|
| Title: Learn
Chess Tactics |
Author: John
Nunn |
Language:  |
Pages: 160 |
| Cover: Paperback |
Published: 2004 |
| Publisher: Gambit |
Homepage: http://www.gambitbooks.com |
| Price: £ 12,99 |
ISBN: 1-901983-98-6 |
| Reviewed by: Soren
Sogaard |
Date: 15/2 2004 |
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Quick-Review: Learn Chess Tactics
This book is a follow up to the book "Learn Chess" by
the same author. Although I didn't read that book, it is my guess
that it teaches the student about the basics in chess like how to
move the pieces etc. This book take it a step further and it's goal
is to teach the reader the basics in chess tactics. John Nunn which
is one of my favourite authors explains in the Introduction what
this book is about:
"This book aims to provide a basic course in chess
tactics. We will define tactics to be a short-term operation,
using forcing moves, which aims for an immediate concrete gain
(such as winning material or mate). Most chess games are decided
by tactics. At higher levels, long-term strategic thinking is also
important, but even amongst grandmasters tactics predominate.
Those who enjoy rapid or blitz chess will already be aware that
the faster the time-limit, the more the balance shifts towards
tactics. At lower levels, tactics are especially prevalent and the
quickest way for most players to achieve better results is to
improve their tactical ability..... Readers should note that this
is not a book about attacking play..."
Ok, I don't want to discuss what is the best way to improve in
chess if you are a beginner. It is obvious though, that improving
your tactical ability is just as important as studying endgames. I
can't disagree with Nunn that the "...quickest way for most players to achieve better results is to improve their
tactical ability...", but want to add that you should
improve just as quickly if you study endgames instead ;-)
I have seen a lot of these books lately, and for the great
majority I can say that they are very well written, and is a good
start for beginners of the game. The same can be said about this new
book which should be of interest for beginners up to players with
ELO 1500. What book you choose is not very important, I think the
main thing here is that you like the way the author writes.
Contents
 Introduction- Prerequisites and Symbols
- Fork
- Discovered Attack
- Pin
- Skewer
- Deflection
- Trapped Piece
- Removing the Guard
- Opening and Closing Lines
- Back-Rank Mate
- Pawn Promotion
- In-Between Moves
- Defensive Tactics
- Combinations
- Miscellaneous Exercises
- Solutions
- Index of Players
Each chapter starts with a discussion of the key ideas and some
examples to show the ideas in action. At the end of each chapter you
find 10-25 exercises to solve. After the first 9 chapters with
themes like forks, pins and back-rank mate Nunn mixes things in the
next 4 chapters where he talks about Pawn Promotion, In-Between
Moves, Defensive Tactics and Combinations. At the end of the book
there is a collection of 66 exercises.
An Example from the book
The bottom line is that this book is a solid work from John Nunn
which should be of interest for beginners of the game. At the end I
want to give you an example from chapter 11 "In-Between
Moves" so you for yourself can see the level. If you solve
this exercise in less than 10 seconds then you should find another
book, and if you need more than 30 seconds then it could be worth a
try ;-)
Black has just taken a knight on c3.
How should White reply?
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