Calculation puzzle books • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I've been struggling to find books focused on helping calculation via puzzles. I'm not looking for any forks,pins and undermining etc tactics books but books mainly focusing on calculation. Some books I know are Cheng's practical exercises, The Best Move by the Vlastimil brothers, Imagination in Chess by Gaprindashvili, and the Woodpecker Method by Smith and Tikkanen. I'm halfway on Cheng's book and find it relatively easy. However, When I did about 10 problems on The Best Move, I only got one correct. So, the level range I would like is a book harder than Cheng's book but easier than The Best Move(probably 1600-1750). Or perhaps I should move on to the Woodpecker Method after I am done with Cheng's book?

-Jimmy

I've been struggling to find books focused on helping calculation via puzzles. I'm not looking for any forks,pins and undermining etc tactics books but books mainly focusing on calculation. Some books I know are Cheng's practical exercises, The Best Move by the Vlastimil brothers, Imagination in Chess by Gaprindashvili, and the Woodpecker Method by Smith and Tikkanen. I'm halfway on Cheng's book and find it relatively easy. However, When I did about 10 problems on The Best Move, I only got one correct. So, the level range I would like is a book harder than Cheng's book but easier than The Best Move(probably 1600-1750). Or perhaps I should move on to the Woodpecker Method after I am done with Cheng's book? -Jimmy

Bookmarked

#2

Excelling at Chess Calculation by Jacob Aagaard is a good book on calculation, he specifically covers a few tips on how to calculate rather than just giving exercises (although there are plenty of those too).

In general, I think compositions are the way to go if you really want to work on calculation specifically, but most books of that sort are targeted at higher level players. Mastering a basic tactics book (i.e. reading it a couple times) is probably a prerequisite for that stuff. It's not just about being able to solve those easy problems, but about being able to see the solution instantly - otherwise it takes forever to solve the more complex problems.

Excelling at Chess Calculation by Jacob Aagaard is a good book on calculation, he specifically covers a few tips on how to calculate rather than just giving exercises (although there are plenty of those too). In general, I think compositions are the way to go if you really want to work on calculation specifically, but most books of that sort are targeted at higher level players. Mastering a basic tactics book (i.e. reading it a couple times) is probably a prerequisite for that stuff. It's not just about being able to solve those easy problems, but about being able to see the solution instantly - otherwise it takes forever to solve the more complex problems.

JamsBlack1

#3

I'm working on chess tactics for juniors by Lou Hays and on my 4th run on it. I'll take a look at Aagaard's book when I'm more advanced.
Thanks for replying!

-Jimmy

I'm working on chess tactics for juniors by Lou Hays and on my 4th run on it. I'll take a look at Aagaard's book when I'm more advanced. Thanks for replying! -Jimmy

StingerPuzzles

#4

Out of the many thousands of chess books there isn't one particular book that's best for everyone. That's why there's 1000s.

What things do you think are involved in calculation, what steps, or what factors?

How do you do those things right now? How well do you do those things? What do you want to change?

Out of the many thousands of chess books there isn't one particular book that's best for everyone. That's why there's 1000s. What things do you think are involved in calculation, what steps, or what factors? How do you do those things right now? How well do you do those things? What do you want to change?

#5

Le_Patzer83

#6

@JamsBlack1 said in #1:

I've been struggling to find books focused on helping calculation via puzzles. I'm not looking for any forks,pins and undermining etc tactics books but books mainly focusing on calculation. Some books I know are Cheng's practical exercises, The Best Move by the Vlastimil brothers, Imagination in Chess by Gaprindashvili, and the Woodpecker Method by Smith and Tikkanen. I'm halfway on Cheng's book and find it relatively easy. However, When I did about 10 problems on The Best Move, I only got one correct. So, the level range I would like is a book harder than Cheng's book but easier than The Best Move(probably 1600-1750). Or perhaps I should move on to the Woodpecker Method after I am done with Cheng's book?

-Jimmy

Woodpecker certainly gets tougher once you get into the intermediate puzzles. The Easy ones are not brain dead easy either, as all the puzzles are taken from the games of world champions, sometimes where the world champion himself missed the tactic. So if Alekhine or Anand (just two random examples) missed the tactic, you can be fairly sure that it isnt SUPER easy. The easy section is mainly 3 or 4 movers, but once you start getting part way through the intermediate section you'll find that difficulty ratcheting up pretty steadily, to the point where it feels like a pure calculation book. I think it is nice how it gets incrementally harder though, as you can work your way up and gradually feel that transition from relatively simple to quite difficult. Looking at your ratings I would say that you are right around the ability level where Woodpecker starts to become a viable option.

@JamsBlack1 said in #1: > I've been struggling to find books focused on helping calculation via puzzles. I'm not looking for any forks,pins and undermining etc tactics books but books mainly focusing on calculation. Some books I know are Cheng's practical exercises, The Best Move by the Vlastimil brothers, Imagination in Chess by Gaprindashvili, and the Woodpecker Method by Smith and Tikkanen. I'm halfway on Cheng's book and find it relatively easy. However, When I did about 10 problems on The Best Move, I only got one correct. So, the level range I would like is a book harder than Cheng's book but easier than The Best Move(probably 1600-1750). Or perhaps I should move on to the Woodpecker Method after I am done with Cheng's book? > > -Jimmy Woodpecker certainly gets tougher once you get into the intermediate puzzles. The Easy ones are not brain dead easy either, as all the puzzles are taken from the games of world champions, sometimes where the world champion himself missed the tactic. So if Alekhine or Anand (just two random examples) missed the tactic, you can be fairly sure that it isnt SUPER easy. The easy section is mainly 3 or 4 movers, but once you start getting part way through the intermediate section you'll find that difficulty ratcheting up pretty steadily, to the point where it feels like a pure calculation book. I think it is nice how it gets incrementally harder though, as you can work your way up and gradually feel that transition from relatively simple to quite difficult. Looking at your ratings I would say that you are right around the ability level where Woodpecker starts to become a viable option.

JamsBlack1

#7

@StingerPuzzles
I'm focusing on better visualization, accuracy, and speed. Right now, I can look about 4 moves ahead without my vision getting fuzzy. Accuracy correlates with good visualization, and I would like to calculate at least 5 moves ahead with solid accuracy. I'm thinking of calculation that can be used with an average or above tactical feel (like what happens after I play fxg5 and would take about 3-15 minutes of calculating). More practical decisions in a game, not some flashy move in a critical position where the player thinks for more than 30 minutes.

@StingerPuzzles I'm focusing on better visualization, accuracy, and speed. Right now, I can look about 4 moves ahead without my vision getting fuzzy. Accuracy correlates with good visualization, and I would like to calculate at least 5 moves ahead with solid accuracy. I'm thinking of calculation that can be used with an average or above tactical feel (like what happens after I play fxg5 and would take about 3-15 minutes of calculating). More practical decisions in a game, not some flashy move in a critical position where the player thinks for more than 30 minutes.