Which chess tactics book should I study

I've recently come into possession of a number of books and were wondering which tactics book to study, i am currently at 1400-50.

Euwe - Strategy & Tactics in Chess

McDonald - Mastering Chess Tactics

Alburt - Chess tactics for the tournament player

Beim - How to calculate chess tactics.

Thanks in Advance, Loch.

First, don't get McDonald's and Alburt's tactics books. They are known to be bad.

I think Beim's book is more for the advanced player who already mastered basic patterns and combinations. Euwe, I never heard of a tactics book written by him. What I would actually recommend is Predator at the Chessboard and any tactics book by lou hays. For Predator at the Chessboard, it is more of a explanation book, but it is far more different than any other tactics book. It is VERY detailed! So please, get those two books(well, it's actually 3 since Predator at the Chessboard is a 2-book series).

I agree with you about how great Predator at the Chessboard is. But tell me why you think Alburt's book is bad.

stwils

If you already have those books, you might as well try them and see for yourself how much you like them.

If you haven't bought one yet, I don't see any need for one with a lot of exposition. Pick one that is packed from cover to cover with diagrams. I would look for one that was published recently and has been checked by computer (to guard against errors). An ideal book might have a chapter for each tactic for the first part of the book and then mixed problems of increasing difficulty for the rest of the book.

Personally, I prefer online tactics training. I use Chess Tempo. Some people like Chess Tactics Server. Chess.com has Tactics Trainer, a daily puzzle, a forum for user-contributed puzzles, and probably groups for tactics puzzles. Do a Google search and you'll find dozens of other sources for tactics online.

Really? Never heard anyone say any such thing. I've heard only support for Chess Tactics for the Tournamnent Player, and I have read the book several times myself, absorbing more information with each re-read.

I think Alburt's book is an outstanding introduction to basic tactics and tatical motifs. In addition, it contains a section on calculation and gives good advice on how to improve this important skill.

I disagree about Alburt's book, I think it is fantastic.  I have read it twice now. 
Judging by your rating here, I would suggest Chess Tactics, by Paul Littlewood, or Alburt's book.

Littlewood's book should take you 6-8 hours to work through.

Alburt's book should take 8 - 12 hours to work through.

At any rate I would do a bunch of tactics puzzles afterwards and plan on working through the books a second time in a month or so, you will be surprised by what you pick up the second time around.

I have Littlewood's book and I think it's excellent. Some of the puzzles are a bit hard for a player of my strength though.

I wonder why no one has said anything about Winning Chess Tactics by GM Yasser Seirawan.

There are a gajillion tactics books out there. Most of them are average or sometimes "better than average" as is the case with Seirawan's which is a surface-level exposition of tactics The ones that deserve recommendation are the ones that deal with depth as well as breadth.

 Which book would you rec that gives a detailed and thorough exposition of chess tactics?

Ward Farnsworth's Predator at the Chessboard.

 Well, I've just gone through the first 3/13 pages he has on skewers. It doesn't look like it has much more depth than Seirawans book. Anyway I'll still go through it. No harm can be done. Thanks.

Understanding Chess Tactics by Martin Weteschnik is as deep as it can get.

Though let's stop for a second and ask => Are you trying to do a literature-survey of tactics of all shapes and sizes or are you just looking for a training workbook to help you find shots faster?

If it is the latter => Screw the books and sign up for chess Tactics server or chess tempo or even the trainer over here.   Computer-based tactical practice trumps books in this day and age.

Shiv

Sounds to me like the OP already owns the books in his original post, and is wondering which one of them would be best for him to study.

None of you have responded as though this is the case, however.

 Pegrin did. and now me.

McDonald! great name!

It's pretty hard to work out tactics from a computer screen. And if I try set up my board, then my time runs out

I was disappointed in that book. I found it badly organized, unclear and not helpful at all. I threw it away.