The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book (Paperback)

by John Emms (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
It is generally agreed that one of the best ways for a chess player to improve is by studying tactics - and the best way to do that is by practicing. This book provides a wealth of puzzle positions to test just about every facet of your tactical skills. The puzzles in this book have been selected by analyzing games new and old in search of original puzzle positions (rather than simply trawling through previous puzzle books, as is all too often the case). It is therefore very unlikely that even seasoned solvers will recognize many of these positions. Emms, by allying his skills with those of powerful computers, has also made every effort to ensure that the solutions are sound, and that there are no unmentioned alternative solutions. The book begins with over 100 relatively easy positions suitable for novices, and ends with 100 extremely tough puzzles, which will provide a mind-bending challenge even for top-class players. The remainder of the book contains just about everything between these two extremes, including selections of puzzles based around particular tactical themes, and graded test, where no clues are given as to the type of ideas involved. Every now and then, there are positions where the correct solution is a positional move, rather than a tempting but unsound combination.

About the Author
John Emms is one of England's strongest grandmasters, and a regular member of the national team. He is also a skilful and versatile writer: he has several opening monographs to his credit, and was co-author of both "The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games" and "Nunn's Chess Openings."

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: Gambit Publications (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 190198334X
• ISBN-13: 978-1901983340
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #252,137 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

156 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nicely Choosen Puzzles, September 18, 2006

A Kid's Review

I am a firm believer that tactical work books, books on chess traps in the opening, and going over analysis of instructive games are the best type of books to improve your play.

There are one thousand nicely choosen problmes containing some of the more important tactical patterns that will prove helpful in actual play. I don't like problems that are composed and have patterns that you would never come across in real play.

A suggestion for improving most tactics work books. I would like to see a building of the same tactical pattern. Start of with a simple use of a knight fork, then make it so that the same type of knight fork must be found in two moves, then an even more complicated position that requires ideas to set up that knight fork in 3 or 4 moves!!! Are there any tactics work books that do that with at least 500+ problems? Yet to be seen.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REALLY! This is the ULTIMATE Chess Puzzle Book!, December 21, 2006

A Kid's Review

It is all in the selection of the puzzles and their organization. No doubt about it book that teach you tactics that are well written and organized is key to improving to tactical pattern recognition. There are two ways to go about it. Getting books on short games containing traps in the openings (learning tactics and the ideas behind the openings at the same time while using complete short games). Actually that is my favorite way to learn tactics.
The other very good way is to have a book provide tactical problems for you to solve. "The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book" really has gathered over a thousand positions that contain the most important tactical ideas. They are arranged so that you progress logically. I found the organization and selection of the problems in this book by "Emms" to be far better that the massive "5334 Chess Puzzle" book that had so many problems simply insterted to make it "big". Too many, disjointed problems, not well organized in sequence" I feel is just confusing and is not an efficient way of getting what is important across to the student. Big doesn't mean better! And, around 1000 puzzles is just about the right size! Plenty of problmes, but not overwhelming the student with unimportant materal that is just filler. I recomment to improve your tactics get a good book on Chess Traps (opening tactics) and "The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book! You will have it all!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is the best puzzle book for improvement for players rated 1700-2000, September 13, 2006

By	Chess amateur - See all my reviews

Highly recommended, the best book for tactical improvement. So why do I only give it 4 stars? The reason for this is that some diagrams/puzzles are repeated in this book. For instance, puzzle 53 is the same as 113, 59 the same as 114. Not good, but I think not only Emms is to be blamed for this, but the whole staff at Gambitbooks. But this shouldn't keep you from buying the book; this is an excellent chess puzzle book for tactical training. My advice about books on tactical improvement depending on the rating:

900-1100 : Chess Tactics for Student
1300-1600: Winning Chess Exercises for Kids
1700-2000: The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book
2000-> : John Nunn's Chess Puzzle Book.