Best tactics books. - Chess Forums (2024)

I want to hear your favorite tactics book and say whether they are large (150+ pages ) or small(149- pages). I love sitting down otb and setting up positions and working through them and I just got through 1001 tactics, so I’m open to suggestions!

Which 1001 tactics? There are some books with similar titles.

Is it the book by Massetti and Messa?

I recommend Improve Your Chess Tactics by Neishtadt, published in Chessable (digital book, you can learn the combinations using spaced repetition, what is great if you don’t have a lot of time to review the exercises).

https://www.amazon.com/Combinations-Heart-Chess-Dover/dp/0486217442#customerReviews

Old but gold!! Good for intermediate level of chess, (1000-2200)

This is the best selling chessbook in amazon. Suitable for beginners. <1000 rated people.

https://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Fischer-Teaches-Chess/dp/0553263153/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524936557&sr=1-1&keywords=best+chess+book&dpID=41CyPV1bkML&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

"Chess Training Pocket Book: 300 Most Important Positions", (Third Revised Edition)by Lev Alburt

This is a cross between a tactics and a strategy book.....175 pages, 4 puzzles per page....excellent!

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_26?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=chess+training+pocket+book&sprefix=chess+training+pocket+book%2Cstripbooks%2C208&crid=1DGI7EO9OULR2

and...

"Winning Chess" by Irving Chernev & Fred Reinfeld....a classic, and rightly so...typically 3-4 puzzles per page, chapters thematically organized.....256 pages...

https://www.amazon.com/WINNING-CHESS-Irving-Chernev/dp/1501117580/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524944737&sr=1-1&keywords=winning+chess+chernev

both books are suitable for the beginner-novice.

"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"...

An excellent introduction to basic tactics and checkmating attacks for the beginner....

A review...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/bobby-fischer-teaches-chessa-book-review

"Fundamental Chess Tactics" by Antonio Gude.....336 pages....

A relatively recent addition to the chess tactics literature, this book is comprehensive and relatively advanced. As such it is probably more suitable for the experienced player. The tactics presented are excerpts taken from actual games of the masters and legends of the game. The chapters are thematically organized.

https://www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Chess-Tactics-Antonio-Gude/dp/1911465171/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524946104&sr=1-1&keywords=fundamental+tactics

Similar comments apply to the author's...

"Fundamental Checkmates" by Antonio Gude.....(384 pages)...

https://www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Checkmates-Antonio-Gude/dp/1910093807/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1910093807&pd_rd_r=V0ZY8KW11CBP4AHEFDRQ&pd_rd_w=IwEBZ&pd_rd_wg=fbMkh&psc=1&refRID=V0ZY8KW11CBP4AHEFDRQ

IMO, both books are exceptional.

"The Art of Checkmate" by Georges Renaud &Victor Kahn.....

a classic....fundamental checkmating patterns and attacks, suitable for all players....224 pages...

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Checkmate-Georges-Renaud/dp/1849942706/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524947651&sr=1-1&keywords=art+of+the+checkmate

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond....

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Hi OP, just to tell you: after asking a question in the forum you should take your time to answer everybody who tried to help you, otherwise we will perceive the whole thing here as waste of time.

A short answer would show us that you are taking the discussion seriously. Remember, you began the thread, right?

Tim Brennan and anthea Carson. I do apologize, the last couple of days have been brutal! I’m homeschooling and my finals began last week. I have four more to do! I would’ve answered, but chess has been out of my mind alll week.

I am about 750 blitz

HSCCNickS: I would suggest you start with two of Fred Reinfeld's: '1001 mating combinations' and '1001 Brilliant Sacrifices and Combinations'. When doing combinations it's important to start at a suitable level and work your way up.

At your level I would suggest you to go throughchess tactics for student by Bain and doing it atleast 4-5 times.

I will check these out! I have issues letting go of material in my games. I really want to improve and I notice that my openings and endgames are fine, it’s my tactics that need work.

I know the feeling, HSCCNickS!

Bain’s book is terrific. Also recommend Chris Ward’s Starting Out: Chess Tactics and Checkmates as it devotes a few chapters to descriptions and examples of the tactics that really help them sink in before repeating a book four or five times of more pure examples like the Bain book. Together, plus a few thousand more tactics puzzles like the other recommendations made above, and you’re off to a great start!

The Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations is probably the best one out there IMO.