303 Tactical Chess Puzzles [Mensa]

Rating:
Summary: OK, but there are problems
Review: Before I go into the problems, I should say that I do think that the book has some value just because more puzzles = good. The book does contain some interesting puzzles. The book is small and handy, so I do think it's an ok addition to a chess library.

I've worked through about half of this book and own one other tactics book (Sharpen Your Tactics). The graphics are good -- large enough to see easily. The puzzles are very difficult compared to Sharpen Your Tactics. This has a bad side. It takes so long to go through the book, and because it's not arranged thematically, it doesn't seem to help beat the pattern recognition into my brain (that is the whole point, right? We all know what skewers, forks, pins, etc are, but need enhanced pattern recognition to really be effective) very well. A few difficult puzzles doesn't seem to do this as well as a lot more, well-organized, but easier puzzles. Sharpen Your Tactics does a much better job at this.

This also makes the book inadequate for teaching good kid chess players. My 8 year old is an excellent player for a kid and he could barely do many of the easier puzzles. He got really frustrated and gave up. He's on puzzle 210 of Sharpen Your Tactics because they offer enough easier ones to keep his interest and build his confidence. It has really helped his game.

I've also found multiple errors in the solutions. I would've thought that they would check the thing versus any one of the major computer programs before publishing the book. That's probably the biggest embarrassment of the book. Some of the errors are laughable. I spotted one of them within about 10 seconds of looking at the puzzle. It seems like a couple of 2300 players (the authors) would've spotted these if they spent any time at all on quality control. For that matter, they could probably hire some poor chess player to review it for them. My 8 year old could set those positions up in Chessmaster and tell them if they work! He works cheap!

Rating:
Summary: Good workout, Nice Presentation
Review: I wanted to chime in with a more positive review of this book. I'm about half-way through, and am finding it to be a good workout.

The presentation is very nice; 2 large diagrams per page. The book is organized into 3 sections with varying difficulty (Beginner, Intermediate, Tournament). BUT, there is an index that groups the puzzles by tactics. Yeah, you'll have to flip back and forth, but you can't have it both ways.

I did notice some errors, but not enough for me to doubt the quality of the book. If you have serious issues with a puzzle, load it up in Fritz and see if your solution works.


Rating:
Summary: Don't waste time on some problems
Review: Some of the answers to the puzzles in this book are horribly wrong. For instance numbers 159, 160, and 162. These guys, the authors should appologize for the mistakes and stop action like this book is all good. It's not!

Rating:
Summary: A pretty good chess work out
Review: There are 2 diagrams per page, so the diagrams are easy on the eyes... good for chess players over 40, or those who need to avoid eye strain. I read negative reviews about mistakes in this book... the few I saw are no big deal. In one case we find Queen to A5 as our solution, the answer shows Queen to H5. No big deal, my brain saw that instantly as a typo. The problem is still valid. The lesson learned is still a good one. In regard to another problem, one reviewer points out there is a mate in 1, so why show a mate in 2 for the answer? Interesting, I saw the mate in 2 in a flash... almost in the blink of an eye. So I didn't even look for a quicker mate. But does that mean my brain didn't get charged up for tactics? No, my brain worked fast enough to see a mate in two... it involved "removing a defender" which was a lesson being taught...it worked... it would have won the tournament or match game. Yes, the 1 move mate is better... in either case the game is over in a flash. I like this book a lot. The ocassional errors one might come across are no big deal. At least not to me. I've been going through problems every night and my brain feels tactically charged. A frequent user of this book is sure to be a worthy chess opponent. If it wasn't for the small printing mistakes that show up every once in a while I could easily give this book 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: A pretty good chess work out
Review: There are 2 diagrams per page, so the diagrams are easy on the eyes... good for chess players over 40, or those who need to avoid eye strain. I read negative reviews about mistakes in this book... the few I saw are no big deal. In one case we find Queen to A5 as our solution, the answer shows Queen to H5. No big deal, my brain saw that instantly as a typo. The problem is still valid. The lesson learned is still a good one. In regard to another problem, one reviewer points out there is a mate in 1, so why show a mate in 2 for the answer? Interesting, I saw the mate in 2 in a flash... almost in the blink of an eye. So I didn't even look for a quicker mate. But does that mean my brain didn't get charged up for tactics? No, my brain worked fast enough to see a mate in two... it involved "removing a defender" which was a lesson being taught...it worked... it would have won the tournament or match game. Yes, the 1 move mate is better... in either case the game is over in a flash. I like this book a lot. The ocassional errors one might come across are no big deal. At least not to me. I've been going through problems every night and my brain feels tactically charged. A frequent user of this book is sure to be a worthy chess opponent. If it wasn't for the small printing mistakes that show up every once in a while I could easily give this book 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing and full of errors!!!
Review: There are THREE ERRORS IN THE FIRST TWELVE PUZZLES THAT I COULD FIND... and I am a novice... so I didn't bother looking at the book any further! I'm taking the book back... although it may be useful as kindling. Who did the editing... DID ANYONE ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH THE SOLUTIONS??? Sample solution "errors":

Puzzle #8: CORRECT ANSWER should be 1 Qa5 threatens Qxc7#, and 2 Qxh5.

Puzzle #10: White responses are illogical. White could at least gain one of the Rooks for its lost Queen... rather than leaving Black with both Rooks as the authors suggest. CORRECT ANSWER and replies should be:
1 ... Rd4+, 2 f4 Rxf4+, 3 Qxf4 Nxf4

Puzzle #12: CORRECT ANSWER is the AMAZINGLY complex SINGLE move of
1 Qg8#! It seems UNBELIEVABLE that the author suggests some round about two move alternative when MATE is plainly staring at you.

Very disappointing. An "Official American Mensa Puzzle Book"... HA!

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing and full of errors!!!
Review: There are THREE ERRORS IN THE FIRST TWELVE PUZZLES THAT I COULD FIND... and I am a novice... so I didn't bother looking at the book any further! I'm taking the book back... although it may be useful as kindling. Who did the editing... DID ANYONE ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH THE SOLUTIONS??? Sample solution "errors":

Puzzle #8: CORRECT ANSWER should be 1 Qa5 threatens Qxc7#, and 2 Qxh5.

Puzzle #10: White responses are illogical. White could at least gain one of the Rooks for its lost Queen... rather than leaving Black with both Rooks as the authors suggest. CORRECT ANSWER and replies should be:
1 ... Rd4+, 2 f4 Rxf4+, 3 Qxf4 Nxf4

Puzzle #12: CORRECT ANSWER is the AMAZINGLY complex SINGLE move of
1 Qg8#! It seems UNBELIEVABLE that the author suggests some round about two move alternative when MATE is plainly staring at you.

Very disappointing. An "Official American Mensa Puzzle Book"... HA!

Rating:
Summary: A fair remake
Review: This is a remake of the 303 tricky chess tactics (TCT). The puzzles are different a little (I think),but the format has mostly addressed the criticisms and problems with TCT. The puzzles are grouped by difficulty rather than theme, making it easier to study them cold. Mistakes are fewer . . . (computer checked this time? (except for the typo in #8's answer)). All in all a solid tactical training tool for 13-1400 (but I'm 1600 and enjoy it watching TV) A nice effort a la reinfeld, lein, hays, etc. I have them all, and this is no worse. In the tactical puzzle market, it's just about quantity, and a acceptable level of quality, and this delivers. Really a 3 star effort, but one extra star for improving on their really lame first attempt at a similar training tool. Little filler chapters in the style of Lev Alburt's fluff help round out the slicker work this time.

Rating:
Summary: A fair remake
Review: This is a remake of the 303 tricky chess tactics (TCT). The puzzles are different a little (I think),but the format has mostly addressed the criticisms and problems with TCT. The puzzles are grouped by difficulty rather than theme, making it easier to study them cold. Mistakes are fewer . . . (computer checked this time? (except for the typo in #8's answer)). All in all a solid tactical training tool for 13-1400 (but I'm 1600 and enjoy it watching TV) A nice effort a la reinfeld, lein, hays, etc. I have them all, and this is no worse. In the tactical puzzle market, it's just about quantity, and a acceptable level of quality, and this delivers. Really a 3 star effort, but one extra star for improving on their really lame first attempt at a similar training tool. Little filler chapters in the style of Lev Alburt's fluff help round out the slicker work this time.