Calculation (Grandmaster Preparation)

While I've used "Strategic Play" and "Positional Play" 'spaced repetition' style, after solving slowly, I did not make the most out of this book the same way. I solved some of these puzzles, and eventually wanted to quickly continue efficiently, which basically amounted to checking the Chessable solutions quickly, while enjoying the efficiency of this. Surely I could have gone slower and enjoyed the details more, I just really wanted to get through the positions. This is part of my 'speedrun chess books to 3000+ chess.com blitz' way, and as of now, my NM peak is 2742, and 2773 bullet.

Awesome book this chess book is good

Excelente

Not a beginner book! Assumes you know the foundation cognitive skills of calculation (especially board vision and mental animation) then throws you into the deep water with many very difficult tactical puzzles. Not a lot of intro to each puzzle, but a good deep analysis of each main turning point, which takes a LOT of effort to work through (but what worthwhile doesn't?). Now, this is a light 2020 edition of a 2012 book, why not save $20 and buy the earlier? 1. Chapter 11 is new, but just adds even more difficult puzzles! 2. Fritz 11-13 used back in '12 were 3088 and 3100, not 2023 Stockfish 3740, but checking the lines shows very little updates, and very little changes needed. The tone is fun, humble, and adds numerous gems in rules of thumb. eg: Don't use alcohol to fuel your creativity! Most importantly for your decision: the book TRAINS calculation with demanding puzzles, but doesn't TEACH how to calculate (those are covered in his previous and upcoming books). Memorization vs. different calculation techniques due to opening type or endgame etc. are not covered. Author assumes calculation means complex tactical lines, not busting out of a locked positional battle or choosing between two king squares, one which wins immediately and one which loses. Would be nice if it were organized more by ooening and more by difficulty level but for high quality, brilliant tactics and tough puzzles you'd probably expect more Sicilians and Ruys than Catalans and Italians. Best feature: though the lines are tough and deep, they are brief and relevant, not an exercise in exhaustive line theory to show off the author, definitely targeted as training puzzles, with analysis rather than "solutions."

Not for absolute beginners. Stick with the book and go through the analysis and it gradually increases your calculating abilities.

I read over 150 chess books, was jr. county champion (Miami, FL), and was unbeaten for 5 years. I didn't have a single teacher. In fact, all the teachers were unable to beat me. Yeah, my chess improved from all the classics, and I could say this book or that book helped my endgame and propelled my rating. Then I went to USCF tournaments and started playing 1500 players and got wiped out for about a dozen games in a row. Little kids were schooling me in what i was doing wrong. I then found a top 100 world rated teacher, who then proceeded to unlearn all my mistakes and misconceptions. In about 1.5 years, I was beating 2000 USCF players and finally won the club tournament. So maybe 15 years of my own study got me to 1400/1500, but the teacher got me to about 2000 in 1.5 years. Books are great for learning. If you really want to improve beyond about 1500, please get a teacher. With Chess.com and Lichess you can easily get an affordable experienced teacher, including those who train national teams. They may charge $30-$60 so you have to really want it to invest 1-2 years of your life. Of Jacob, I have the highest regard, I just don't think you should be deceived into believing that reading his books will improve your chess anywhere near as much as 1 on 1 training with an experienced GM trainer. Also, I think in this day and age, a PGN file should accompany all print books. As a workaround, you can input an image of a board into any AI engine and it will create a PGN file for input into Lichess or other analysis engine.

A great addition to any chess library.

Exceeds expectation

Ottimo libro! Soldi ben spesi!

Best calculation book I've ever had

Brettharte Übungen ... Ab 2100 ELO erst zu empfehlen (hätte ich beim Titel drauf kommen können 😄)