Originally posted by SquelchbelchI disagree.
Yes, it's more for the strong club player (1800+)
All one needs to read the superb Weteschnik book is knowledge of the basic tactics. 2 of my other favourite tactics books are Polgar's Chess Tactics for Champions and Reinfeld/Chernev's Winning Chess (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winning-Chess-Irving-Chernev/dp/0571092314/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247401218&sr=8-6)
Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan is a good Tactics primer.
If somebody has read and understood any of the latter 3 books, then they should be able to digest Weteschnik's book.
D
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperPractical chess exercises by Ray Cheng.
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.
I'm currently working through it and like it a lot.I'm writing a review on it.If you like I'll post it on this forum.
I would recommend this: 303 Tricky Chess Tactics by Fred Wilson and Bruce Alberston
303 puzzles arranged into chapters devoted to individual tactics in turn, and then combinations too.
Almost singlehandedly took me from 1400 up to 1700 (along with 303 more... and 303 tricky checkmates too)
Was great training for me.
Originally posted by heinzkatI've done the second and third of those books and can recomend them a lot. Each book has about 50 pages with 12 tactics on each, arranjed by theme, as well as mixed sections. It passes over every fase in a game and is very usefull. These books combined with longer tactics on chess tempo make a perfect duo. I'm buying up to book 6 and will hopefully recieve them in a couple of weeks!
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Originally posted by Goshenyou're right that beginners should address all facets, not just tactics.
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.
however, instead of looking narrowly at each facet, i think the best way is to go over games that have annotations. for a beginner, going over the games of capablanca would be very beneficial approach to studying chess.
Studying chess tactics without a strong foundation in sound chess principles is akin to receiving neuro-surgery from a chimpanzee - everything might turn out fine, but you'd not bet a dime on it.
Tactics, certainly combinations, should largely be avoided by beginners; they are ill-equipped to handle them. First learn to play soundly without dropping material; second, learn to hang on to any material gained from opponents' errors and win with it; third, learn to create opportunities for material gain, then win. Only then are you ready to employ tactics to force an advantage - and win!
Tactical chess is built on very boring foundations - but they remain foundations, solid and reliable. As with any sound construction, there are no short-cuts either.
I'm in my late 30s and I started with this in February 2008
Chess Tactics for Students By John Bain
http://www.chessforstudents.com/store/shop/item.asp?itemid=2
If you look at my RHP graph from that date you can see, in general, a rapid improvement.
My OTB rating jumped from ECF 54 to 68 while my RHP rating increased around 200 points.
The book is very very easy and simple but very effective IMO. I believe the drilling in of these basic patterns improved my board vision and basic tactical motifs generally leap out of the board now.
HTH