Most chess puzzle books put you in an artificial situation: you are told
a combination exists, what the theme is and what you are required to
achieve. This one is different. In a real game, a player may sometimes
need to find a combination. On the other hand he may have to reject a
tactical idea and simply find a good positional move. His task is to
find the right move, whatever it may be. The 300 puzzles in this book
put you precisely in that situation. Spectacular ideas abound in these
positions, but it is for you to decide whether to go in for them, or
whether you would be falling into a trap. If you need them, there are
hints to help you on your way. The book ends with a series of tests to
measure your skills against those of other players.
For this new edition, John Nunn, a top-class grandmaster and a solving
world champion, has added 50 new puzzles (with hints and detailed
solutions) to test your skills to the full. For ease of following, extra
diagrams have been added to the solutions throughout. Overall the book
is 60 per cent bigger than the first edition.