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Title: Winning Chess Tactics (Winning Chess) by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1-85744-333-0 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.48 (44 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good for amateurs (below 1500)... otherwise buy Reinfield's
Comment: (I am currently 1900 ELO; I read the book when I was about 1400-1500)
This is one of those books that will be very useful for persons unfamiliar with basic tactical themes in chess. For players who already have this basic understanding (probably 1500+), this book is not necessary.
Some reviewers recommend skipping this book in favour of Reinfield's 1001 Winning Chess Combinations and Sacrifices. I think that they are actually both excellent tactics books.
The difference is the intended audience: Seirawan's book is geared to players who have little or no understanding of tactics, whereas Reinfield's assumes some understanding of these principles. Thus Seirawan spends a lot more time explaining the mechanics of the tactics, while Reinfield's approach is to provide a large selection of quizzes so that the player can transfer the theory into practice.
I would imagine that a beginner would be somewhat frustrated tackling Reinfield's book head-on due to the general lack of explanation. Seirawan's book fills this void.
Seirawan's friendly, conversational writing style is well suited for the intended audience. He conveys his message clearly and throws in some humour as well. Some find him egotistical, but I think by his personal chess anecdotes help the reader to relate better with him.
My main caveat with this book is that it does not contain enough puzzles. Additionally, too many of the puzzles are similar. Seirawan probably did this to facilitate those readers slow to grasp the different concepts. To me in came across as slightly annoying as I didn't feel challenged enough.
All in all Winning Chess Tactics is an excellent book if one recognises it for what it is: a primer on tactics. More advanced players will definitely prefer Reinfield's 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices & Combinations.
Rating: 4
Summary: Tactics taught using a step-by-step approach
Comment: Summary:
After studying an overview of chess (e.g. Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess) a book on tactics is a logical next step. I have purchased several tactics books. I found this one to be the best for teaching the beginner how to effectively recognize tactical opportunities and execute winning tactical sequences.
Learn by example?
Some tactics books show examples and hope for results. This would be like a golf pro showing me a video of Tiger Woods, and then asking for his fee. I am sorry, but examples of great tactics will often discourage beginners more than educate them. Examples of these types of books include:
1.Combinations, the Heart of Chess
2.Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player
Learn through countless exercises?
Some tactics books are really puzzle books with about 1000 different diagrams that offer tactical gains. These are useful for the intermediate player, but can cause frustration for those who are not good at calculating a four move combination. Examples include:
1.1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices
2.Sharpen Your Tactics
Learn through instruction - the best method
Winning Chess Tactics is written with very simple, step-by-step style. "In this section we will learn how each piece can create a fork" Therefore, it is useful for both children and adults. It is repetitive and slowly builds on previous themes, in other words, it teaches. Seirawan uses exercises at the end of each lesson to test your knowledge. One negative - Part 2 (examples of master level tactics) is not very useful in a beginner's book, this space could have been used to provide more instruction. Overall, it is an excellent book and well worth the money. For these reasons, I give it four stars.
Rating: 3
Summary: Basic material, with advanced tests
Comment: After reading through Part 1 of "Winning Chess Tactics", I felt I had a pretty good grasp of the material Seirawan was presenting-- double attacks, pins, skewers, deflection, decoys, clearance sacrifices, etc. After doing the "Basic Tactics" tests in Part 3, I thought "great, I *do* understand what's going on." Needless to say, I was feeling pretty good about myself and my perceived IQ.
Then I hit Chapter Twenty-Two: "Advanced Combinations" tests. After maybe getting half of one test correct, I started wondering, "Am I a total idiot?" I didn't even try the "Professional Combinations". To add insult to injury, based on my score Seirawan admonishes me: "I'll be honest with you, this is not good. You need to carefully read this book again."
Somehow I don't feel that reading the book again would help me with those tests. While Seirawan presents the basics very clearly, the tests seem to demand tactical skills and insights which I simply did not pick up along the way. Based on another recommendation, I picked up "Sharpen Your Tactics" by Lein. This book of chess problems seems to progress more gradually in difficulty, though only time will tell if it sharpens me up enough to be "respectable" in Seirawan's eyes.
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Title: Winning Chess Strategies by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443322 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Winning Chess Openings by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443497 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Play Winning Chess by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443314 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Winning Chess Endings by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443489 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Winning Chess Brilliancies by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443470 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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