It’s not a lazy shortcut to success – hard work is required. But the reward can be re-programming your unconscious mind. Benefits include sharper tactical vision, fewer blunders, better play when in time trouble and improved intuition.

    It is a compilation of 4158 positions from master play grouped into 77 different tactical or positional themes. For example, 168 positions of isolated queen pawn play, 108 hedgehog positions, 168 Sicilian sacrifice positions and so on. The examples given illustrate problem solving skills at the highest level, but because of the great number, the solutions (game continuations and commentary) are necessarily brief. Hence it is a book not for the average club player who needs explanations of the methods of play, but for the seasoned player who wants to analyse out for himself the best means of playing typical positions, and to be alert to tactical opportunities

    

    In this lively volume, chess' number one challenger for the world championship explains the secrets of his finest games.

    The workbooks 'Plus' of Chess-Steps offer more exercises and new subjects at the same level. This way the student can continue his/her development without losing motivation, which often occurs when the difficulty level is too high. The workbooks 'Plus' contain: new subjects,broadening of the important subjects,subjects from a previous step on a higher level.

    Grandmaster Boris Gelfand has been an elite player for 30 years, winning the World Cup, Olympiad Gold, Candidates and many other top tournaments. In 2015 Positional Decision Making in Chess won the ECF Book of the Year award. Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard is the only chess writer to win all the major awards for chess writing.

    For example: Blindfold chess - Instead of a board with pieces, you will see an empty board with only notation of the position of each piece on the side. Blindfold exercises - Similar to route planner, but visualizing every move. If then exercises - The student has to visualize a possible move of the opponent, before solving the exercise. Sometimes multiple possible moves of the opponent are given for the same diagram. The 'Thinking ahead' series starts at Step 2 .

    For teaching players rated up to 1600.Chess-Steps was developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess.Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide. This step by step method consists of six steps. Each step has a workbook with exercises and summaries for the student and an accompanying manual for the teacher / trainer / parent.The manuals contain complete scripted lessons for the teacher, as well as aids that address the learning stages and development of children. The answers of the workbook exercises can be found within the manuals too. The books are written in such a way that the actual level of the teachers chess knowledge is of lesser importance. See also 'Learning Chess - Workbook Step 3'.

    

    For teaching players rated up to 1400.Chess-Steps was developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess.Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide. This step by step method consists of six steps. Each step has a workbook with exercises and summaries for the student and an accompanying manual for the teacher / trainer / parent.The manuals contain complete scripted lessons for the teacher, as well as aids that address the learning stages and development of children. The answers of the workbook exercises can be found within the manuals too. The books are written in such a way that the actual level of the teachers chess knowledge is of lesser importance. See also 'Learning Chess - Workbook Step 2'.

    For teaching players rated up to 1750.Chess-Steps was developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess.Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide. This step by step method consists of six steps. Each step has a workbook with exercises and summaries for the student and an accompanying manual for the teacher / trainer / parent.The manuals contain complete scripted lessons for the teacher, as well as aids that address the learning stages and development of children. The answers of the workbook exercises can be found within the manuals too. The books are written in such a way that the actual level of the teachers chess knowledge is of lesser importance. See also 'Learning Chess - Workbook Step 4'.

    Containing 432 exercises, Revision & Exam 1 offers the perfect way to test your understanding of the material covered in the series. Whether as a refresher course on the topics in the series, or simply as a brand-new collection of instructive test positions, this book is indispensable for any ambitious and improving chess player. Artur Yusupov was ranked third in the world from 1986 to 1992, just behind the legendary World Champions Karpov and Kasparov. He has won everything there is to win in chess except for the World Championship. In recent years he has mainly worked as a chess trainer with players ranging from World Champion Anand to local amateurs in Germany, where he resides.

    

    

    For independent students rated up to 2100.Chess-Steps was developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess.Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide. This step by step method consists of six steps. Each step has a workbook with exercises and summaries for the student and an accompanying manual for the teacher / trainer / parent.The manuals contain complete scripted lessons for the teacher, as well as aids that address the learning stages and development of children. The answers of the workbook exercises can be found within the manuals too. The books are written in such a way that the actual level of the teachers chess knowledge is of lesser importance. See also 'Learning Chess - Workbook Step 6'.

    

    

    

    This "Grand International Chess Congress" attracted the strongest field of players ever assembled, with Steinitz, Lasker, Tchigorin, Tarrasch and Blackburn all present. The list of entries amounted to a catalog of chess luminaries, including Schlechter, Bird, Teichmann, Gunsberg, and Janowski. The games were exceedingly difficult and hard fought, possibly the severest test of chess mastery ever conducted. Finally, the young American Pillsbury surpassed his dangerous rivals in a thrilling last round finish.But then something even more remarkable happened. The Hastings 1895 tournament kept growing in importance year after year, teaching and delighting generations of chess players. This feat was accomplished by the famous Book of the Tournament, in which the players themselves provided the game commentary - but commentary unlike any ever produced. Working independently, they together achieved a wonderful blend of instruction and entertainment. Witty, insightful and always captivating, these masters left a legacy of chess wisdom for all to profit by. A valuable chess course in itself, the Hastings 1895 Tournament Book is the cornerstone of any chess library.

    

    Going over the same patterns in different situations will help students to memorize and recognize positions in real games. The workbooks 'Extra' of Chess-Steps repeat the subjects of the basic workbooks. All with new and unique exercises. They are highly recommended for students who have trouble with the basic workbooks, before moving on to the next step.

    There is information on moves and notation; traps to be watched for; and decisive areas of play such as checkmate, attacks and endgames.Fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams.