Pump Up Your Rating by Axel Smith

Most people understand how to build physical strength, but many chess players are unclear about improving their playing strength. Axel Smith’s training methods have helped his friends, teammates, and students achieve Grandmaster norms and titles. While it requires hard work, Smith knows how to guide players toward boosting their chess rating.

The book covers all aspects of chess, from opening preparation and middlegame strategy to endgame techniques. Smith also explores chess's technical and psychological elements and offers advice on how to practice effectively for improvement.

• This book is typically rated for players with an Elo of 1800 - 2200
• 180 exercises and quizzes to reinforce concepts
• 50 model games with detailed analysis
• Practical advice on thought process and decision-making
• Develop your long-term strategic understanding
• Challenge yourself with puzzles with innovative solutions
• Top tips on time management and attitude

Reader’s Reviews:

This is by far the best chess book I've ever read. Every game is engaging and unique, and the explanations of the positions are always clear. The inclusion of training positions was a brilliant idea—they were highly instructive, mainly when I played them with a partner.

The puzzles are challenging, and their solutions are impressive, often based on simple tactical ideas with subtle nuances that are missing from many online tactics trainers. You have to stay sharp and calculate thoroughly. 

The best part of the book is the section on calculation—seeing the meticulous attention to detail of top players is genuinely inspiring. There are also helpful tips on time management and attitude that I haven't seen in any other chess book – Tindal.

In my experience, many chess books come with tedious, long variations and dull writing, but that’s not true with Pump Up Your Rating. The advice is practical and can be applied to your games right away. The chapter on training alone makes the book worth every penny - Lidl E.

About the Author:

Axel Smith is a Grandmaster and author from Sweden. Though certainly experienced on the tournament circuit - he was the 2013 Nordic Champion and 2012 Swedish Championship bronze medalist - GM Smith is perhaps best known for his writing. As the author of such popular training resources as Pump Up Your Rating and The Woodpecker Method, amateurs and pros alike have long relied on his insights to re-focus and streamline their training efforts, and with much success.

Other Details:

Paperback
375 pages
Dimensions: 16.76cm × 1.78cm × 23.88cm
ISBN-13: 9781907982736