and to answer your question above: I would never, not in a million years, buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately.
Do you prefer 2 diagrams, the way New in Chess are doing it, for example in their WC tactics collection, Kasparov, Polgar, etc., or leaving blank spaces between diagram and solution?
'Tactics Time' seems to be just like me, solution immediately following diagram, how do they sell so much then?
I would very much request the feedback of the Chess.com community.
Looking at above preview on Amazon, what do you think of the way the puzzles are presented?
For the Kindle version, perhaps you could use white text on a white background for the text containing the puzzle solution. In this case the solution only becomes visible when the user selects that block of text with the mouse. I have used this method for puzzles I posted on a website I created in the past. And I know that I can highlight text in Kindle, so this should work, resulting in white text on a blue background which is easy to read..
Thank you very much.
Does that work for devices like tablet and phone?
What if people would like to browse a whole page, page by page?
and to answer your question above: I would never, not in a million years, buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately.
Do you prefer 2 diagrams, the way New in Chess are doing it, for example in their WC tactics collection, Kasparov, Polgar, etc., or leaving blank spaces between diagram and solution?
'Tactics Time' seems to be just like me, solution immediately following diagram, how do they sell so much then?
I prefer the way Seirawan did it, solutions at the end of the book or at the end of the chapter. for the ebook this is actually really convenient because you don't have to flip pages but you can just click on a link.
and to answer your question above: I would never, not in a million years, buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately.
Do you prefer 2 diagrams, the way New in Chess are doing it, for example in their WC tactics collection, Kasparov, Polgar, etc., or leaving blank spaces between diagram and solution?
'Tactics Time' seems to be just like me, solution immediately following diagram, how do they sell so much then?
I prefer the way Seirawan did it, solutions at the end of the book or at the end of the chapter. for the ebook this is actually really convenient because you don't have to flip pages but you can just click on a link.
Is not that more time consuming?
You mean click and click-back, right?
That would make an awful amount of hyperlinks.
And then what do we do with the paperback?
I would very much request the feedback of the Chess.com community.
Looking at above preview on Amazon, what do you think of the way the puzzles are presented?
For the Kindle version, perhaps you could use white text on a white background for the text containing the puzzle solution. In this case the solution only becomes visible when the user selects that block of text with the mouse. I have used this method for puzzles I posted on a website I created in the past. And I know that I can highlight text in Kindle, so this should work, resulting in white text on a blue background which is easy to read..
Thank you very much.
Does that work for devices like tablet and phone?
What if people would like to browse a whole page, page by page?
It should work on a tablet or on a browser running on a phone, but I haven't tried it there. Not sure what you mean with your 2nd question.
I found my old website via the WayBack Machine, so here is a demo of what I meant. The following images show what this website page looks like before and after selecting the hint and answer text blocks.
and to answer your question above: I would never, not in a million years, buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately.
Do you prefer 2 diagrams, the way New in Chess are doing it, for example in their WC tactics collection, Kasparov, Polgar, etc., or leaving blank spaces between diagram and solution?
'Tactics Time' seems to be just like me, solution immediately following diagram, how do they sell so much then?
I prefer the way Seirawan did it, solutions at the end of the book or at the end of the chapter. for the ebook this is actually really convenient because you don't have to flip pages but you can just click on a link.
Is not that more time consuming?
You mean click and click-back, right?
That would make an awful amount of hyperlinks.
And then what do we do with the paperback?
well, you don't even have to have a click back hyperlin because kindle has a "go back" function.
and well, for the paperback, you just have to flip the pages. I never had a problem with that really. But to be honest I don't really care HOW you do it, the only important thing is THAT you do it. Like I said, I would never buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately, and I'm sure that many think the same. On the other hand, almost nobody will refuse to buy a book because it has too many hyperlinks 
or just do it like the user above me suggested, that's a nice solution.
I would very much request the feedback of the Chess.com community.
Looking at above preview on Amazon, what do you think of the way the puzzles are presented?
For the Kindle version, perhaps you could use white text on a white background for the text containing the puzzle solution. In this case the solution only becomes visible when the user selects that block of text with the mouse. I have used this method for puzzles I posted on a website I created in the past. And I know that I can highlight text in Kindle, so this should work, resulting in white text on a blue background which is easy to read..
Thank you very much.
Does that work for devices like tablet and phone?
What if people would like to browse a whole page, page by page?
It should work on a tablet or on a browser running on a phone, but I haven't tried it there. Not sure what you mean with your 2nd question.
I found my old website via the WayBack Machine, so here is a demo of what I meant. The following images show what this website page looks like before and after selecting the hint and answer text blocks.
Thanks.
I will have to think about it.
It seems not many books are doing it.
and to answer your question above: I would never, not in a million years, buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately.
Do you prefer 2 diagrams, the way New in Chess are doing it, for example in their WC tactics collection, Kasparov, Polgar, etc., or leaving blank spaces between diagram and solution?
'Tactics Time' seems to be just like me, solution immediately following diagram, how do they sell so much then?
I prefer the way Seirawan did it, solutions at the end of the book or at the end of the chapter. for the ebook this is actually really convenient because you don't have to flip pages but you can just click on a link.
Is not that more time consuming?
You mean click and click-back, right?
That would make an awful amount of hyperlinks.
And then what do we do with the paperback?
well, you don't even have to have a click back hyperlin because kindle has a "go back" function.
and well, for the paperback, you just have to flip the pages. I never had a problem with that really. But to be honest I don't really care HOW you do it, the only important thing is THAT you do it. Like I said, I would never buy a tactics book that gives me the solution immediately, and I'm sure that many think the same. On the other hand, almost nobody will refuse to buy a book because it has too many hyperlinks
Yeah, but on a PC, phone or tablet?
Flipping pages back and forth, especially if the book is larger, does not seem like very time-efficient to me. 
I don't know about too many hyperlinks, I will have to listen to what more people say to make a decision.
Well I think the idea is good very good of having a book with beginner, intermediate and advanced puzzles to cater for everyone so I think it should sell well like any other good puzzle book. The problem is is that you built up a not very good reputation with your 'The Secret of Chess' book which I think is a good book with material that can benefit in long time controls when you have memorized everything. I suggest you do what the customer wants which has already been discussed and you said yourself you would do it back about 40 or so pages. I suggest that for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it) and that below each puzzle and the book itself I would say have the answers in the back as all other bestselling puzzle books have that and simply make it easy to understand, this avoids complaints from everyone.
for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it)
I agree with above method of hiding text by choice of font color in the Kindle version. But for the paper book, why not place the answers on the back of the page? (previous page for left-hand pages; next page for right-hand pages). This way, the user has to flip only one page to see the answer for each puzzle. If each puzzle and corresponding answer is clearly numbered, this should work fine.
for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it)
I agree with above method of hiding text by choice of font color in the Kindle version. But for the paper book, why not place the answers on the back of the page? (previous page for left-hand pages; next page for right-hand pages). This way, the user has to flip only one page to see the answer for each puzzle. If each puzzle and corresponding answer is clearly numbered, this should work fine.
Yes that is a good idea. Maybe start with two pages of puzzles and the next two pages have the answers and so on.
Well I think the idea is good very good of having a book with beginner, intermediate and advanced puzzles to cater for everyone so I think it should sell well like any other good puzzle book. The problem is is that you built up a not very good reputation with your 'The Secret of Chess' book which I think is a good book with material that can benefit in long time controls when you have memorized everything. I suggest you do what the customer wants which has already been discussed and you said yourself you would do it back about 40 or so pages. I suggest that for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it) and that below each puzzle and the book itself I would say have the answers in the back as all other bestselling puzzle books have that and simply make it easy to understand, this avoids complaints from everyone.
Thanks, GreatAtauk.
I accept bets to the tune of 1 million this book will not sell a copy in the next 100 days.
Well, actually it sold one on Amazon.de, but this is the only one.
I will do it with the puzzles preceding and the answers at the back.
Although I am not fully certain this is the best solution and I personally find it a bit ugly.
It is just 300 puzzles, but stemming from 1/5th of Tal games, so the whole collection would comprise 1500 or so, if ever done.
That means I have included positions others have not so far, where Tal went wrong, etc.
The beginner and part of the intermediate puzzles are quite simple, with just a line of explanations, but the more difficult of the intermediate and especially the advanced ones sometimes feature half a page of explanations and multiple lines.
So actually, one would learn more than what usually be from 300 standard puzzles.
The positional evaluations are also excellent(and those are needed to know if Tal went wrong or not), as I have traced down the game development to big depths.
Overall, quite some work has went into it, but it won't sell...
Chop sala forum shill.
for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it)
I agree with above method of hiding text by choice of font color in the Kindle version. But for the paper book, why not place the answers on the back of the page? (previous page for left-hand pages; next page for right-hand pages). This way, the user has to flip only one page to see the answer for each puzzle. If each puzzle and corresponding answer is clearly numbered, this should work fine.
I guess I will just do it the way 'Tactics Time' and '5334' have done it.
Solutions at the end of the book.
Then we will see what to do.
Some people will always be unhappy.
Well I think the idea is good very good of having a book with beginner, intermediate and advanced puzzles to cater for everyone so I think it should sell well like any other good puzzle book. The problem is is that you built up a not very good reputation with your 'The Secret of Chess' book which I think is a good book with material that can benefit in long time controls when you have memorized everything. I suggest you do what the customer wants which has already been discussed and you said yourself you would do it back about 40 or so pages. I suggest that for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it) and that below each puzzle and the book itself I would say have the answers in the back as all other bestselling puzzle books have that and simply make it easy to understand, this avoids complaints from everyone.
Thanks, GreatAtauk.
I accept bets to the tune of 1 million this book will not sell a copy in the next 100 days.
Well, actually it sold one on Amazon.de, but this is the only one.
I will do it with the puzzles preceding and the answers at the back.
Although I am not fully certain this is the best solution and I personally find it a bit ugly.
It is just 300 puzzles, but stemming from 1/5th of Tal games, so the whole collection would comprise 1500 or so, if ever done.
That means I have included positions others have not so far, where Tal went wrong, etc.
The beginner and part of the intermediate puzzles are quite simple, with just a line of explanations, but the more difficult of the intermediate and especially the advanced ones sometimes feature half a page of explanations and multiple lines.
So actually, one would learn more than what usually be from 300 standard puzzles.
The positional evaluations are also excellent(and those are needed to know if Tal went wrong or not), as I have traced down the game development to big depths.
Overall, quite some work has went into it, but it won't sell...
Isn't there quite a competitive market with tactics books and openings books though compared to other types of books? I may be wrong but it seems like there's so many great tactical books already out there.
Well I think the idea is good very good of having a book with beginner, intermediate and advanced puzzles to cater for everyone so I think it should sell well like any other good puzzle book. The problem is is that you built up a not very good reputation with your 'The Secret of Chess' book which I think is a good book with material that can benefit in long time controls when you have memorized everything. I suggest you do what the customer wants which has already been discussed and you said yourself you would do it back about 40 or so pages. I suggest that for the kindle version you have like already suggested the solution in white text within brackets like this [Nf1 e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3] (try highlighting it) and that below each puzzle and the book itself I would say have the answers in the back as all other bestselling puzzle books have that and simply make it easy to understand, this avoids complaints from everyone.
Thanks, GreatAtauk.
I accept bets to the tune of 1 million this book will not sell a copy in the next 100 days.
Well, actually it sold one on Amazon.de, but this is the only one.
I will do it with the puzzles preceding and the answers at the back.
Although I am not fully certain this is the best solution and I personally find it a bit ugly.
It is just 300 puzzles, but stemming from 1/5th of Tal games, so the whole collection would comprise 1500 or so, if ever done.
That means I have included positions others have not so far, where Tal went wrong, etc.
The beginner and part of the intermediate puzzles are quite simple, with just a line of explanations, but the more difficult of the intermediate and especially the advanced ones sometimes feature half a page of explanations and multiple lines.
So actually, one would learn more than what usually be from 300 standard puzzles.
The positional evaluations are also excellent(and those are needed to know if Tal went wrong or not), as I have traced down the game development to big depths.
Overall, quite some work has went into it, but it won't sell...
Isn't there quite a competitive market with tactics books and openings books though compared to other types of books? I may be wrong but it seems like there's so many great tactical books already out there.
This might also be the case.
I have not thought of that either.
You always miss something.
Still, my Tal book has something to offer others don't:
- Tal tactics are absolutely resplendent and unique
- lines have been checked thoroughly(for the more complicated ones) with SF, and Tal blunders exposed(I don't think we have many books like that); this teaches you where humans go wrong, what to avoid
- there are frequent positional assessments too, for the intermediate and advanced tactics, which could be useful in terms of pattern recognition too
I really hoped this book will do well.
Of course, the merit would be 90% Tal's and 10 mine, but this is simply not the case.
OK, I updated both the ebook and paperback.
Ebook should be live with updates in around 1 hour or so, paperback maybe in a couple of hours.
I don't know when they will update the previews.
Overall, the most noticeable thing is page count rose from 100 to 180.
But now the puzzles and solutions are separated.
Here my first best-selling book, of which I still have not sold a single copy.
very sad to hear...
Time for you to buy one.