A Complete Guide to Practical Play

Experts agree that regularly solving tactical exercises is a vital component of chess training. However, it's also widely acknowledged that there is one major drawback to traditional chess puzzles - students know for sure that there is a genuine tactic in the position waiting to be found, whereas during a real game there is no such guarantee!

In this workbook, Volker Schlepütz and Grandmaster John Emms offer a unique framework to practise chess tactics independent of themes, difficulty and - most crucially - even the definite existence of an actual tactic in a given position. Analysing carefully selected games, from beginner through to club and tournament level, the reader assumes the role of a tactics detective, searching for mistakes and missed opportunities by both sides without the help of a chess engine.

Are you making the most of your chess talent? Do you always perform to the best of your ability? Do your results match up with your understanding of the game? If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' then read on!In The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess, Grandmaster and experienced tournament player John Emms reveals the secrets of how to maximize your potential and improve your results. Drawing upon his own over-the-board experiences, Emms tackles the all-important aspects of practical play: concentration and behaviour at the chessboard; playing for a win or a draw; winning good positions and saving difficult ones; handling time trouble; avoiding silly mistakes; understanding your strengths and weaknesses; building an opening repertoire; using chess computers and software; preparing for opponents; understanding and utilizing the finer points of the rules; and much more besides. Read this book and play every game with the confidence that you really can give it your best shot.

Dr Volker Schleputz is a highly ambitious amateur chess player and a member of the Sportfreunde Katernberg chess club in Essen, Germany. He holds a school chess licence and has gained experience in chess coaching. He has a PhD in economics from the University of Distance Learning Hagen and at present he is an instructor for economics at the University of Applied Science, Hamburg.

Grandmaster John Emms has played for England in two Chess Olympiads and was captain of the team at the 2002 Olympiad in Bled. He's an experienced coach who has worked with World Championship finalist Michael Adams and some of the UK's top junior players. He's also a highly respected chess writer, with many outstanding works to his name.