Do you recommend Art of Attack?

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Nygren

I am currently primary working on improving my tactics and calculation skills.

I have browsed briefly in the Art of Attack book. Looks like a great book to improve attacking play, but also calculation!

What do you think?

fookensoul

I think that books are just a waste of time while it comes to chess.

[edited] That might have come off wrong.  I've read my fair share of chess books but in today's day and age computer software and sites such as this one I would consider much more useful.  

fburton

Yes, books suit some people more than others. Even if I felt that I benefitted minimally in terms of chess improvement from books, I still derive a lot of enjoyment from them, so as far as I am concerned they are definitely not a waste of time. However, YMMV...

Nygren

Thanks!

jambyvedar
DrewMayne wrote:

I think that books are just a waste of time while it comes to chess.

[edited] That might have come off wrong.  I've read my fair share of chess books but in today's day and age computer software and sites such as this one I would consider much more useful.  

I disagree with this. Some people like books, other softwares, videos etc. It just a matter of preference...Many gm buy new opening manuals like GM Wesley So..

banjoman

One thing I liked about this book was its treatment of the bishop sacrifice on h7 (a classic attack).  It also has a good section on mating patterns.  The games shown are exciting, and the writing doesn't suck (as w/ so many contemporary books).  

AnnaZC
pfren wrote:

While being oldfashioned, overall it's a great book, a real classic.

Calculation is improved mainly by solving numerous puzzles, but the feeling of the attacking potential of a position cannot be grasped by such means. Regarding that, this book is one of the best you can afford.

I dont understand that,

the feeling of the attacking potential of a position cannot be grasped by such means

is this in reference to what transpires before the puzzle begins

AndyClifton

I honestly was not as thrilled by it as many others seem to be.  However, I did find the "BxPch" chapter quite enlightening.

AnnaZC
pfren wrote:
AnnaZafi wrote:
I dont understand that,

the feeling of the attacking potential of a position cannot be grasped by such means

is this in reference to what transpires before the puzzle begins

It's simple. When solving a puzzle, the existence of a tactical sequence is granted, and you just haveto find it. Over the Board, nobody will hint you that there is a combination here, at a certain moment. You have to sniff it, using the generic attacking principles (complex or not) and your intuition. The Vukovic book can help you improving your "sniffing" a pretty great deal.

Would this be the same as imbalances as mentioned in the Jeremy Silman books


And thank you, really, I will look at that book again, it really looks deeeeeep though,

AnnaZC
ciljettu wrote:

It will be a bit heavy going for your rating Anna, but quite entertaining and will improve your chess. Try to look at the diagrams, cover up the text, and think about how you would play.

Which one ciljettu, Silman or Vukovic, or both

Elubas

It's a very advanced book -- I'm a 1900 OTB player and it's still pretty darn rough to get through. I would say, with that in mind, that a minimum level of skill to be get much of anything out of the book would have to be around 1600, but it will be really really difficult.

There are lots of variations, and the author assumes the reader, especially clearly in those variations, to be a pretty strong player.

Then again, though, attacking chess has always been my weak point. The book definitely won't automatically make you good at attacking -- you have to be very dilligent to learn something from the examples.

AnnaZC
pfren wrote:
AnnaZafi wrote:
Would this be the same as imbalances as mentioned in the Jeremy Silman books.
 
Not quite, but in some cases a stategical judgement of a position may well reveal a hidden tactical device. IM Silman's imbalances concept has its roots in Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" bulky work, Silman has "just" expanded it and literalized it his own way.


That was Ludek Pachman's x3 volume thing, that's heavy too

AnnaZC
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AnnaZC
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AnnaZC
ciljettu wrote:

I was referring to vukovic... read that book as a young boy... quite difficult but some great attacking play

 

thank you, I will look into the idea you had mentioned, cover text

mateologist

I purchased the book about 2 weeks ago and from what i have read so far, i think the book is ok if you are willing to put in the effort that you are going to need to get through it. Lots of variations and concepts but at the end of the day i am hoping to get a better feel of why these attacks succeded , and what indicators are there for such an attack.

              So far i have seen decisive attacks launched in positions i thought would have been premature, so yes i think the book is worth it.  Cool

AndyClifton

Guess I must not be serious enough then. Smile

AlCzervik
ciljettu wrote:

In general covering text after a diagram is a great idea.

Love those DC comic books.

AnnaZC
TMIMITW wrote:
ciljettu wrote:

In general covering text after a diagram is a great idea.

Love those DC comic books.

and if you do, you will miss all the

wham pow bamm Tongue out

AlCzervik
AnnaZafi wrote:
TMIMITW wrote:
ciljettu wrote:

In general covering text after a diagram is a great idea.

Love those DC comic books.

and if you do, you will miss all the

wham pow bamm

Well, I usually have to read them twice to get everything.