The Chess Toolbox – Practical Techniques Everyone Should Know by Thomas Willemze

In chess, like in home repair or construction, you won’t get far without the right tools. Having the proper resources is essential if you want to improve your game and secure more wins. However, many amateur players lack a chess "toolbox" entirely. Most don’t know what tools they need or even what options are out there. If there were a chess hardware store, they wouldn’t know what to look for.

International Master and skilled chess coach Thomas Willemze is here to help. In his straightforward guide, he identifies the most critical challenges to address. He provides vital strategies to mobilize your pieces effectively and gain an advantage.

Willemze teaches vital techniques such as breaking through blockades, replacing weak pieces, controlling open files, removing key defenders, utilizing the 7th rank, simplifying positions strategically, and battling for crucial entry squares, among other tactics.

To help you master these core techniques, the author includes numerous engaging examples and hundreds of practical exercises, encouraging you to think beyond your essential toolkit!

• This book is ideal for intermediate, advanced and serious club players
• Designed to help you address the most urgent chess problems that you often face during games
• Learn about the most essential tools in chess, including (and not limited to) piece coordination and concepts like structure and initiatives
• Understand how to find the correct destinations for pieces
• In the first three parts, you will learn a range of techniques such as:
  o    How to make the right exchanges
  o    Ways to mobilize your rooks
  o    Strategies to successfully attack and defend
  
• In the final part, you will learn:
  o    How to wrap up all the techniques and apply them to a practical situation: the Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP)
• Including quizzes, puzzles and many entertaining subjects 

Reader’s Reviews:

A truly superb learning guide for club players. The book offers a lucid and engaging introduction to a set of tactical and strategical motifs that the author - a professional trainer and a former National Youth Coach of the Dutch Chess Federation - considers most important for the amateur player: a toolbox, just like the title says - Matthew Sadler, Grandmaster Award-winning author of Chess for Life.

To significantly improve your play, it's necessary to employ these tools in practice. The book's 281 exercises offer you the chance to do so and are essential to go through if you want to get total value from this work. 

They are also full of exciting content, which makes studying more enjoyable. Thomas Willemze has made a unique and thoughtful contribution to the literature of chess improvement, as well as contributing new insights into several areas of the game. 

His writing is clear and uncluttered, consistently focusing on the practical player's needs. I can't think of another book that would be more helpful to the average player intent on improving his chess -John Watson, International Master Author of Chess Strategy in Action.

About the Author:

Thomas Willemze is an International Master (IM) from the Netherlands, known for his expertise in training amateur chess players. He has extensive experience as the National Youth Coach for the Dutch Chess Federation, where he has mentored and guided many young chess talents. Willemze is also an accomplished chess author, focusing on practical techniques and strategies that help players of all levels improve their game. His books are particularly valued for their clarity and pragmatic approach, addressing common weaknesses in amateur play.

Notable works by Willemze include The Chess Toolbox and 1001 Chess Endgame Exercises for Beginners, which emphasize problem-solving techniques and offer practical tools to elevate chess skills. His writing style is engaging, making complex concepts accessible to a wide audience.

Other details:

Paperback
1247 pages
Dimensions: 16.92cm x 2.34cm x 23.52cm
ISBN-13: 9789056917975