Learn Chess the Right Way: Book 1: Must-know Checkmates

It helps my kid improve her chess games

This book introduces each piece and slowly builds the scenarios which you have to solve in one move. Not only do you learn one who checkmates, but you also learn how pins and escape squares coming to play. Chess vision, the ability to see the whole board, is also tested especially along the ranks.

My 6 y/o picks this up and does the puzzles himself. And now wants to play chess regularly!

Do the exercises, get better

Mostly, this is a book of chess puzzles. And most of those are checkmate in one puzzles (though the last chapter has some mate in two variations). Each chapter opens with a brief page or two of description of the type of mating pattern to be explained, but the real value of the book is the self-study in which the reader can engage in solving the puzzles. This one is written at a pretty basic level. It does assume the reader knows the rules of chess and how to read notation, but it doesn’t assume much strategic knowledge beyond that. In fact, most of the checkmates shown in the puzzles, while often clever, are pretty elementary and easy for even advanced beginners to spot without much trouble. As such, it’s aimed at a lower level of player than I was hoping for—I was hoping the “must-know checkmates” would include more advanced or obscure checkmate patterns—but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad book by any means. In fact, if you are a beginner who knows the rules but wants to start getting good at recognizing key tactical patterns, it would be an excellent book to get you started.

I initially posted this review on the Chessable edition 5 months ago. This is a fantastic tactics book for beginners and those under 1000 USCF. It is extremely systematic and the patterns are chosen in a way that often help contextualize each other. Don't assume that beginners are the only ones who can learn from this, I'm over 2000 USCF and missed 14 of the puzzles! The main target audience is beginners but stronger players might want to run through these quickly to fill in the basic tactics which they aren't yet able to autopilot (I recommend using a 10-second timer for that). Highly recommended, 5/5 stars.

Learn Chess the Right Way series is a must to own book series for coaches, parents and students. It is very well written and provides lots of essential materials for beginner and advanced chess players. Highly recommend!

I bought this Chess book for my autistic grandson that's in a simplified format that he can easy understand using different learning styles

Método de repetição é muito bom! Meu rating subiu bastantes. Recomendado! Comprei o livro 2, como ganhar material! No final vou avaliar a nota do livro também

Nice choice of simple problems. Some problems look alike but slight change in position of a single piece changes solution. This helps in developing board vision.

The book has a lot of repetitive puzzles for basic tactical patterns - which is exactly what's required to engrain them in memory. The puzzles are high quality, no errors, there is equal number of puzzles for white and black (important for recognizing opponents tactical opportunities - not only yours), and there is a whole book in the series dedicated to defense motifs. Excellent training material!

This is an excellent book for beginners. Many puzzles to solve. Not particularly difficult but very good for beginners to get practice on the different checkmates.

Brilliant chess book. Well laid out and really easy to understand. This book is primarily aimed at children but don't be fooled; it's equally valuable to adults. I suppose I should mention that I am a totally amateur chess player but I do believe this is a good book. I intend to purchase more in the series.