CHESS TACTICS FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS
Author: Yuri Averbakh
www.labatechess.com (2008)
328 pages
$23.98
Reviewed by Jeremy Silman

Back in 1984 a German company (Sportverlag Berlin) published a small, attractive, English language hardcover volume by Averbakh titled CHESS TACTICS FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS. This book quickly acquired a hardcore fan base and was a hot commodity until, like most books, it went out of print and faded from the public’s mind.

Since that time, used bookstores and (more recently) e-bay were the only ways a player would find this highly prized book. Now that’s changed. Ed Labate has reprinted this classic (paperback) and it’s once again available to anyone that wants it (This is great news – I’ve always been quite taken with this Averbakh masterpiece and even recommended it in my 3rd edition of HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS).

The thing that had the most impact on me when I first read CHESS TACTICS FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS was the emphasis on double attacks as being, more or less, the foundation of all combinations. I must add, though, that he broadens the term from a mere two-pronged attack to a “… combination of attacks and threats, we notice that the double attack in one form or another is the basis of most intricate tactical operations.”

Other terms that Averbakh is high on are “elementary connections” and “contacts.” It must be admitted, though, that the double attack usually plays a role in both these other ideas.
Averbakh says, “With the aid of the term contacts and their combinations, a definition of the combination is worked out and a new and promising system of classification is introduced.” He goes on to add, “Working his way through the book, the reader will realize that various kinds of combination of chessmen and squares on the board must be preceded by various contacts between them.”

The “Double Attack” (Part One) is explored in 140 pages. Part Two is titled “Combinations”, yet contacts and double attack are still the predominant factors and is constantly discussed.
One problem with the original edition was the decision to place the Table of Contents at the end of the book. Sadly, the new edition has retained this unfortunate design – obviously, putting it in front would have been a big improvement. Perhaps Mr. Labate (who deserves high praise for making this book obtainable) will do so in a future edition?

CHESS TACTICS FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS is one of the best ever books on this subject. If you enjoy studying combinations and tactics, and if you want to improve your strength in these two areas, then this is the book for you!

To order (or get more information) call:
256-829-2298 / LEAVE MESSAGE
OUTSIDE OF ALABAMA: TOLL FREE 877-336-7021 / LEAVE MESSAGE
Or visit: http://labatechess.com
Or e-mail Mr. Labate at: labatechess@sbcglobal.net