities?
What are some good ones for 1300-1500 players? I go home on R&R in a month and I plan on picking up some material to bring back.
This is exactly what you are after.
Originally posted by GoshenOuch, I feel your pain! I usually lose most of my otb games, as most of my opponents are rated higher than me. (Comes with the territory, I guess.)
Look man. I just came back from a tourney( few hours ago). That notion that lower rated players should study just tactics EXCLUSIVELY is frankly, plain garbage. I've studied 2 basic tactics books intensively did the tactics quiz and was confirmed to have grasped basic tactics. However getting to the tourney, I lost all my games. I was losing pieces in the ope ...[text shortened]... is. I'm pretty upset and I don't want other lower rated players to be swindled like I have.
Tactics should be the most important thing to study for us novices, but not the only thing. You also need to study basic opening principles, and also read up on the standard opening traps that can blindside you (the out-of-print book "Winning Chess Traps", by Chernev, for example). But I think going into a massive study of deep opening variations is a huge waste of time for a novice.
Also, a little study of endgame principles and basic positional principles couldn't hurt.
Originally posted by SquelchbelchI'll second that recommendation. I've read it, and it's good.
http://tinyurl.com/lu9mr4
This is exactly what you are after.
My only minor quibble is that the first printing has some mistakes/typos, and the second printing (that's printing, not edition), which will correct the mistakes, hasn't appeared yet, to the best of my knowledge. But if you e-mail Dan, he'll send you an errata sheet for the first printing.
If you go to Dan's web site, he also recommends some other tactics books.
http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm
Originally posted by GoshenIf you're losing pieces in the opening, this is a tactical weakness and not one brought about by lack of opening knowledge (since there is no opening that loses a piece by force).
Look man. I just came back from a tourney( few hours ago). That notion that lower rated players should study just tactics EXCLUSIVELY is frankly, plain garbage. I've studied 2 basic tactics books intensively did the tactics quiz and was confirmed to have grasped basic tactics. However getting to the tourney, I lost all my games. I was losing pieces in the ope is. I'm pretty upset and I don't want other lower rated players to be swindled like I have.
I completely agree with Mad Rook's statement about studying a few basic endgames and positional themes. Studying openings in any sort of depth (particularly just memorisation of opening lines) is virtually useless until, I'd say, 1800 level or somewhere round there. What use is it?
Study tactics, a few positional themes, a few basic endgames, and be aware of common, basic opening traps (but that's it!) and you should see a marked improvement in your game.
Originally posted by GoshenReading a couple of books and taking their quiz doesn't make one a good tactician. I wish it were that easy. Check out the Chess Tactics Server at http://chess.emrald.net/ and do at least 20 minutes a day of tactic puzzles there. I find it really hones your tactic skills and enables you to recognize tactical patterns after a while.
I've studied 2 basic tactics books intensively did the tactics quiz and was confirmed to have grasped basic tactics..
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I would recommend software - ChessOK has plenty starting with the very basics. The advantage of software is that is is easier to get feedback and you can accomplish more repetitions - that is the key! You can't just learn tactics and say to yourself, "OK, now I've learned all the tactics." It is like a musician (or I suspect jumping from a plane) you better keep learning and repeating what you already know or you are liable to miss something at a critical moment. You want it to be ingrained in your way of thinking.
Also, don't listen to people that tell you not to study something. If you want to study openings (or endings or master games or whatever...) do it if it is fun! If chess is not fun then why are you doing it? If you treat it as a chore you'll most likely not get better away because you will not be able to completely focus. Do the things that keep your focus - just remember to try at least a little bit of everything because what may not seem like fun today could be a great deal of fun tomorrow when you are more ready to absorb it.