Simple Checkmates by A.J. Gilliam
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Book Reviews of Simple Checkmates
Book Review: A core skill-builder for our school chess club
Summary: 5 Stars
Our small year-round school (3rd-12th grade) has used this book regularly since the chess club was founded. New club members join every quarter but are generally not strong players, so they seldom reach checkmate opportunities in club play. We give each student a double-page spread (4 problems) to solve without marking up the book: we cover the answers, then students must point out the checkmate to an adult or a stronger player. This way the book can be used again and again. Solving 4 puzzles or 8 in the course of a club meeting is a nice short exercise for even the most hyper students.
Students start out with the 1-move puzzles and move on to 2-moves as they get stronger. This practical, repeated exposure to basic mates starts showing up in their own games.
I've seen a 10th grader improve his skills by regular practice with the book, but have also used it successfully with my 6-year-old daughter (who plays USCF tournaments). I definitely see a correlation in beginners who use these puzzles often and their growing skill in tournament chess. Of course, as the other reviewers have pointed out, this is only one element of chess training.
Book Review: Easy to use - Well presented - Essential reading!
Summary: 5 Stars
As a long-time casual chess player who recently decided to take his chess to the next level and begin to learn more about this wonderful game, I found this book simply outstanding.The layout of the book is uncluttered, with two problems per page and the answers to these problems listed at the bottom of the page. This feature adds greatly to the "user-friendly" nature of the book and avoids repeated excursions to the back of the book, which in a book of this nature (with over 400 problems to solve) would be a major headache.
There is instructional content in this book, but it is clear, concise and doesn't detract from the purpose of the book: to impart an understanding of basic mating concepts in chess and a recognition of these patterns in gameplay.
I would still consider myself a beginner to intermediate level player but it has helped me immensely in my understanding of this aspect of chess.
Book Review: Excellent book for the beginner
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book a long time ago and kept it around because I felt it would be useful later. It has proven to be. My son is just starting to learn chess and for his individual study I have him working through the book. The progressively harder problems have proven a challenge for him exactly as I intended. Many of the other books out there on checkmating are above his level and he would quickly get discouraged. This one is just right: challenging enough where he doesn't get bored but not so hard he just gives up.If you're new to chess, a casual player, or just one who likes running through chess problems quickly, this is a good book. The answers are at the bottom of the pages, so there's no flipping between two different sections of the book. A slip of paper or a bookmark and you can keep the answer hidden until you've made your guess. I would prefer all puzzle books to be written this way.
Book Review: Helps develop real insight
Summary: 5 Stars
This book does a great job of helping the reader develop a really strong feeling for the strategies of chess. All of the exercises are in the form of mate-in-one or mate-in-two puzzles, but they are carefully crafted to illustrate the power of different pieces, and how different pieces may work together. This new insight improves one's games tremendously.You don't have to be a rank novice to benefit from this book. It can be of help even to people who have played the game, but who just want to broaden their understanding.
Also, since the material is presented in the form of puzzles, it doesn't contain wordy discussion of strategies. This is good in two ways: 1) it helps develop your ability to see the strategies directly on the board during a game, and 2) it makes this a perfect book for kids (I've used it with kids as young as 8, with a lot of success).
Book Review: Excellent next step for the beginning player
Summary: 5 Stars
This book begins with a few diagrams showing standard mating positions with various configurations of pieces and pawns. It then givesthe student 116 diagrams with White to mate in one. The early positions are very simple and they get more complicated as the book progresses. The second part has over 300 mates-in-two. Again, the early ones are painfully simple and progress to more sophisticated positions. This is a perfect book for young (and older) beginners. It bridges the gap between learning the rules of how the pieces move and having it be a perceptual habit. It demands work from the reader but rewards the reader with many opportunities for success. Highly recommended for scolastic coaches and chess teachers.