Speelmans Puzzle Book

JON SPEELMAN’S CHESS PUZZLE BOOK
Author: Jon Speelman
Gambit Publications (2008)
143 pages
$19.95

Reviewed by John Donaldson

Compared to some of the mammoth tactics guides that have been published recently, the Gambit publication JON SPEELMAN’S CHESS PUZZLE BOOK seems like a slight volume, but don't judge a chess book by weight alone. What this book lacks in positions to solve -- it has about 300 -- it more than makes up for in the quality of examples selected by the former World Champion Candidate. Speelman has organized the material in each chapter so that the student builds on previous knowledge with each quiz position coming with a hint. At the back of the book there are helpful explanations of the solutions.
JON SPEELMAN’S CHESS PUZZLE BOOK is written by someone who has mastered the game and spent a lot of time passing on this knowledge. He speaks from experience when he writes: "I grew up solving hundreds of small tactical puzzles from books and magazines and have always felt that the best way to progress is not by hurling yourself at some massive brick wall but rather by picking daintily through a series of slight but satisfying obstacles, overcoming each of which gives you a small but pleasant buzz of success." Well said!

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