Customer Reviews

Winning Chess Exercises for Kids

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There were plenty of chess puzzles to learn from. I found that the order that the puzzles were set up to work on could have been switched around for better learning purposes. I also found some mistakes in the solutions and some typos. I enjoyed "Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors" by Hays and "Winning Chess Traps" to be far more helpful books.

The main part of this book consists of 100 pages of exercises with nine diagrams on each page. Three diagrams are devoted to checkmate problems; three are win material type of problems; one is a defensive problem ("White to move and not lose"); one problem is more general; and one problem is an endgame problem. The solutions are in the back of the book and are very detailed. They often give not only the winning line, but also the reason why other moves don't work. As a chess coach, I've looked at a large number of books which teach tactics, IMO this is perhaps the best I've seen for students

You will not find this book up at your local B&N bookstore.
Rather than be disappointed, I am actually glad. I feel that anyone who gets rewarded with a treasure like this ought to have looked around or taken a little effort to know of its existence before they laid their hands on it!!!


I can't stop gushing about how good Coakley's books are for players ramping up to an intermediate level and want to be absolutely sure they have no holes in their chess knowledge. (I'm about USCF 1579 at the time of writing this and I feel that the exercise positions in this book have so much to offer me.)

The delivery of exercises ( 9 per page ) and the quality of the answers at the back are very impressive. A tactics book that has non "find the mate or find the best move to win" positions is a rarity these days.

His Number 9 position on each page offers a wealth of instruction if you haven't seen those positions before. I've even started to document those in my own training notes, as positions that I should know COLD in order to be competitive at my level.

Overall, one of the finest tactics+non-tactics exercise books I've seen.

This chess puzzle book contains 100 pages with 9 chess puzzle each page. Each page contains 3 checkmates, 3 material win, 1 defence, 1 planning and 1 endgame problem. The solution part is very instructive. So this is high class chess puzzle book. Together with a puzzle book like "Chess Exam and training guide" (which is even more instructive) this is the best puzzle book for people rated in the middle of 1000. Thanks to Dan Heisman and his Internet site for recommending this book. 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.

I came to know about this book by reading an article by Ms Elizabeth Zoe Vicary of new york city.She teaches chess in a school with english.Elizabeth strongly recommends three books by canadian chess teacher Jeff Coakley.I have one of them purchased from USCF.The winning chess strategy for kids.I read these two books.The exercise book contans 9 exercises in each page for kids or elders to solve.For details please consult Ms Vicary's article in USCF website.I recoommend this book along with the strategy book as elementary chess course for kids.

I am always on the lookout for instructional material to use in my chess classes. This workbook fits the bill, but not for beginners. The bulk of the book is comprised of 100 "Best Move Contests", with 9 puzzles per page.The first trio of puzzles are forced mates by White, arranged according to common theme (e.g. 'back rank mate'), with the last of the 3 being the most difficult.Puzzles 4,5,and 6 are also arranged according to a common motiff,such as the "Pin",where White has a combination that wins material.The last 3 illustrate a variety of ideas, with one BEST MOVE for White.Puzzle 7 is a defensive problem where White must guard against a threat or lose the game. Puzzle 8 are general problems with miscellaneous themes: tactics, strategy, development, forcing favorable exchanges,etc. The last puzzle is an endgame.Each contest also contains a bonus question which can be challenging, informative, or just plain fun ! The excellent solutions to each contest, found in the back , are very detailed, accurate, and insightful. Cartoon characters throughout the book are humorous and appealling to youngsters. I highly recommend this workbook for aspiring chessplayers, rated USCF 1000 or higher, who are willing to work individually to improve their understanding of the Royal Game !

I'm teaching an after-school chess class at my kid's elementary school. There are a dozen students, mostly First through Third grades, with little or no experience playing chess.

Based on reviews here and elsewhere, I was going to purchase one copy of this book for each student. But I decided to get one copy first to check it out. I'm glad I got one copy first, because this book is WAY too advanced for the children I'm teaching. They're just learning basic moves, very basic strategies, and easy checkmates.

Even the first exercises in the book show boards with many pieces, and many possible moves. The students I'm teaching need something much less complex as a starting point. One book that does that well is "One Move Checkmates" by Eric Schiller... but it obviously only deals with the end of the game.

For children who already have a strong working knowledge of chess strategies, tactics, and moves, "Winning Chess Exercises" may be appropriate. It wouldn't hurt to have this book on hand to use along with other, easier books for a new player. "Winning Chess Exercises" does have a lot of challenging, brain-building exercises. But, it's not a one-stop book of exercises for brand new players. Perhaps, I'll be able to share this book with the quick-learners in our group before as the year progresses.

I picked up this book on the recommendation of Dan Heisman. I am a 1550 ICC player - very average. (ICC's 50th percentile is 1545).

There are 900 diagrams. 300 are mate problems. 300 are gain material problems. 100 are defensive move problems. 100 are strategic middle game problems. 100 are end-game problems.

I love this book. I keep it at work in my desk. When the urge strikes, I do a few problems. It takes me about 15 minutes per page (each page contains nine diagrams).