Has anyone read AJ Gillam's Better Chess Series?

In the front of Predators of the Chessboard, Farnsworth recommends (among other books) AJ Gillam's Your Move and Winning at Chess among others from this series.

I trust Farnsworth! So I am going to get some used copies of a few of these books. I think they are mainly chess puzzles.

Have any of you had any experience with AJ Gillam - this series or any of his other books?

stwils

Tony Gillam is a world class chess historian and writer. He founded the whole Chess Player series and has written extensively about unknown tournaments. I am not familiar with his beginner books but I assume they must be good as they have been reprinted many times

Thanks. That encourages me to get those that are available - at my level.

You say he is a chess historian? That would be interesting to see what all he has written about chess history.

I had never  heard of him before. Is he in the league with Purdy?

stwils

No Tony collects obscure games and publishes them--he is not as much an instructor as Purdy. He self publishes most of his booklets though he did work on Ostende 1906 with Caissa editions.

There are 4 titles in the "Better Chess Series". I have them all.

Volume 1 Better Chess-ISBN 0945470282 ("376 chess positions in which you can play a snappy continuation to win your opponent's pieces or forces checkmate")

Volume 2 improve your Chess-ISBN 0945470282 ("372 chess positions for the player to practice winning material or execute checkmate")

Volume 3 Your Move-ISBN 0945470304 ("370+ positions in which you can win quickly or avoid losing")

Volume 4 Winning at Chess-ISBN 0945470312 (" another 370 positions in which you can win quickly or avoid losing")

Each volume is more difficult than the previous. I own numerous tactics/combination books and these are among my favourites!!

Good luck!!

 Thank you for telling me more about Gillam's books. Would you mind telling me what are some of your other favorite tactics books other than  Gillam's?

Thanks.

stwils

Gillam's "Simple Checkmates" book is excellent for the beginning player

See the reviews it gets on Amazon

Other favourite Tactics books?

Predator at the Chessboard; Volumes1 & 2 (Brilliant!!)

Combinative Motifs by Maxim Blokh (Also program CT Art 3.0)

Chess Tactics for Students by Bain

Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors; edited by Lou Hays (can be used at any age!!)

Combination Challenge by Hays & Hall

Sharpen your Tactics by Lein & Archangelsky

I have all the above (and more) and I try to spend an hour a day on Tactics. And after a break of 10+ years I feel I am making progress. Enjoy!!

Thank you. You have given me some good ideas. I am totally unfamiliar with Combination Motifs by Blokh.

But I now have ALL seven of Gillam's books including attacking the uncastled king, and attacking the castled king and the checkmate one.

The foremat and content and layout of each is wonderful.

stwils