I’ve been playing chess now for about a year. I’m around 1375 player, give or take. I have 3 tactic books that I use to jump around , but I’m now thinking that this is not a good thing. I’m looking for a new starting point for study and naturally tactics is one of the main issues. I’m looking to start one of my books and study it to the end.
The 3 books I have are, (not necessary in the order I prefer.)

Winning chess Tactics For Juniors- Lou Hays
Chess Tactics For Students- Bain
Winning Chess: How To See Three Moves Ahead- Chernev/Reinfeld

I’m looking for some opinions on which one I should start with and finish before moving on to the next 2. The other question is, what order of importance or most used tactics should be studied first and more frequently than the others?

thanks

Hi Palerider,

It really depends on your level of comprehension. You can't go wrong with Chernev/Reinfeld. Another great study material is "Reinfeld's 1001 Brilliant Ways To Checkmate". (Many a Master has worn the covers off of this book.)

Also, when it's fun to study we tend to do more of it and therefore absorb the knowledge quicker.

As you gain in Tactical knowledge, the rest of your game will be positively affected. Middlegame, Pawn play and your endings.

Personally, I would study each of the books you have thoroughly, then move on to "Jeremy Sillman's Complete Endgame Course" and then "Pawn Power in Chess" by, Hans Kmoch (Some of the terms Kmoch created to describe the various components of Pawn Play didn't necessarily catch-on, however, the principles they describe are solid.)


Hope this helps.

Best of luck in your Chess!
-Thomas

Personally, I hate Chernev/Reinfield books. In my opinion, they have no clue what they are talking about. They, I believe, are just trying to make money.

You should get chess software, like Chess tactics for beginners, Chess tactics for intermediates, and C-T (chess tactics) ART 3.0 (all are by convekta). You should also try there chess endgame software, Chess Strategy 2.0 and their many others. They are what I mainly use for my training (I got to 1800 in two years!), and are very helpful.

I'm often not a fan of Chernev/Reinfeld books, either, but that book is the exception. It's a fantastic book as a first book on tactics. I think it should be everybody's second chess book (once they know the rules).

It's very very basic, but necessary. Read it first.

I have two books on tactics: "The Complete Chess Workout: Train your brain with 1200 puzzles" by Richard Palliser, and "365 Ways to Checkmate" by Joe Gallagher. I can recommend both books.

Tactical puzzles are only half of what it takes to become a good tactition. The other half is playing very tactical openings while also studying very tactical player's games (i.e. Tal, Shirov, Anderssen, etc.), preferably with annotations.

You might also try not doing one book cover to cover, but integrating more than one book. Take one tactical theme, such as pins, and study just that chapter from more than one book. Then, after studying the individual themes in depth, get a book with mixed themes like Sharpen Your Tactics. Studying mixed themes without any indication of the thematic objective is more like a real game, but it's tough to start studying that way.

Another thumbs up here for the Three Moves Ahead book.