Mastering Chess Tactics

Mastering Chess Tactics (Neil McDonald)
192 Pages
ISBN (10 digits):
0-71-348-7720

A chessplayer must continually be alert to tactics, which effectively decide the outcome of all chess games. Part one of this book introduces you to the various tactical themes such as forks, double attacks, pins, skewers, line opening and clearing, deflections, and destroying the guard, explaining them with practical examples from modern chess play.

Part two goes one step further, showing you how to discover combinations and also how to instigate them - guided by the specific features of the position. Tests are then given to enable you to practise your new-found tactical awareness.

A self-instructor that will not only enable you to deliver telling tactical blows but also to side-step threats coming your way. For Club and tournament players.

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Starting Out: The French

Starting Out: The French (Byron Jacobs)
176 Pages
ISBN (10 digits):
185-7-442296

The French is one of Black's soundest defences to 1 e4 and is very popular at all levels of chess. Club players enjoy its super-solid structure, while at the top it's played by famous grandmasters such as Vishy Anand and the young Russian star Alexander Morozevich. With his first two moves Black obtains a substantial foothold in the centre, and a structure that is incredibly difficult to break down.

In this user-friendly book, International Master Byron Jacobs revisits the basic principles behind the French Defence and all of its variations. Throughout the reader is helped along by a wealth of notes, tips, warnings and exercises. This book is ideal for the improving player.

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Starting Out: Minor Piece Endgames

Starting Out: Minor Piece Endgames (John Emms)
200 Pages
ISBN (10 digits):
18-57-4435-94

Endgames with kings, bishops, knights, and pawns are generally considered among the most complex and can seem quite bewildering to improving players. This is hardly surprising given that even Grandmasters have been known to struggle in some areas of these endgames, with some examples resulting in embarrassing failure to deliver elementary checkmates!

In this user-friendly book, Grandmaster and notable endgame authority John Emms begins with the absolute fundamentals of minor piece endings. This slowly but surely arms readers with the essential knowledge and confidence to move onto slightly trickier positions. Using examples from practical play, Emms highlights the correct procedures as well as the typical mistakes made by both attacker and defender.

As is normal with the famed Starting Out series, there are an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings throughout the book to help improving players.

Key features:
*Covers all crucial minor piece endings
*Easy step-by-step guide to better endgame play
*Ideal for improving players
*User-friendly layout to help readers absorb the key ideas

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