Build Up Your Chess 2 (Yusupov's Chess School)

Yusupov is widely recognized as a first-class trainer, and this book reflects his skill. Each of the 24 chapters, one topic per chapter, has a learning section + an exercise section in which you apply your ability with the topic to numerous diagrams of real-life, over-the-board positions. The learning sections vary in approach: sometimes a section contains a variety of puzzles to solve (learn by doing, indeed!), other times Yusupov's in-depth analysis of a few GM games. The exercise sections include a scoring system that helps you assess whether you need to repeat the material. After reading the endgame strategy chapter of the book last week, I was able today to simplify a major piece endgame down to a drawn pawn endgame against an opponent rated over 2200 on the Free Internet Chess Server. Yusupov's thinking method for endgame strategy (develop your pieces, restrict your opponents', try to create more than one weakness in your opponent's position [or avoid more than one in yours]) certainly figured in the result. Pros: 1. Variety of didactic approaches. 2. Wide variety of important topics covered in all phases of the game. I aced the back-rank mate exercises, for example, but really struggled on the endgame strategy section. 3. Book tailored to a particular skill level (FIDE 1500-2000). If you are not this strong, choose book 1 in the series, if you are stronger choose book 3. 4. Exercises promote learning by doing, which is the most effective form of learning. As a bonus, Yusupov gives a superb, in-depth analysis for each exercise (along with the answer, of course!). 5. Yusupov's analysis of GM games is extremely helpful. 6. Overall test after the 24 sections helps you apply what you've learned without any hints regarding the nature of the key(s) to the position. 7. Excellent print quality (binding, font size, etc.) Cons: 1. I have seen a few of the exercise positions before in other works. This is a very minor problem, given the incidence (only 5-10%) and the quality of the previously seen positions. 2. Organization by topic sometimes diminishes the value of the material a bit. For example, in the back-rank mate exercises, you are obviously looking for back-rank mate possibilities. This is mitigated by the fact that the result of an exercise is frequently that you gain a couple of pawns by threatening back-rank mate, which is similar to what happens in real-life games. Also, note that there is a review test at the end which gives no hints about what you should be looking for (see #5 in Pros, above). 3. If you are looking for in-depth explanations of a topic (a la Jeremy Silman, also a superb author) you will not get them from Yusupov. On the other hand, I found his succinct explanations very helpful, and he does provide plenty of GM game analysis (see #6 in Pros, above). Overall: I've read dozens of chess books, and this work belongs on the top shelf. Get it, it's well worth your investment of money and time! I'd score this book a 4.5 out of 5, but since I'm the first reviewer I'll go ahead and award 5 stars. Note: To help you understand my background...I'm currently rated 1650 USCF and ~1900 on the Free Internet Chess Server.

This book has Very clear instructions to build the knowledge .

This book helps me to identity the weaknesses of my game that prevented me from escaping out of my current rating range. It is a lot of time consuming exercises, however.

Goed schaakboek. Is onderdeel van een serie van 9 boeken. Verdiep je eerst in de hele serie zodat je bij de juiste boek begint. Op de foto staan ze allemaal, met een volgnummer die ik zelf heb toegevoegd om eea in de juiste volgorde door te lezen.

Muito bom! Mas é para o estudante sério e determinado!

Arthur Yusupov took his knowledge from the Moscow school of chess. Wrote it down and created the best chess education materal I have ever seen. 9 books in total + test&excem. Each book has 12 chapters. Focusing on one thing at the time. Build as course material shall be. Examples, excercises and test. Like any University course 3 hours minimum per chapter => 72 hours. 75-100 hours per book is what I estimate as "normal" effort. If you manage one book. You will improve. If you do all 9. Wow !!!

my tenant has started playing in tournaments

Excelente libro del curso de Yusupov, son 9 libros que todo jugador y monitor debería leer, desde un nivel de 1400 hasta 2200.