Advanced Chess Tactics

This book provides the reader with a rare chance to see the chess games through the lens of an experienced Grandmaster, whose style is all about attacking and tactics. It is very interesting and insightful, even though it is not an easy reading.The author, Grandmaster Lev Psakhis, is a tactical wizard. Some would say that in attack he was on the same level as the great Mikhail Tal. His incredible attacking skills brought him great success in his chess career - after all, there aren't many players who could boast winning USSR Championship, and not just once, but twice! So when the author talks about advanced chess tactics, he definitely speaks from experience.The text of "Advanced Chess Tactics" is very personal and full of observations about certain types of positions and even more generally, about the game of chess. GM Psakhis often evaluates the position as "it is easier to play by White", or "with great compensation for the material". The computer might disagree with these statements, but the game is still played by humans and thus this subjectivity is perhaps the most interesting feature of the book - especially if you want to learn how to attack in chess. In the world of Lev Psakhis, it is always easier to attack and sacrifice material, rather than defend and find good responses against all possible threats. If the sacrifice might lead to a forced draw, but there is only one way to achieve it, then it is considered by GM Psakhis to be almost winning and indeed, in a practical game it very often is. If a sacrifice leads to an unclear game or even if there is an outright but not obvious refutation - then game on and may the more skilled tactician win!The book consists of several chapters, organized around specific openings, pawn structures or themes. There is a chapter on Benoni pawn structure, on hanging pawns, 3 chapters on attacking in positions with an isolated pawn, followed by chapters on attacking in Sicilian and Caro-Kann. Then there is a chapter on "rare openings", which consists of an odd mix of games played in rather random openings (English, Sicilian hedgehog etc. - everything that did not fit in the previous chapters). There are no chapters on King's Indian and a few other popular openings, because the author felt that it might take a whole book. Let's hope that a sequel with these openings is coming :) Most of the games in this book were played either by Psakhis himself, or by Mikhail Tal, and most of them are not very well known. Finally, the last chapter of the book contains 57 tactical exercises.I have already said that this book is not an easy reading. It took me more than a year to go through it in my spare time. Figuring out the variations in this book takes time and effort. Sometimes I was looking at the position in the end of variations for a few minutes before realizing why White or Black is winning. My Elo rating is 2300+, so I definitely would not recommend it to anyone below 2000, maybe even 2200.Overall, I believe that this is a very interesting and useful book for all aspiring chess players. If you are ready to invest time and effort into improving your skills in chess tactics and attack, then this is definitely the right kind of book for you.

I have recently retired and decided to take chess back up only to find my previous skills disappeared after 35 years of teaching chemistry. I dont blame chemistry, but I do blame lack of practice. I joined chess.com and spent a great deal of time working the tactics puzzle but ended up stuck at in the 800-900 level, which is hardly impressive. So I spent three days reading this book. I improved to over 1900, which is now competitive. The graph of when I read the book and my improvement is shown below (taken from the chess.com tactics site).The reason I gave this excellent book only four stars is because it is hard reading, and requires significant effort on the part of the reader to pull the information out. It is worth the effort, but the author could have provided more insight into why the moves were made and what alternative moves would have been less successful. You will need a chess board or a computer chess program to appreciate the board positions and the consequences.It is all worth it, and I credit this book with my significant improvement in understanding chess tactics. Also, I haven't lost a game since I read the book (but I am sure that will not last).

Generally readers seeing a title on chess tactics would be expecting to read about the various tactical elements ( pins, forks, etc.) however Psakhis assumes the reader is already equiped with a fairly advanced understanding of chess tactics.This book is about attack. The organization is structured around openings and pawn structure and the annotated games demonstrate clearly what attacking chess is all about.Each chapter has a "Diagram Preview" consisting of eight positions from the upcoming games which are very challenging warm-up to test your calculation skills and prepare you for the work ahead. Game annotations are clear and anyone doing the work is sure to improve their calculation skills. The book concludes with fifty-seven exercise positions for analysis fit to challenge advanced players.

I did not yet accomplished the reading of the whole book, but a slight glance at its pages told me that it is one of those excelent end vivid styled works of Psahis. It is a book to be read by slowly reflexive way.Fair complimentes to Quality Chess editions.

This is tactical practice through analysis of games, not a puzzle book for wannabes. In the intro, Psakhis explains his target audience is the young rising IM, give or take a class or two. So figure 2100-2600 ELO. If this is you, order the book. You can get a .pdf excerpt from the publisher's website.

Arrived damaged but was sent a new one instantly. Arrived in a couple of days. Very happy with the exchange.

I bought this because my dad wanted it. I think he liked it.

Bought as a present, and well-received.

I haven't read this as it was a purchase for my son who is a keen chess player...however, his improvement was very noticeable while and after reading the book...

book's binding quality is poor!

Amazing book with themes and tctics which are very well explained.

Thank you.