I also think you get the main tactical education by doing puzzles. Lot of easy puzzles.
Despite that, I recommend "Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik, which is the best book so far I have read about tactics. It explains in a very good way how to see and create tactics.
If you've got access to that book, Woodie, read it.
I think it gets all the rave reviews because the text portion is actually readable. It doesn't just give you a bunch of tactical puzzles; it categories tactics into things to look for. It's better than tactics trainer, and there's actually some humor in it.
It's the only chess book I've ever made it to the end of.
I don't have it, but you can still buy it. The cheapist used one is $37.00 though.
I also think you get the main tactical education by doing puzzles. Lot of easy puzzles.
Despite that, I recommend "Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik, which is the best book so far I have read about tactics. It explains in a very good way how to see and create tactics.
I'll check that out too.
... if you don't have any tactics books yet, I would definitely recommend Dan Heisman's Back to basics -Tactics.
Read the reviews. Both sound pretty good, Understanding Chess Tactics doesn't seem to have very many exercises in it, however.
I recommend "Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik,
I couldn't get anywhere with this book and sold it on
I recommend "Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik,
I couldn't get anywhere with this book and sold it on
What was wrong with it?
I recommend "Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik,
I couldn't get anywhere with this book and sold it on
What was wrong with it?
It just went over my head. I didn't find it accessible at all. I found this book to be better:
There are further books to recommend. John Nunn's "Learning Chess Tactics" is great - the puzzles are somewhat more difficult than in most other basic tactics books, though. Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess Tactics" is also not to be sneered at - he starts out real easy, but got some pretty demanding puzzles in his later "test" section. I like Heisman's book "Back to Basics -Tactics" best because he has sections and tests on things noone else has, like e.g. "counting". Oh, and for some more advanced stuff I would recommend the puzzle books by Emms and Nunn. Again, Nunn is more (some say too) difficult.
This site has invaluable tutorials and chess archives, mentoring and so much more to offer. Puzzles, etc. but you have to be a paid member to share in these but it is so worth it.
Tactics are all to share and see, just join the site and you will see so much...explore, learn and most of all laugh!
This site has invaluable tutorials and chess archives, mentoring and so much more to offer. Puzzles, etc. but you have to be a paid member to share in these but it is so worth it.
Tactics are all to share and see, just join the site and you will see so much...explore, learn and most of all laugh!
I am a paid member. Anyway, thanks for all the answers.
Ever considered tactics software?
Yeah, but my computer's old, and slow, and I don't know what would be compatible.
It does sound impossible.
Better suggestion, play, play, play and play players that are muvh higher ranked than you. You will lose many games but you will learn and also win some along the way. The best way to learn is to practice, play and most of all have fun! Remember, it is just a game...
Better suggestion, play, play, play and play players that are muvh higher ranked than you. You will lose many games but you will learn and also win some along the way. The best way to learn is to practice, play and most of all have fun! Remember, it is just a game...
True. I don't ever plan to play in actual OTB tournaments or whatever.
The one game that brings men, women and children of all ages together, regardless of religion, race, beliefs, etc, is chess. What a game.... it evokes thought, involves math and is a bit artistic, if you see if that way, you will have learned the game, the part of living the game will come in time... Cheers!
Here on chess.com are tons of information about tactics.
An other excellent on line resource is: www.chesstactics.org
But YOU have to do the work!
Here on chess.com are tons of information about tactics.
An other excellent on line resource is: www.chesstactics.org
But YOU have to do the work!
I do tactics here a lot. 
Got it! Priceless!
Is it better than the rest?
I am no chess book reviewer expert. I like Rheinfeld's insight. Those guys sure knew how to think "outside" the box. I don't know whom you mean by the "rest", but in my modest estimation, Nimzo, Rheinfeld, Chernev and their likes knew the intricacies of chess mental calculation. I like Silman too.
I meant the other books mentioned on this thread.
If you've got access to that book, Woodie, read it.
I think it gets all the rave reviews because the text portion is actually readable. It doesn't just give you a bunch of tactical puzzles; it categories tactics into things to look for. It's better than tactics trainer, and there's actually some humor in it.
It's the only chess book I've ever made it to the end of.