Searching for books about tactics theory..

Sort:

GodsPawn2016

Apr 18, 2017

Forcning Moves:

Checks

Captures

Threats

Sqod

Apr 18, 2017

By far the best book I've found on tactics is:

Palatnik, Sam, and Lev Alburt. 2013. Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player. New York, NY: Chess Information & Research Center.

It lists all the tactical ideas, explains how they are mixed, when to look for them, which signs suggest they are present, and more. There is a newer edition out. I still have some minor complaints about the book, but it's still the best I've seen.

IpswichMatt

Apr 18, 2017

There's also a book by Dan Heisman called "The Seeds of Tactical Destruction" which deals with knowing when to spend time looking for a tactical shot.

Cactusjuice01

Apr 18, 2017

OK Thanks

SmithyQ

Apr 18, 2017

Spielmann wrote a classic called 'The Art of Sacrifice in Chess'. It obviously deals with sacrifices, but that's a close cousin to tactics. A great read regardless.

Also of interest might be 'The Art of Checkmate,' by Renaud and Kahn. It teaches mating patterns, but also the lead-up to those patterns, which often includes tactics and sacrifices. I only browsed this book quickly, but it's concise, well-organized and generally considered a classic, so you probably can't go wrong with it.

MickinMD

Apr 18, 2017

First of all, note that chess tactics are the application of theory, not so much the theory itself. Strategy is more theory. If you want to learn tactics you can't simply solve puzzles or read books or watch videos, you have to pay attention and STUDY: LEARN what the possible tactics are, just as you have to learn letters to put words together and learn what their patterns are.

The best two sites, whose tactical motifs you will MEMORIZE if you're serious, little by little if you don't have a lot of time, are here:

http://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html

https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-tactics--definitions-and-examples

For example, the first lesson in the excellent Palatnik and Alburt Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player mentioned by Sqod mentions a "Skewer" without identifying what a skewer is. That book focuses on how to put three things together: motif, idea, and technique.

Personally, my weakness is deciding how and where to attack. I like the book of 37 carefully selected games from all levels of play called Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson. If you are a cautious player like me who needs to become more aggressive, this one is a good book and based on four principles:

1) In the opening, whenever justified, relentlessly attack f2 or f7.

2) Most successful K-side attacks aim at h2 or h7.

3) If your opponent's K is trapped in the center, dominate the e-file and secondarily the d-file if possible.

4) If possible, point all you pieces at your opponent's K.

Too simple? When your not sure what else to do, why not do these things?

Cactusjuice01

Apr 18, 2017

RE MickinMD very useful information. THANKS.

Cactusjuice01

Apr 18, 2017

Yes. thought process itself and some kind of equation of tactics for certain position and motifs.

tempered2