Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation Paperback – June 4, 2013

USCF 1701 is my current rating. I wasn't sure I would benefit from this book but I bought it anyway because I saw my compatriot and child prodigy Nihal Sarin hold this book in a photograph and I was keen to check it out. This is NOT an instruction book. Even so, I found the few pages of quick tips on calculation in chapter 1 incredibly useful, though putting them into practice is no easy task and just requires time spent on solving puzzles with a narrative in your head about the theme of the chapter (e.g. candidate moves: Are you sure you aren't missing a resource? Look again..).I've solved the first 8 puzzles from chapter 1 on candidate moves. I got 6 right and partial variations right for the other 2. There are around 50 puzzles in chapter 1 and the puzzles get progressively tougher. So I would guess that around 20-25 puzzles would be right at the edge of my comfort zone, which is where, according to GM Alex Yermolinsky is where chess improvement begins. So even though you may encounter advice saying that this book is only helpful for 2000+ players, I don't think that is true.I believe the positions are all from master or GM games. So in that sense, this may not reflect the sort of positions club players may get in their own games. However, calculation is calculation. The same calculation skills will apply in any position. If you're worried about this aspect still, you could possibly supplement this book with Ray Cheng's "Practical Chess Exercises" which are taken from amateur games.Aagard's book on calculation promises to help my game. If you see this review in 2020 and leave a comment, I can post my chess rating at that point and can also tell you how much of a role this book played in my (hopefully) increased rating at that point.

I bought this book to prepare for one of the largest Chess tournaments in Texas - The Austin City Chess Championship.I am rated 1788 and played in the Reserve U1800This book is awesome, and, truly helped me in this tournament!! I tied for 2nd place. The next to last round, I was one of a 6 way tie for first. I drew the last round. One of the 6 got lucky and played a lower rated player and won the last round.I was so impressed with this book, that I have ordered another from the Grandmaster Preparation.

This book was highly recommended to me by my current coach, an IM. If you are struggling with calculation--the most important part of chess--buy this book and solve all the exercises. Take a year if you have to, but you will see gains.

Self instruction

book is great GM Jacob Aagaard went over top when writing this one. very long and in depth. there are many positions to solve and good analysis on them

I Recommend +++++

Excellent Thanks!

Very useful to further your game.