Secrets of chess tactics

[Javier]

ISBN: 0-7134-7093-3

Publisher: Batsford

Year of publication: 1992, reprinted in 95, 96

Pages: 275

 

This is an excellent book, like most of Dvoretsky's other works, but don't be decieved: if your rating is below 2000, I don't think you'll be able to learn much from it.

 

The examples chosen are *extremely difficult*, and only someone with an excellent tactical ability will be able to solve the abundant tactical exercises found in the book.

 

It is hard to do any constructive criticism of such a good book but one thing I don't like about Mark's books is that rather than teaching us how to acquire knowledge and techniques, he concentrates on the "teach by the example" method, which is good, but surely a world class trainer like him has a bit more to offer in this respect, but we don't see much of it... no real methodology is explained, only some ocassional notes on the type of work that he does with his student, one example after another with some interesting comments to bind them together.

 

For this reason, my vote for this book is a 7.

 

Keep in mind, however, that the book has been reprinted several times, so a lot of people have loved it.

 

Also, read what GM Chandler has to say about it:

 

"A deep and authentic revelation of some of Russia's best kept training secrets". I guess Murray has a good sense of humor.