Master the ancient art of chess, the game of kings. Learn the key techniques and classic moves of the chess masters, including basic and advanced tactics, combinations, sacrifices, and pawn structures. Over 300 examples demonstrate attacking and defensive strategies for the opening, middle, and end phases of the game.

Chess For the Gifted and Busy cuts through the mysteries of strategy and tactics to show you just what you need to know and delivers all the essential knowledge.

"Chess Rules of Thumb" gives you the winning principles of chess in clear, short statements. Three-time US Champion Lev Alburt and World Chess Hall of Fame Curator Al Lawrence have put together three centuries of insights from the masters. Fun to browse or to read from cover-to-cover, it's a book that all chess playersfrom beginners to grandmasterslwiull enjoy for a lifetime. Like life, chess has its rules. The difference that your parents probably didn't tell you about chess. "Never cross the street before looking both ways." "Never discuss portable explosives in the airport security line." "Never overthrow the cut-off man." "Never download email from someone you don't know." "Never take the queen's knight pawn." Save hours of head-scratching and uncertainty in your own games and understand why the masters make the moves they do: "The worst square for a White knight is b.2." "With rook vs. two knights, exchanging queens is worth a pawn." "Never capture the b.2 pawn with the queen." "Rooks united on the seventh are blind pigs." "The winner is the one who commits the next-to-last mistake." Backed up with diagrams and illustrations to help you remember key principles, a glossary of essential chess terms and a rundown on all major openings, "Chess Rules of Thumb" will improve your chess play. And it's great fun to read "Never buy a chess book that isn't fun "

Chess Training Pocket Book II is a sequel to the best-selling Chess Training Pocket Book: 300 Most Important Positions and Ideas. In the same tradition, this follow-up volume will save you years of hit-and-miss reading and sporadic improvement because it gathers together for you the crucial, game-winning knowledge in one easy-to-carry book.

It will test, train, and sharpen your thinking skills. Each carefully chosen position offers a crucial building block in your chess knowledge.