Chess Tactics for Advanced Players

In this work, Chess Tactics for Advanced Players, from Chess Grandmaster Yuri Averbakh, you will find a pretty rigorous treatment of what tactics is in chess from a totally different angle. It was always understood that chess tactics at their most basic stage almost always necessitated the double attack. That is, the simultaneous attack on two adverse chess forces by your own kindred forces. It took GM Averbakh's analysis and investigations to systematize this concept into something that can be of concrete use in chess play. In the first part of the book "The Double Attack" GM Averbakh talks about the mechanics for setting up the double attack such as: the three stages of threats and attack before the actual double attack, the methods of defense, and how all this relates to strategy. His great insight is that a double attack does not only consists of an actualphysical attack on two or more adverse forces but that a double attack can consist of two threats, or a threat and a physical attack. He,thus, expands the definition and understanding of the tactical double attack in chess.The most salient points in his classification are: the two-fold attack on a defended piece, the two-fold attack on two targets, the two-fold attack in conjunction with a pin, the mutual two-fold attack, the double attack, the two-fold double attack, and the setting up and defenses against such attacks, etc. It is not a humongous modern style type of chess book, but it is a book with many examples that clearly demonstrate what GM Averbakh is addressing.These phrases seem almost self-explanatory, but it is not an easy book to read the old fashion way. That is, with the book and a chessboard. For this, you will need to acquire one of the chessbase.com's chess programs, or databases in order to make the chore much easier. You can of course download the free 'Chessbase Reader' which will read the database version of the book which you can also download from the internet. It is titled ("Averbakh Tactics for Advanced Players.cbh )." With it, you can play over the examples in the book without dealing with the physical setting up of the pieces on an actual board, but instead you'll be doing it on your computer screen. There are many such databases of printed chess books that assist the chess player in managing his chess study and analysis of the material presented. I suggest this for Averbakh's book because even though the book is addressed to advanced players there will be many not-so-advanced players that will take up the challenge of reading this work with some difficulty. Chessbase is the standard computer chess tool for any player that wants to take the game seriously or just study it productively.Plus, the book is a translation from German and it has a few translation quirks along its presentation.On the second half of the book GM Averbakh ties everything up under "The Combination" which is a very instructive section on how all the tactical elements interrelate to each other and to each phase of the game. The book is a little hard to read, but it is not hard to understand. The subject being presented will benefit many chess enthusiasts who work through it diligently-not just advanced players.This is, without a doubt, the only serious modern treatment of chess tactics worth studying. If you are not a complete beginner and have been playing chess for a while, and you understand chess notation,etc., you can handle this work. Nothing out there compares to it and if you are up to the challenge, you will never look at chess tactics the same way again. This is another fine reprint from Ishi Press International.

After 50 years away from serious chess, I hoped this book would sharpen my tactics (tactics = 90% of chess, they say). After one slowww reading (& starting another) my performance on chess.com's tactical trainer is 300 points better and MUCH more confident. Post hoc reasoning, maybe. However, I repeatedly recognize themes on the chessboard drilled in by intense grappling with Averbakh's book.Why only 4 stars? The book itself is very poorly presented. The pages are small. The diagrams are small and faint. The type is small, faint, and smudged. While younger readers may forego my magnifying glass, they may discover that the arduous study this book requires is made needlessly more difficult by its format.Very highly recommended, as long as you can get by the careless presentation.

Definitely one of the best Chess Books ever written! I actually skipped through most of the intro stuff, although beginners may want to read it. I consider myself a pretty advanced player. If you are more advanced like me, you can go right to page 117. This is where this wonderful author really gets into the good stuff!These are NOT just puzzles like you find in most chess books! These are complete games, from start to finish!Most of the games I have read through so far are short and sweet and get right to the point.If you want to improve your game, whether you are a beginner or a pro (like me :) ) You will find something very great in this book!!Buy it, learn it and love it !!

The book arrived in perfect condition. The book looks different than the picture though, but it has the same title and the same author. I bought it for my nephew, he requested it specifically.

Essential reading if you want to get past 2000.

Very, very hard. I didn't realize how hard these would be. You should be 1800+ before ordering; these are too hard for me to benefit from. Not the book's fault though.

Gift for grandson, and he likes it very much.

Good book!