Answers.Body: <p>I think the following books are extremely suited for beginner players seeking to improve tactics. At least two of these are available on Chessable for those seeking digital options.</p>
  <ul>
  <li><p><em>Everyone's First Chess Workbook</em>:  good for board vision, learning patterns, themed chapters by motif, builds to more difficult puzzles that combine themes. Answers include explanations and some details on relevant variations.</p>
  </li>
  <li><p><em>Winning Chess Tactics</em>: Topical chapters with tests on learning throughout book, with two chapters at end to take as exams and compare against scoring rubric. Second exam at end will be a challenge to beginners.</p>
  </li>
  </ul>
  <p>The series by Polgar is also often recommended for beginners (<a href="https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Perpetual Chess podcast recommendations</a>).</p>
  <ul>
  <li><em>Learn Chess the Right Way: Book 1 Must Know Checkmates</em></li>
  <li><em>Learn Chess the Right Way: Book 2 Winning Material</em></li>
  </ul>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XqTqJ.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XqTqJ.jpg" alt="Book covers" /></a></p>
  <p><sub>I hesitate to include Seirawan's <em>Play Winning Chess</em> in the image as it isn't really a tactics book, but prepares readers a bit for his <em>Winning Chess Tactics</em> books. I imagine some in the community may say <em>Play Winning Chess</em> isn't a tactics book, and they are probably right. It seems to be in the spirit of your question though, and designed for beginner players.</sub></p>
  <p>Additionally, the <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/39879/26335">Chess Steps</a> series of workbooks are filled with puzzles. Tactics, board vision, checkmates, and defense are recurring themes.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-02-09T14:41:12.197Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-07-20T12:24:35.087Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2022-07-20T12:24:35.087Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: SecretAgentMan
Answers.Body: <p>Excellent for novices are Dan Heisman's books. My favorite of his was <em><strong>Back to Basics : Tactics</strong></em> . I have nostalgia for Seirawan's <em><strong>Winning Chess Tactics</strong></em> as it was the first chess book I read all the way through. Sent both to my grandsons. For more advanced study consider one of Weteschnik's books, although they are limited in the breadth of tactics they cover.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-10-15T04:14:33.720Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-10-15T04:14:33.720Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: dlemper
Body: <p>I am looking for books with exercises to improve at tactics. It seems that there are lots of options.</p>
  <p>My definition of what constitutes a “good” tactics books is variety. Even if the book focuses on a specific puzzle type (like checkmate puzzles), I believe a good book will have a great variety of positions in different stages of the game where different tactical ideas are required.</p>
  <p>I also prefer books with some explanation or analysis on why certain moves may or may not work, not just the diagrams and moves.</p>
  
Tags: <learning><books><beginner><recommendations>
Title: What are some good tactics books?
ThreadText: # What are some good tactics books?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-09)
  
  I am looking for books with exercises to improve at tactics. It seems that there are lots of options.
  
  My definition of what constitutes a “good” tactics books is variety. Even if the book focuses on a specific puzzle type (like checkmate puzzles), I believe a good book will have a great variety of positions in different stages of the game where different tactical ideas are required.
  
  I also prefer books with some explanation or analysis on why certain moves may or may not work, not just the diagrams and moves.
  
  **Tags:** learning, books, beginner, recommendations
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2022-02-09. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  I think the following books are extremely suited for beginner players seeking to improve tactics. At least two of these are available on Chessable for those seeking digital options.
  
  * *Everyone's First Chess Workbook*: good for board vision, learning patterns, themed chapters by motif, builds to more difficult puzzles that combine themes. Answers include explanations and some details on relevant variations.
  * *Winning Chess Tactics*: Topical chapters with tests on learning throughout book, with two chapters at end to take as exams and compare against scoring rubric. Second exam at end will be a challenge to beginners.
  
  The series by Polgar is also often recommended for beginners ([Perpetual Chess podcast recommendations](https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations)).
  
  * *Learn Chess the Right Way: Book 1 Must Know Checkmates*
  * *Learn Chess the Right Way: Book 2 Winning Material*
  
  [![Book covers](https://i.sstatic.net/XqTqJ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/XqTqJ.jpg)
  
  I hesitate to include Seirawan's *Play Winning Chess* in the image as it isn't really a tactics book, but prepares readers a bit for his *Winning Chess Tactics* books. I imagine some in the community may say *Play Winning Chess* isn't a tactics book, and they are probably right. It seems to be in the spirit of your question though, and designed for beginner players.
  
  Additionally, the [Chess Steps](https://chess.stackexchange.com/a/39879/26335) series of workbooks are filled with puzzles. Tactics, board vision, checkmates, and defense are recurring themes.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2022-10-15. Score: 1
  
  Excellent for novices are Dan Heisman's books. My favorite of his was ***Back to Basics : Tactics*** . I have nostalgia for Seirawan's ***Winning Chess Tactics*** as it was the first chess book I read all the way through. Sent both to my grandsons. For more advanced study consider one of Weteschnik's books, although they are limited in the breadth of tactics they cover.
  
  
  ---
  
  