A tactics course built entirely on forced mating combinations, by Jakov Geller, published by Elk and Ruby in 2021. Paperback, 361 pages, with the puzzles checked by computer for soundness and alternative solutions.
Thirty-one chapters across five parts. Most chapters isolate a single method, and the chapters titled Combinations mix earlier material back in so nothing is solved on autopilot:
- Part 1, basic skills: mate with one piece, mate with more than one piece, captures
- Part 2, your own pieces: sacrifices, pawn promotion, vacation, attraction
- Part 3, the opponent’s pieces: elimination, deflection, blocking, seizing the square
- Part 4, piece opposition: x-ray, pins, discovered check, double check, windmill, interference
- Part 5, a Test Yourself chapter, followed by solutions
Best for: beginner through club players drilling mating patterns. The closing chapter is hard enough to test much stronger players.