A step-by-step guide to using tactics and combinations the Polgar way
Book Description
Susan Polgar became the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title in 1991. At age 15, she became the #1 woman player in the world and she has remained in the top 3 in more than 21 straight years—and it wasn’t luck that got her there. Her use of tactics, combinations, and strategy during her games gave her the critical advantage she needed against her opponents. In Chess Tactics for Champions, Polgar gives insight into the kind of thinking that chess champions rely on while playing the game, specifically the ability to recognize patterns and combinations.
• Teaches players how to calculate the effect of a move in order to gain an edge over an opponent
• For chess players of all ages (800-1600 rating)
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Here are some of the comments about this book:
Reviewer: John S. (Chicago, IL) –
This is what Anatoly Karpov wrote:
“It is a pleasure for me to make a contribution to this important work by Grandmaster and World Champion Susan Polgar.
Thanks to the unique method of chess training Susan and her sisters, Judit and Sofia, received as children, Susan grew into one of the world’s most formidable tactician. Her daily practice on tactical problems sharpen her skill to an extraordinary degree and help her reach the pinnacle of chess. Here in this book she shares with you what she has learned.
The hundreds of tactical exercises here range from very simple one move – checkmates to more difficult mates in four. Susan also covers such important topics as trapping pieces, decoys, stalemate combinations, intermediate moves, and others. These are not “problems” but practical situations as are to be found in actual games. The positions have been chosen or created to have maximum instructive value. The author stresses the importance of recognizing patterns, which is the best possible advice for the player who wishes to see combinations and threats with greater accuracy.
Every player who aspires to improve his or her play — and results! — will benefit greatly from the study of Susan Polgar’s vital book.”
What a better endorsement! Incredible! I personally like this book a lot. It’s very unique. It offers many types of vital tactical motifs that I’ve not seen in any other book. This will for sure be an evergreen.
Reviewer: Petra (Fort Lee, NJ) – *****
I have been playing in chess tournaments for many years and have seen, read and used many books on tactics. I have yet to come across any book that even comes close to Chess Tactics for Champions that has all of these important tactical motifs.
There’re many good parts:
1. Ease of understanding of the material presented through a logical step-by-step (in more than twenty lessons) sensible approach.
2. Comprehensiveness. This book has a lot of materials. It is jammed packed with everything an intermediate players would need to know when it comes to tactics.
3. This is a good book for both children who are at an age that they can read right on up to and including adults. I recommend it for parents who want their children (or even adults) to get better.
RECOMMENDED? Absolutely!
Reviewer: Yury Kotanov (Brooklyn, NY) – *****
This is the best book on tactics ever! I’m amazed to see such theme as: Decoys, intermediate moves, pawn promotion, destroying castled king’s defenses, king chase, game saving combination, perpetual checks and stalemate, etc.
No other book on tactics has this. The layout is wonderful to read. Diagrams are bountiful. Nothing can compare to this book. I’m so excited about it! Two thumbs up!!
Reviewer: Chess Coach (Austin, TX) – *****
Susan Polgar is a Grandmaster, winner of 4 Women’s World Championships, a gender barrier breaker, a Chess Ambassador, and World Record Simul holder. Her sisters Judit and Sofia were trained by their father and his methods produced the strongest women players in history.
So how does this benefit you? If you are a beginner to intermediate player [<1600>
A Kid’s Review – *****
Wow! I have been learning more from this tactics book than any other book that specializes from tactics. It covers a lot of material, has a good variety and the explaning is clear. Even though it is not writen for kids older kids can understand it.
It has a lot more than Bobby Fisher Teaches Chess or Chess Tactics for Kids. But I do like Winning Chess Traps to learn tactics in the openings and Reinfelds 1001 Brilliant Ways to checkmate. I really like this book by Susan Polgar with the number one reason it is easy to understand.
I use this book to teach my students. Excellent book!
Hi Susan,
How does this book compare to your first tactics book “Chess”? I own that book and drill the first 450 problems at least once a month. Thanks.
PS
Susan,
It says you recommend daily study of tactical puzzles to improve your chess game. I have a question regarding this. Is there a limit on how many tactical puzzles I should solve in a day and while you were training as a child did you limit your study in any way?
I have this book. It’s good.