Forcing Chess Moves | Charles Hertan

Charles Hertan, a seasoned chess coach from Massachusetts, has uncovered a remarkable insight: the tendency to overlook crucial winning moves often stems from human bias. Our brains naturally dismiss many winning options simply because they appear counter-intuitive or unconventional.

*Winner of the ChessCafe Book of the Year Award (2008).

• While accessible to a broad audience, the material is most suitable for intermediate to advanced players with a basic understanding of chess tactics who aim to refine their skills. It is also beneficial for club level players.
• By studying forcing sequences according to Hertan’s method you will develop analytical precision
• Learn how to overcome your biases, that are preventing you from winning
• Understand where to look for counter-intuitive or unnatural moves
• Hertan teaches you to ‘use COMPUTER EYES’ to look for the most forcing sequence first
• Win more games by recognising moves that matter!

Reader’s Reviews:

Throughout the book, the author frequently emphasizes the term 'COMPUTER EYES,' always written in all caps. While one reviewer found this repetition irritating, I believe it serves an important teaching purpose. The central idea of the book is to train players to calculate all forcing moves, including those that might initially seem odd, and to develop stronger "brute force calculation" skills. By "computer eyes," the author refers to the ability to objectively evaluate a position and consider every possible move without bias. Repeating this term reinforces the book’s core message: to become a skilled tactician, cultivating this mindset is essential - Zapovsky

As an avid enthusiast of studying tactics to enhance my chess skills, I’ve amassed a substantial collection of books on the subject. This particular book stands out as an exceptionally well-written resource on tactics and is rapidly becoming one of my favorites. It features a well-organized layout, clear and large diagrams, and excellent font and print quality. The book offers a stimulating challenge with 650 fresh and highly engaging tactical positions, thoughtfully divided into examples and exercises - Borat

About the Author:

Charles Hertan is a FIDE Master from Massachusetts who has taught chess for over 30 years. He's gained recognition for his ability to break down complex chess concepts into understandable terms for players of all levels. In addition to Strike Like Judit!, he also wrote Forcing Chess Moves, which won the prestigious 2008 Chess Cafe Book of the Year Award.

Other Details:

Paperback

Pages: 372

Dimensions: 17.4 x 2.4 x 23.7cm

ISBN-13: 9789056912437