The Bottom Line
(November 2007) 'My Daily Exercise: 365 Tactical Tests to Improve Your Chess; Volume 1: From Beginner to Club Player' by Heinz Brunthaler; New in Chess; May 2007; 167 pages.
• 'Most games of chess are decided through tactics. The best advice for a novice who wants to improve quickly is therefore: improve your tactical abilities. This books helps in identifying weak points in the position of your opponent, in recognizing patterns of combinations, and in visualizing tricks.' [Back cover]
• Contains 365 puzzle positions and solutions, using figurine algebraic notation.
Pros
- The puzzles are difficult enough to be challenging, easy enough not to be discouraging.
- Many familiar tactical situations intermingled with more extraordinary positions.
- Difficult to see the solutions accidentally, a common failing of many puzzle books.
Cons
- Good players will find many of the puzzles too easy.
- Day 365 mentions a sequel '365 Tactics for Club Players', which is not (yet) available.
- A few positions mislabeled ('Who is to move?').
- No sources listed, i.e. original players and game, for puzzles.
Description
- Note to the reader, especially one with little time for chess training.
- 91 pages with four puzzles per page + final puzzle; diagrams give only who is on move.
- 61 pages with six solutions per page.
- Explanation of (very basic) symbols, '#' (checkmate) is the only special symbol.
- Glossary of Terms (5 pages); 'Racheschach' is one we didn't know.
Guide Review - My Daily Exercise: 365 Tactical Tests to Improve Your Chess
Heinz Brunthaler is a German chess coach, writer, and contributor to the German chess magazine 'Rochade Europa'.
Before 'My Daily Exercise', he authored 'Chess for Kids And Parents' (Quality Chess, 2006).
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This is the type of book you use to solve chess puzzles in your spare time: waiting in the car, at the airport, at the train station, before you fall asleep. Each solution has a brief explanation.
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Suggested for players wanting an introduction to basic chess tactics and puzzles. Suitable for beginners.
