What chess book covers tactics deeply?

 For a deep dive into chess tactics, the following books are highly recommended. They focus on sharpening tactical skills, improving calculation, and understanding common tactical motifs.

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1. "The Art of Attack in Chess" by Vladimir Vukovic

• Why it's great: This book is often regarded as one of the best resources for learning how to attack in chess. Vukovic not only explains basic tactical themes like pins, forks, and discovered attacks but also covers more complex tactical ideas like sacrifices and combinations. The depth of analysis in typical attacking positions makes this book a tactical masterpiece, and it is ideal for intermediate and advanced players looking to improve their attacking prowess.

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2. "Sharpen Your Tactics: 1125 Brilliant Tactical Combinations" by Anatoly Lein

• Why it's great: This book offers over 1,100 tactical exercises that focus on building your ability to spot combinations. The puzzles are organized by difficulty, making it suitable for both intermediate and advanced players. Lein's explanations and selection of tactical positions allow for deep exploration of tactics in both middlegame and endgame scenarios.

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3. "Chess Tactics from Scratch: Understanding Chess Tactics" by Martin Weteschnik

• Why it's great: This book is a comprehensive guide to understanding tactical patterns from the ground up. It doesn't just give you puzzles to solve but explains the underlying principles of each tactical motif, such as forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and more. Weteschnik focuses on how and why tactics arise in games, making it an excellent book for players who want to fully understand the mechanics behind tactical ideas.

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4. "Improve Your Chess Tactics" by Yakov Neishtadt

• Why it's great: Neishtadt’s book is an excellent resource for those looking to go deep into the theory of tactics. He uses real games and instructive examples to show how tactics are created and executed. It offers not only exercises but also detailed explanations of critical positions, making it one of the more thorough books on chess tactics.

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5. "1001 Chess Exercises for Advanced Players" by Franco Masetti & Roberto Messa

• Why it's great: This book is ideal for players who want to focus specifically on advanced tactical exercises. It provides a deep collection of challenging puzzles, with themes such as double attacks, decoys, deflections, and interference. The exercises push players to recognize complex tactical patterns, making it a valuable tool for deepening tactical awareness.

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6. "Tactics Time! 1001 Chess Tactics from the Games of Everyday Chess Players" by Tim Brennan & Anthea Carson

• Why it's great: If you're looking for practical tactical exercises taken from real games, this book is a great fit. The puzzles aren't taken from grandmaster games but from amateur games, making them highly relevant for club-level players. It's packed with over 1,000 puzzles that cover a wide range of tactical ideas, and it emphasizes how these tactics occur frequently in real games.

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7. "Chess Tactics for Champions" by Susan Polgar

• Why it's great: Polgar, a former Women’s World Champion, covers a broad range of tactics in this book, but with deep explanations that go beyond just solving puzzles. She breaks down each tactical theme—such as pins, forks, skewers, and discovered attacks—and provides exercises along with detailed analysis. It's an excellent book for players looking to go from intermediate to advanced in their tactical understanding.

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8. "Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations" by The Chess Informant

• Why it's great: This is one of the most comprehensive collections of chess combinations available. The book contains thousands of tactical positions, organized by tactical themes. It is used by both intermediate and advanced players to practice tactical combinations in various positions. If you're serious about diving deep into tactics, this book is a must-have.

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Conclusion

For a deep, comprehensive study of tactics, these books offer a combination of theory, exercises, and examples from real games. If you're looking to improve your tactical awareness and calculation skills, I would highly recommend "The Art of Attack in Chess" by Vladimir Vukovic for an aggressive, attacking approach or "Chess Tactics from Scratch" by Martin Weteschnik for a more structured breakdown of tactical patterns.