tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post2295843355920455847..comments2024-02-24T12:16:34.475-05:00Comments on Path to Chess Mastery: Book completed - Understanding Chess TacticsChessAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02231584333139931889noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-39568675112153862102012-06-30T21:18:09.991-04:002012-06-30T21:18:09.991-04:00Finally found this in my spam folder...see below f...Finally found this in my spam folder...see below for the replies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-24557933009429381112012-06-29T21:40:48.742-04:002012-06-29T21:40:48.742-04:00It's more the cost per mote of dust ratio. My...It's more the cost per mote of dust ratio. My return to chess involves a strict chess book addiction recovery program. However, this book seems like a good plan. Just as I plan to buy a book on endgames when I study endgames, I can use this book immediately. All the other tactics books in a similar vein seem a little too high level; this should be great. Thanks!First Normal Formhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04486145031139699145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-4362696694295170362012-06-29T09:01:55.420-04:002012-06-29T09:01:55.420-04:00Thanks for the comment. From my perspective, this ...Thanks for the comment. From my perspective, this is a book which accomplishes its purpose, which is to instruct both the "what" and "how" to think about tactics - it goes much deeper than simply presenting an idea and then giving a bunch of related problems to solve. The deeper perspective on offer has significantly helped my tactical thinking process.<br /><br />If cost is an issue, you may want to take a look at the "Predator at the Chessboard" site linked. It isn't the same, but also gives an in-depth treatment of tactical ideas. (I picked up Understanding Chess Tactics as part of a USCF website sale, so got a great bargain.) That said, if you do get the book, it's definitely not going to be one of those that looks good but collects dust for the rest of your chess career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-55030880908812874102012-06-29T08:56:40.853-04:002012-06-29T08:56:40.853-04:00((I received a copy of the following comment in my...((I received a copy of the following comment in my inbox, but for some reason it didn't appear here, so it's being reproduced below.))<br /><br />First Normal Form has left a new comment on your post "Book completed - Understanding Chess Tactics": <br /><br />Thank you for your interesting review. If I may impose, I am interested in determining if this book is a good fit for me. I believe I'm a common case, so the answers might prove valuable to others as well. In most respects, you've already answered the question, but I suppose I'm seeking further clarification of your already excellent explanation. Maybe I'm just seeking validation for a $28 purchase!<br /><br />I'm a dipper. Every few years I catch the bug and return. I've previously avoided heavy tactical training, which makes the entire project a dubious enterprise. Right now, I'm three weeks into the Chessimo tactics module, and my enthusiasm remains undiminished.<br /><br />So, I know what a pin is, a double attack, a skewer, etc. It sounds like this book goes deeper, and provides a methodical way of identifying weaknesses in the position that hint at a possible tactical shot, besides "the rook and king are on the same diagonal". If this is a good book for me, I would hope it would help formalize my thinking during tactical exercises. If I read it and feel that I could have learned the same from browsing the web for novice chess sites ("Identify the pin!"), I'd be sad. An Amazon review calls it a "feel-good" book for those who haven't learned tactical themes from intense practice. Would you disagree?<br /><br />I never heard the term "reloader". I like it a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-65277008611859856082012-06-28T12:29:44.723-04:002012-06-28T12:29:44.723-04:00Thank you for your interesting review. If I may i...Thank you for your interesting review. If I may impose, I am interested in determining if this book is a good fit for me. I believe I'm a common case, so the answers might prove valuable to others as well. In most respects, you've already answered the question, but I suppose I'm seeking further clarification of your already excellent explanation. Maybe I'm just seeking validation for a $28 purchase!<br /><br />I'm a dipper. Every few years I catch the bug and return. I've previously avoided heavy tactical training, which makes the entire project a dubious enterprise. Right now, I'm three weeks into the Chessimo tactics module, and my enthusiasm remains undiminished.<br /><br />So, I know what a pin is, a double attack, a skewer, etc. It sounds like this book goes deeper, and provides a methodical way of identifying weaknesses in the position that hint at a possible tactical shot, besides "the rook and king are on the same diagonal". If this is a good book for me, I would hope it would help formalize my thinking during tactical exercises. If I read it and feel that I could have learned the same from browsing the web for novice chess sites ("Identify the pin!"), I'd be sad. An Amazon review calls it a "feel-good" book for those who haven't learned tactical themes from intense practice. Would you disagree?<br /><br />I never heard the term "reloader". I like it a lot.First Normal Formhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04486145031139699145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-661386069383987012012-06-12T21:02:42.227-04:002012-06-12T21:02:42.227-04:00Funny you should mention that site, I'd starte...Funny you should mention that site, I'd started going through it and found it quite valuable, but then I got the book and focused on it instead. I plan to return to working through the site at some point, there's certainly a lot of content there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-15960540233892081402012-06-12T13:09:25.433-04:002012-06-12T13:09:25.433-04:00This really is a good book. Far better than the m...This really is a good book. Far better than the majority that are "here is a pin, now here are 500 problems".<br /><br />The only similar thing I've seen is the Predator at the Chessboard website - another very "wordy" description of tactics, what to look for, and ways to set them up.Jabarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792742535328958861noreply@blogger.com