Best tactics books.

I would recommend a subscription to https://learn.chessking.com/ For 3 reasons:

1. Considering your purpose, I believe what you need is puzzles, not a book full of theories. This app has a huge collection of puzzle categorized into themes.

2. Time! Time is money! A puzzle book will typically cost you time to turn back and forth. Sometimes, you need to setup the position. This app will save you a lot of time, especially if you are a college student that works part time like me!

3. Convenience! I play the puzzle when I am at work or when I have a study break. I am a college student so I definitely know the benefit of an e-book vs a physical book.

You should go into marketing. That is nice sales pitch! So much so that I’m actually going to go check it out! (I probably would’ve anyways tbh )

I have heard that Bain put out a lot of good strategy and tactic practice, so that is very high on the list for my next tactic book!

It blows my mind how people can retain thousands to tens of thousands of tactics in their brains! I guess the only way for me to fully understand the scope of my tactical abilities is to use as many resources as possible.

But extremely advanced at such an early stage.

You'll be surprised how quickly you start recognizing patterns. My personal favourite tactics books are Maksim Blokh's 'Combinational Motifs' and 'Combinational Art', and it didn't take long before I found myself thinking when solving the positions, 'Hmm... this looks familiar. I've seen something similar before.'

There are a finite number of different motifs and themes, and once you get the hang of them, you'll start sensing the solutions when you look at the positions. Even though you may not always find the correct execution (because they can be fiendishly difficult), you will often see the intended mate or the intended combination that will net you material.

The most common one that I see is forking. I’m really bad about using pawns in my tactics too.

I borrowed these book from my college library and they are awesome

"How to reassess your chess" teaches me how to evaluate a position such as is your knight/bishop good or bad, is your rook active or inactive... From there, you know when to trade, when to sacrifice...

"Pawn structure chess" is awesome because it gives me specific ideas of what to plan in middle game for both sides. So, in Sicilian family, if I play White, I should fight for e4-e5, f4-f5, or g4-g5, where as Black should counter-attack on queenside, control d5 or restrain e5... So, for every move I make, I have an idea of what to do.

"Attack and counterattack" is wonderful. Now that I know what to do in the middle game but I lack the skills the do it subtly. This book explain on how White can control and exploit and how Black can seize and attack.

Last but very useful for me "Is your move safe". Well, no need to explain

World's Champion Guide To Chess by Polgar is also fine for you OP. This book are 80% tactical puzzle book.

Murray's Chess Tactics for Kids is also fine. Don't let the kid word fool you. This book is excellent tactical book for any beginner.

I have to agree. Despite the fact that the 5th and newest edition has separated tactics into multiple difficulty levels, even some of the "basic" level combinations require a rather deep amount of calculation.

Definitely checking this out!

Added to the list!

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review827.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233629/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ctpb.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Fundamental_Checkmates.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Fundamental_Chess_Tactics.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Art-of-Checkmate-The-77p3892.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093813/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/beatdad.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf