The test positions in this instructive book cover the entire spectrum of what a modern club player should know. The reader is invited to find tactical blows, deep strategic manoeuvres, opening traps, standard endgame plans and other principles in action. Sarhan Guliev and his brother Logman Guliev have carefully selected the positions from their own games. That is why these puzzles are completely unknown outside the former Soviet Union. The fact that they originated from real games guarantees that the tests are practical, not artificial. The solutions rarely involve spectacular fireworks, as is the case in most chess puzzle books. The solution may be a quiet move or you may be asked for a reasoned evaluation. In the solutions the Guliev brothers clearly explain the underlying ideas and the principles that are involved. They always offer a general conclusion and have added thoughtprovoking and entertaining aphorisms. In addition there are points to earn with every solution, so students can keep track of their development. Solving the puzzles in this unusual and entertaining book is a most effective way to improve your chess. It will help you to develop a vital skill: the ability to take practical decision in critical moments.

Chess Tests Mark Dvoretsky (1947-2016) is considered one of the greatest chess instructors in the modern era. He left behind a great legacy of many books and publications. At the time of his passing, there were two unpublished manuscripts he had finished (and one other co-authored with study composer Oleg Pervakov). “Chess Tests offers chessplayers material of very high quality for working on various themes, from training combinative vision to techniques of realizing advantages. I recommend using those materials for in-depth work in the directions mentioned in the book. If you follow this advice, then this volume will become a valuable addition to your chess studies and will help you reinforce skills and knowledge you have already obtained. “And here is probably the most important point. Dvoretsky wanted to write a book that would not only teach some intricacies of chess, but would also be simply a pleasure to read for aficionados of the game, so he tried to amass the ‘tastiest’ of examples here. I hope that this last book by him is going to achieve this, presenting its readers with many chess discoveries and joy of communication with the great coach and author.” – From the Foreword by Artur Yusupov

This text offers a variety of entertaining and thought-provoking exercises in fundamental chess skills. It will help players off all standards to identify strengths and pinpoint areas of their play that need more attention.

Test your skills against 100 fascinating positions from actual games and then choose the best move from among three choices. After completing the challenges, you can calculate your rating - be it beginner or grandmaster! In the solutions section, chess superstar Larry Evans carefully explains why the lesser alternatives available to you are inferior and how to analyze the position for maximum understanding. You'll learn from all the elements that make up victory or defeat to not only find your true chess level but improve your play.

Grandmaster and renowned chess coach Zenón Franco provides a training course designed to help all aspiring players to improve their chess. During each lesson, you are invited to play a 'game' in which you try to find the best moves at all the important moments. Points are awarded for selecting the best moves - and are deducted for selecting blunders! At the end of each lesson there is a points scale to indicate how well you have 'played'. This means you are able to accurately measure your progress as you work through the book. Readers are tested in all aspects of chess: attack, defence, counterattack, tactics, structures, strategy, endgames and so on. Following this interactive course of lessons is an ideal way to improve your game. A structured course of chess trainingIncludes 40 deeply annotated exercise gamesIdeal for both chess students and trainers

Unearth the secrets of chess mastery with "Mastering Chess Strategy and Tactics," your ultimate guide to elevating your game through the strategic art of pawn play. Pawns may be the most humble pieces on the chessboard, but they hold the power to shape the outcome of your matches and dictate the course of play. This comprehensive eBook offers a deep dive into understanding and harnessing their potential to dominate your opponents. Explore how pawns can define the opening and set your strategy in motion. Learn to identify and exploit isolated, doubled, and backward pawns, turning what appears to be a weakness into a formidable strength. Delve into tactical pawn breakthroughs that disrupt your opponent's plans and create unassailable advantages. Discover the strategic value of pawn chains and how their structure can either fortify your position or unravel your enemy’s defenses. Harness the power of the pawn majority to launch devastating attacks or execute a precise minority assault to weaken your rival’s position. From the basics of pawn endgames and creating passed pawns to using pawns as offensive weapons in dynamic middlegame play, this guide covers it all. Understand the nuances of pawn storms in attack, secure your king's safety, and emerge victorious with advanced pawn tactics. Unlock the psychological aspects of pawns, balancing intuition with calculation to outthink your opponent. Artfully wield strategic and tactical pawn sacrifices to surprise and conquer. Examine famous games where pawns turned the tide of battle, and use these lessons to craft your personal pawn strategy. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, this eBook is your gateway to mastering the silent but powerful soldiers of chess. Transform your understanding and command of pawn structures to become an unstoppable force on the chessboard. Your journey towards greatness begins here.

Portions of little and big coincidences in life. A storyteller in progress...

A complete guide to designing and building fun games with Qt and Qt Quick using associated toolsets Key Features A step by step guide to learn Qt by building simple yet entertaining games Get acquainted with a small yet powerful addition—Qt Gamepad Module, that enables Qt applications to support the use of gamepad hardware Understand technologies such as QML, OpenGL, and Qt Creator to design intuitive games Book Description Qt is the leading cross-platform toolkit for all significant desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms and is becoming popular by the day, especially on mobile and embedded devices. It's a powerful tool that perfectly fits the needs of game developers. This book will help you learn the basics of Qt and will equip you with the necessary toolsets to build apps and games. The book begins by how to create an application and prepare a working environment for both desktop and mobile platforms. You will learn how to use built-in Qt widgets and Form Editor to create a GUI application and then learn the basics of creating graphical interfaces and Qt's core concepts. Further, you'll learn to enrich your games by implementing network connectivity and employing scripting. You will learn about Qt's capabilities for handling strings and files, data storage, and serialization. Moving on, you will learn about the new Qt Gamepad module and how to add it in your game and then delve into OpenGL and Vulcan, and how it can be used in Qt applications to implement hardware-accelerated 2D and 3D graphics. You will then explore various facets of Qt Quick: how it can be used in games to add game logic, add game physics, and build astonishing UIs for your games. By the end of this book, you will have developed the skillset to develop interesting games with Qt. What you will learn Install the latest version of Qt on your system Understand the basic concepts of every Qt game and application Develop 2D object-oriented graphics using Qt Graphics View Build multiplayer games or add a chat function to your games with Qt Network module Script your game with Qt QML Explore the Qt Gamepad module in order to integrate gamepad support in C++ and QML applications Program resolution-independent and fluid UIs using QML and Qt Quick Control your game flow in line with mobile device sensors Test and debug your game easily with Qt Creator and Qt Test Who this book is for If you want to create great graphical user interfaces and astonishing games with Qt, this book is ideal for you. No previous knowledge of Qt is required; however knowledge of C++ is mandatory.

In this widely acclaimed chess classic, Russian trainer Mikhail Shereshevsky explains how to master the most important endgame principles. Where other endgame manuals focus on the basics and theoretical endgames, this book teaches the ‘big ideas’ that will help you find the most promising and most practical moves in any endgame. Even in endgames, it helps to think schematically instead of trying to calculate every move. To maximize your winning chances, this invaluable manual will teach you lessons such as ‘do not hurry’ and ‘centralize your king’ or ‘fight for the initiative’. Endgame Strategy is considered to be one of the most important endgame manuals. In comparison with the 1981 publication, this new edition has been thoroughly revised and the author has added dozens of new and inspiring positions. The book is highly recommended by club players, coaches, and grandmasters alike. ‘I especially read the chapter “Do not hurry!” with pleasure; not just because I agree with what he says, but more importantly because it defines the playing style of Magnus Carlsen,’ said Grandmaster Simen Agdestein, long-time trainer of the Norwegian World Champion.

Learn how to think three moves ahead Chess is a complex and challenging game—but that's what makes it so much fun. And this chess book for beginners doesn't just teach you the rules. From the Queen's Gambit to the Scholar's Mate, you'll learn how to execute the most effective strategies and become a worthy chess opponent. What sets this book apart from other chess strategy books: A beginner's guide—Jump right into the game even if you've never played before, with an overview of the board setup, the game mechanics, and the role of each piece. Winning techniques—Examine 30 gameplay tactics, complete with illustrations, that will help you plan your attack and play your way toward checkmate. Practice games—Try sample chess scenarios that challenge you to come up with the next move and sharpen your skills even further. Make your opening move with Chess Strategy for Beginners.