Chess Tactics from Scratch: Understanding Chess Tactics

by Martin Weteschnik

‘Chess is 99 per cent tactics’ is an old saying. This may be an exaggeration, but even the remaining 1 per cent still depends on tactics. When Martin Weteschnik started working as a trainer in his local chess club, he quickly realized that even the stronger club players had great weaknesses in their tactical play. He also discovered that simply asking them to solve a huge number of puzzles did not fix the problem. These players clearly needed a good book, but when Weteschnik looked for it he found nothing suitable, so he decided to write it himself. The first edition of this book, Understanding Chess Tactics , was hailed as a modern classic. But Weteschnik was not completely satisfied with the book and decided to restructure and rewrite it completely. This expanded and improved second edition offers more puzzles to test the tactical chess skill that the reader will develop.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

Reviews

[Justin Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two parts to this book, one deficient and one excellent. I’m going to rant about the deficient part (the 300 test positions) before reviewing the excellent part (the main text, pp. 13-232). The 300 test positions are problematic, because they are poorly chosen, organized badly, and/or mislabeled. For example, test positions 62 and 66 are in the “mate” section (i.e., the point is to find checkmate) and both are labeled as being of the lowest difficulty (i.e., one star). However, the computer does NOT see any mate in either one, nor do the listed solutions in the book (on the next page) lead to any checkmate. Rather, both the computer and the book merely indicate that choosing the right move leads to a decisive advantage in both puzzles (e.g., a +6.4 evaluation). On the same page, however, are other one-star puzzles with forced mate in two. So, a reader cannot expect any kind of consistency in the puzzles, even among those in the same section with the same difficulty rating. Another example is test position 35, rated as a two-star puzzle, but where the complex solution includes the note “Obviously it does not make sense to see all of this in advance” (p. 246).

“For most amateurs 99% of all important lines of calculation will be two to four moves long.” (p. 223)

This book’s main text, which describes common patterns (e.g., discovered attack) for chess tactics and gives numerous examples from past games (e.g., by Mikhail Tal), is excellent. I’m going to reread it again in a few months and maybe again after that in a year or two. It is just super helpful. The chapter on checkmating patterns (#7) is especially useful; reading through it opened my eyes to patterns I previously overlooked. The book also explains the purpose of knowing the patterns (or motifs)—namely, to send up an intuitive smoke signal that there’s something in the position you need to find (calculate).

“These strong motifs represent the ideas from which you should start your thinking and calculating process. You should start from a target, an idea, and then find a way to realize it.” (p. 141).

The game between de la Bourdonnais and McDonnell (1834), listed on page 145, is one of the best for practicing calculation because there are several concrete lines where one slip from either side results in a decisive advantage for the opposing side, so everything hangs on a knife edge and you have to see the consequences of each move in the various lines.

“So try to keep in mind the apparently strange idea of starting your calculations from a final position (an aim) that anticipates the tactical realization, as the final position already comprises the moves leading to it.” (p. 107)

[Serge Pierro · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are plenty of books devoted to Tactics in the chess marketplace; however, most of these are collections of tactical puzzles. There are very few books that take the time to get beyond the "basics" when explaining or teaching tactics. With "Chess Tactics from Scratch", Martin Weteschnik presents an in-depth look at each of the tactical classes and then proceeds to delve deeply into what makes them work, while at the same time showing the landmarks to recognize them in your own game - and it is brilliant!

The games selected are of a high quality and feature the likes of Fischer, Kasparov, Tal and others. It is a pleasure to see one of Tal's sacrificial attacks broken down and explained step by step and expose the magic and beauty of these intellectual works of art.

This is easily the best book I've ever read on tactics and if you are a beginner/intermediate player, then this is a must read book. Your understanding of tactics will greatly improve upon reading it.

Oh… and there are 300 test positions to test your newly acquired knowledge.

I'm looking forward to reading this again at some point in the future!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

One cannot solve efficiently tactical puzzles before grasping the basics of the chess tactics - and I didn't find (so far) a better book which explains so thoroughly the basic elements of the chess combinations.
P.S. This book has the 2nd edition under a different title: "Chess Tactics from Scratch"; I haven't read it yet (but I will, I will!)

[Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, will improve your chess skills immediately. I shouldn't even say that because if I read this book and you don't, I will probably always beat you. Drats, there I go again, don't read this book so I will always have the edge =)

[Daniel Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best instructional chess book I have ever read. Simple, concise, readable without a board, and with 300 exercises of several levels to test what you learned.

[Cody Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite tactics book so far.

[John Giannopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me a lot with tactics. It has a scientific approach

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on tactics I've read and it isn't close.

[Allan Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending time on countless tactics and learning how to spot the tactic in a puzzle but not being able to create it over the board Martin Weteschnik has struck gold in teaching you how to create and generate tactics on the board. After one reading my internet play improved markedly(currently not playing OTB due to end of season) and I picked up over three hundred points. Okay the grading is skewiff but there was definite improvement.

I am currently reading through the book a second time - up to 2000 elo it's all tactics.

[Sart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tactics book for the 1200 to 1800 crew.