Why not go to the absolute basics? Winning Chess by Chernev & Reinfeld.
My coach does not like Jeremy Silman...
Can anyone recommend a solid tactics book which would not overwhelm people below 1400, but which would still teach and drill them on what they need to know? And preferably with some explanations to go with it?
Understanding chess tactics from scratch by Martin Weteschnik is very nice. He explains all the features in the position that makes the tactics possible and teach you to look for them. Get the 2nd edition and there's some 200 tactics at the end. Yassers book is also good.
Thanks, <Malibumike>!
<Kijiri> - thx for your 1st recommendation! What's the title of Yasser's book?
Thanks, <Malibumike>!
<Kijiri> - thx for your 1st recommendation! What's the title of Yasser's book?
Really? lol
<waffllemaster> your message is way too cryptic for me... what is lollable about my last message?
You understand that I'm not asking this for my own tactical training :-)
I didn't realize my post was cryptic. I gave you a title and author. Oh well, I wish you luck in finding the title of Yasser Seirawan's book that Kijiri mentioned.
There is a set of two books by Farnsworth: Predator at the chessboard. I believe under $20 per book. He leads you to what you should be looking at. Fantastic books for lower rated players. Read the reviews on Amazon.
Dragon, I like your coach's recommendations.It is more advanced compared to silman books.Maybe he thinks amatuer could play better than silman, as of late.I don't agree with your coach but he has a point.
Yasser Seirawan--Winning Chess Tactics.
I'm sure he's good at winning tactics, but what's the name of his book?
Winning Chess Tactics, 2nd ed. by Yasser Seirawan & Jeramy Silman. Yasser also has; Pro Chess; Video Mentor Series 1+2, and then a sepsrate DVD.
I don't know how to send a link, so google "Predator at the chessboard" and get a preview of the books.
Winning Chess Tactics, 2nd ed. by Yasser Seirawan & Jeramy Silman. Yasser also has; Pro Chess; Video Mentor Series 1+2, and then a sepsrate DVD.
Judging from J. Silman's articles in chess.com, I think he's a very good mentor.
There only one good reason your coach should dislike Silman, and that is because your coach is a GM and he sees Silman as a grandpaster.
Again...
The level of the player has not much to do with the quality of a training book once you go more than 500 rating points over your audience. I could probably write a book that would be of interest for 1400 players. None would buy because none knows me, but the real reason why it would be crap is my poor pedagogy skills.
<Waffllemaster> oh of course! Now I see :-)
You were actually answering me - but I totally skipped that, and only looked at the two posts that came after yours (#47 and #48)
Lols!
And guys, I will be completely honest with you. I have been getting lessons from my coach since April 2013. At that time I was 1320, and in 9 months my rating has only gone up to 1366. Obviously my chess.com rating is about 100 points higher, but that's an internet rating, NOT an OTB rating. I think it's time I start using my $25 an hour towards sometime useful.
And guys, I will be completely honest with you. I have been getting lessons from my coach since April 2013. At that time I was 1320, and in 9 months my rating has only gone up to 1366. Obviously my chess.com rating is about 100 points higher, but that's an internet rating, NOT an OTB rating. I think it's time I start using my $25 an hour towards sometime useful.
nine months is a long time to gain 46 points when you are getting coaching under a master.IMHO
either you are not taking his training properly or his coaching is poor.
Can anyone recommend a solid tactics book which would not overwhelm people below 1400, but which would still teach and drill them on what they need to know? And preferably with some explanations to go with it?
Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan is the only tactics book I know of that gives a good amount of explanation. (Well, and Averbakh's, but his title says not for <1400).