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Polgar 5334 different editions

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maxfinis

There seem to be at least two different printings of Polgar's 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games. I recently bought the paperback version from Amazon (copyright 2013) and noticed that many of the solutions to mate in 2/3 chapters only show the first move. I heard that there was another version of the book that gave the full solutions, so I did some research, and found that that was true. Which version do you guys have and prefer?

Sources consulted:

  1. 1994 PDF, 1884822312 (9781884822315), printed in US
  2. 2006 PDF, 9781579125547, printed in US
  3. 2013 hardcover, 9781579125547, manufactured in US
  4. 2013 paperback, 9781579125547, manufactured in US
  5. 2013 paperback, 9781579125547, printed in China

The 1994 (the original) and the 2013 (current) versions are identical in layout, page numbers, and solutions, while the 2006 version has some notable differences in the solutions and some of the chapters.

Comparison:

    1. 2013/1994 has 82 fewer pages: 1104 total pages; 2006 has 1186.
    2. Longer introduction: 2013/1994 has the same forward, introduction, and keys to symbols, but the beginner’s tutorial (how pieces move, checkmates, stalemates, etc.) are much longer, mostly due to layout of the diagrams. 2013/1994 has 52 pages for entire front sections (before first chapter Mate in 1 starts); 2006 has only 8 pages.
    3. Miniatures chapter has very different layout: 2013/1994 has solutions and diagrams in the main chapter, whereas 2006 has no diagrams, and puts solutions in the end of the book with rest of the solutions. Diagrams would have been helpful, especially since the 2006 solutions put “(Diagram)” where the last move would be shown in the diagram. 2006 only includes the moves, no diagram or game info, and puts solutions in back with game info but no diagram.
    4. Solutions:
      1. 2013/1994 gives simpler, shorter move notations. For example, 2013/1994 shows Qg7; 2006 has Qxg7#.
      2. Mate in 2/3 solutions in 2013/1994 have less moves and info; 2006 includes all moves, lines, and threats. (2013/1994: 1.Kc3; 2006:1.Kc3 [threatening Qa7#] 1...Ka2 ( 1...Ka4 2.Qb4m#) 2.Qb#.) 2013/1994 includes game info where appropriate; 2006 doesn’t at all.
      3. Polgar games chapter in 2013/1994 includes players’ names, dates, and locations; 2006 doesn’t include any in the main chapter or in solutions.
      4. Game info: Puzzles #1471 – 3514 in 2013/1994 includes players’ names and dates, and #5207 – 5333 includes players’ names, tournament names, and dates.

Based on the above, there are pros and cons of both versions, and I can't decide which is best. Maybe the 2013/1994 (mostly due to the Miniatures chapter), and use the 1994 PDF for the more detailed solutions? I know many have said that you really only need the first move, but for solutions with multiple lines, the complete moves are helpful.

(Also, the binding and paper quality on the current paperback I got from Amazon are atrocious. When I first picked it up, I was surprised at how light it was considering the size. The paper is so poor (mass market quality), and the tightly glued binding seems cheap and flimsy. And it's not the 2006 version as it says in the "Read sample" of the Amazon listing, it's the 2013.)