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Rating: 
Summary: Solid Work: Good Problems, Diagrams, And Great Range
Review: Although there are "only" 303 problems, they are well chosen and representative of their respective themes. Skewers, pins, forks, and the usual suspects are all there in progressively more difficult examples. The diagrams are not tiny, cramped drawings like you might find in those 1000+ monster collections and the solutions are easy to look up without seeing accidentally seeing the solutions to other problems. Combined with the slender size of the book, the diagrams and easy-to-find solutions make this a very convenient book to carry around. I am a rated USCF player with an OTB rating that ranges from 1750-1850 and found most of the problems rather simple but NOT trivial - these are problems and combinations that are far more likely to be encountered in my games (and yours?) than some of those amazing 5-8 move stunners. I like the quick, practical review this book gives me and would recommend it. There are tons of great tactic books out there but keep in mind this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book from Imaginative Chess Instructors
Review: I am a USCF expert who teaches chess to kids. I insist that they all buy this book, along with the other two tactics books by Albertson and Wilson. From my perspective it is crystal-clear that Albertson and Wilson are excellent teachers who have put together a collection of exercises of the highest quality.
The main problem with tactics books is that the problems tend to become routine. Kids (and adults) start expecting the same old moves to win the game. Their play becomes stale and poor. I am certain that Albertson and Wilson understand this, because their book evades that problem beautifully.
The main feature of their carefully-chosen tactics exercises is that the solutions require especially imaginative thinking. The move that looks like the obvious solution--such as sacrificing a rook on an open file--loses to an imaginative defense. Meanwhile the real solution requires putting your queen where it is under attack from a pawn and three different enemy pieces! As I can tell you from my own efforts and experience, it is really tough to put together a large collection of exercises like these. This book represents a labor of love and years of experience teaching chess.
This book has the highest production quality. It is printed on thick, high-quality paper with a superb binding. There are just two large, clear diagrams per page. It is a pleasure to read and it will last for many years.
Some of the reviewers have said that the problems are too easy for anyone with a decent rating. Forget that nonsense. That may come from students--and there are many of them--who pretend they solved the problem if they looked up the solution in the back of the book; or it may come from those people who think they see the solution, so they don't check their answer in the back, and they never discover the clever defense that refutes their move; or it may come from someone who found one or two easier examples, the kind that every good teacher includes in a test because it is proven to be encouraging to a student, and then jump to the conclusion that they are all easy.
No, this book is not too easy. Anyone, including a master, will find his chess imagination challenged and stimulated by this extremely fine book of chess exercises. I would have been proud to be the author of this collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible Publishing! Would be a good a book.
Review: The study of tactics is an excelllent way to improve one's chess strength. This is why I purchased this chess book with large diagrams and algebraic notatation it looked great. I knew Cardoza publishing had a horrid track record for publishing garbage, especially Eric Schiller, who was not he author of this one, but I decided this book would be usefull so I bought it. Much to my dismay when I searched for the solution to a problem in the back of the book. There was none. Yes, "303 Ticky Chess Tactics" only had solutions for 218 problems in the back of the book. What an incredibly ignorant oversight! one third of the book is useless! Let that be a lesson to me to never even think of buying another book from this publisher. If you are not familiar with the infamous Cardoza calamities just look at the reviews of any book by Eric Schiller. I do not fault the authors however, Wilson and Alburt team up for another similar book with a similar title, presumably after problems with Cardoza, "303 Tactical Chess Puzzels" by Wilson and Alburt from Sterling Publishing is an excellent book, much the same but without the errors. I recommend this book instead! Don't make the same mistake I did, Just say no to Cardoza!
BA
Louisville, KY
USCF ~1650
Rating:
Summary: Great Tactics Prep & Review for the Class Player
Review: This book is not for anyone rated at or above the FIDE or USCF Expert level or above (1900-2000), because anyone at that level knows the material presented in the text.However, for the FIDE or USCF Class E to Class A player, these tactical problem sets should help boost basic chess tactical ability.
Rating:
Summary: Must Buy! Essential Tactics for Winning Chess Players!
Review: Wonderfully ingenious! These 303 tactical positions emerge from actual play and will prove both educational and challenging for both the beginning and intermediate chess player. Even expert players can sharpen their skills by solving these clever puzzles. This is a great practice book for beginners and intermediate players to learn the essential elements of forks, pins, discoveries, skewers, mating attacks and even swindles! The final section on how to save a lost position is worth its weight in gold. Presented here are some miraculous escapes in forcing a draw out of a lost position. Chess players especially appreciate a good swindle! The tactical concepts of pins, forks, skewers and mates are well presented in a preface to every chapter elucidating the fundamental concepts of tactical chess and then challenging the reader to find the winning move using those concepts. I look forward to additional tactical works from these great chess teachers. I would especially like a follow up work from them on tactics for intermediate to expert players. This volume whets the appetite. Feast on these pins, forks and swindles for now!
Rating:
Summary: Must Buy! Essential Tactics for Winning Chess Players!
Review: Wonderfully ingenious! These 303 tactical positions emerge from actual play and will prove both educational and challenging for both the beginning and intermediate chess player. Even expert players can sharpen their skills by solving these clever puzzles. This is a great practice book for beginners and intermediate players to learn the essential elements of forks, pins, discoveries, skewers, mating attacks and even swindles! The final section on how to save a lost position is worth its weight in gold. Presented here are some miraculous escapes in forcing a draw out of a lost position. Chess players especially appreciate a good swindle! The tactical concepts of pins, forks, skewers and mates are well presented in a preface to every chapter elucidating the fundamental concepts of tactical chess and then challenging the reader to find the winning move using those concepts. I look forward to additional tactical works from these great chess teachers. I would especially like a follow up work from them on tactics for intermediate to expert players. This volume whets the appetite. Feast on these pins, forks and swindles for now!
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