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Rating: 
Summary: Good, but...
Review: I agree the scoring system is merely distracting, and it smudges up the layout of the pages. The puzzles themselves are worth solving but I hate cluttered books. Emms "Most Amazing Chess Moves" is a good alternative for advanced players.
Rating: 
Summary: Challenging positions, good annotations, poor scoring system
Review: I have a mixed feelings about this book. Unfortunately, the negatives slightly outweigh positive. GM Plaskett put together a series of 12 tests, each with 15 diagrams. You get points based on accuracy and depth of your analysis. There is a "hint" feature which will cost you points.Suggested readers level -
In my opinion players rated under 2000 should look for other books as majority of testing positions will be a frustrating experience. Don't get me wrong, even 1600 rated would benefit from working through author's answers to many "15 point" problems, however, the value of such a lesson is not that great. Quality of Positions and Annotations -
VERY GOOD. Mainly, the positions were unfamiliar to me. Many from GM Plaskett's own games. Been a player or a witness, he has some additional angle to the annotations. This increases value of notes and also brings some fun. Scoring system -
POOR - my biggest complain with this book - scoring is way too simplistic. In many cases I believe scores don't correspond to relative difficulties of positions. "Price" for hint is outrages, comparing to the actual help you get. For example for 15 point problem (T#3, P#15) - rook endgame - question ask how Black can use his pass pawn. Hint will cost you 6 points and you will find out that you should consider
"advancing the pawn at all costs". I would expect this to be initial thought of anyone who read the question and studied the problem. So hint doesn't bring anything new to the table, yet takes away 40% of maximum points. Finally, when you do finish the test, study the solutions and get your overall score, what are you suppose to do with it? There is no relative strength table or anything else that would help you to measure your result. Accuracy of presentation -
AVERAGE - I have only been through one test so far, but already I saw a diagram (T#1, P#9) with a "ghost" knight. I also run into the position (T#1, P#11) that specifically claimed to have only one solution - mate in 5 and asked you to find it. However, even without PC help, I found another solution (in his solution -play 3.Rf7+ and 4.Be5# or 4.Bc7#) Overall, good testing book for higher rated player 2000+. Especially, if he has several friends with similar ratings to compare results with. Lower rated players and beginners, consider something else, for example Emms' Ultimate Puzzle book or Hall's Combination Challenge. Good luck,
Copyrighted by me!
Rating: 
Summary: An engaging book of chess puzzles
Review: The latest in the "Everyman Chess Puzzles" series, Can You Be A Tactical Chess Genius? by chess expert James Plaskett is an engaging book of chess puzzles written to twist the minds and imaginations of even the most experienced chess wizards. Here is a compelling quiz book that stretches tactical ability to earn points and gain a final score to compare against that of family and friends. There is even an "ask a grandmaster" option, but using it will cost points! A most enjoyable book for avid chess buffs, Can You Be A Tactical Chess Genius? would make a wonderful addition to any chess enthusiast's collection.
Rating:
Summary: An engaging book of chess puzzles
Review: The latest in the "Everyman Chess Puzzles" series, Can You Be A Tactical Chess Genius? by chess expert James Plaskett is an engaging book of chess puzzles written to twist the minds and imaginations of even the most experienced chess wizards. Here is a compelling quiz book that stretches tactical ability to earn points and gain a final score to compare against that of family and friends. There is even an "ask a grandmaster" option, but using it will cost points! A most enjoyable book for avid chess buffs, Can You Be A Tactical Chess Genius? would make a wonderful addition to any chess enthusiast's collection.
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