Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games

Great.

It is explicitly says in every page what is the puzzle, which makes is easier than some online websites. The puzzles are ranging from easy to hard which is very good when you want to see a progress.

Kids love it! Great contents. If the puzzle could be printed a little bigger, it would be better

This book has been a valuable tool for improving my chess several years ago. I was playing and analyzing games with experienced players in an Egyptian café, a space where intricate wooden screens cast dappled shadows on the boards and the air was thick with the aroma of potent coffee and the distinctive click of backgammon games. Several of us studied a wide range of strategies from this book over several cups of mint tea, often interrupted by the (lively) debates of other patrons. This book is excellent for anyone wanting to advance their chess skills.

More than just a book of problems, Polgar's book is a training aid for serious study.In order to win a chess game, chess players have to solve finite problems using elements culled from complex positions. One thing that separates good players from mediocre ones is the ability to intuit significant variations from the enormous cloud of possibilities each chess game offers to find the lines of play most likely to lead to advantage.It is in this that Polgar's book differs from games collections and other books on strategy and tactics. Polgar's goal is not to give a bored or weak player something to pin his hopes on so he can say, "Ooh, I just went through 1000 spectacular combinations!" or, "Ooh, I just read a book on Alekhine!" His approach is different: his intent is to give the player the ability to recognize tactical themes buried in positions by flooding the player with thousands of tactical short problems in an attempt to imprint his readers with the kind of resource of experience that is the basis of the intuitive ability that great players have. More than just a book of mates in three moves, or five moves, Polgar's chess tries to teach the player to recognize possibilities for goal-directed play in any situation that may come before him or her.If anything can be said to be `weak' in Polgar's approach, it is the lack of prose in it that limits the scope of its approach. A monograph on Capablanca's games can point out that tactical sequences can have purely positional goals, while Polgar sticks to the flashy, romantic idea of attack. Understanding Polgar completely would turn a player into a tactical monster, but understanding Capablanca leads to a player's deeper understanding of what works in chess in a broader and more useful sense.Another difficulty in the book is its sheer volume and the time it takes to work with it: many players are put off by the enormous amount of work it implies; they want something easier, not realizing that the magic they are looking for to make them stronger is right in front of them.There are a many reasons to recommend Polgar's Chess, the greatest of which is Polgar's best credential as a chess coach: that is, three daughters who happen to be Grandmasters. The approach in Polgar's book touches on the nature-versus-nurture question by asking which is more likely: did massive training early on in life make his three daughters world-class chess players, or does he happen to be the father of three geniuses?Only the first answer makes sense.This book needs a kindle edition in a big way.

Everything is as advertised about this monster of a book, it's full of puzzles of various ratings, it alternates between white and black to move with a heavy emphasis on white being the main mover. There is something to look out for however, in some editions when looking for the answers, some editions will only give the first move of the solution in the hopes once it gets the ball moving you can figure out the rest. However if you arent as strong or would like to see the full line, you would have to get a different edition that gives the full answer to each puzzle. I personally like getting jist the one because that allows me to still try and figure out the rest but others may be better off seeing the full logic.

This is a great book. With even the most introductory material on how each piece moves, you can literally start at the very beginning. Other reviewers will tell you all about the mate in one, mate in two, mate in three sections, and about the endgame studies, the combinations, and the game miniatures. Enough material for many years study.If you love chess, and desire greater insight into how the pieces work together, then this book is a tremendous resource.Of course, tournament players will want to know if this book is suitable for their rating level, and if it will increase their tournament results. One reviewer has said that if you're over 1300 Elo, then the book is a waste of money. Let me strongly disagree. I know of one Grandmaster who claims that this book was a significant part in their training and who also continues to solve (and re-solve) the problems daily. My own rating is 1600 USCF and I find the material very helpful in gaining greater insight and skill.Highly recommended.

When I received this book to give as a gift I was surprised at how thick it was. My step son loves chess and he loved this book it has so many chess moves you’d never imagine there could be so many. Well put together book and perfect for any chess lover. Great value for the price.