What it teaches
Susan Polgar, a former women's world champion and the first woman to earn the grandmaster title through norms, grew up on the training methods of her father, László Polgár. In this book, written with Paul Truong, she passes that training on. The tactical motifs are introduced in order, from forks and pins through discovered attacks, deflection, clearance, interference and mating combinations, each with a short explanation and a large set of puzzles.
Polgar's explanations are brief and practical, and the positions progress carefully in difficulty, so readers feel steady improvement.
Who it's for
Children and adult beginners through lower club level, roughly 600 to 1400, and coaches who want a structured tactics curriculum.
How to get the most from it
Follow the chapters in order and aim for accuracy over speed at first. Once a chapter feels easy, time yourself on a second pass. Reviewing missed puzzles a week later is where most of the learning happens.
Key takeaways
- Tactical skill is built one motif at a time, in a sensible order.
- Accuracy comes first; speed follows naturally with practice.
- Clearance, interference and deflection are powerful but often overlooked.
- Reviewing missed puzzles is where most of the learning happens.
Read next
Move on to the family's heavyweight, Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games, or learn to find tactics in your own games with Forcing Chess Moves.
