“I noticed that most of the students [at the Lviv chess school] were pretty good at calculating variations and finding tactical ideas. But when I gave them a strategic exercise they became a little confused. ... I realized that few good books of a suitable level with strategic exercises have been published.” – Martyn Kravtsiv

So he decided to write one! After tackling his exercises, you will have a greater understanding of which piece needs to be exchanged, whether to advance a pawn or leave it where it is, along with a variety of other strategic questions involving outposts, open lines, structures and where to attack.

But there remains the problem that strategic exercises often lack clear-cut solutions, with the right course a matter of taste or opinion. Martyn has solved this by often including a tactic in the solution, but the reason it works is based on the correct strategic decision having been made. Unlocking the strategic secrets of each position will lead you to this hidden treasure!

The most difficult exercises in this book will challenge even masters, so for the rest of us there is a helpful hint provided. Full and detailed solutions explain the strategic and tactical ideas in each position, and amount to a wide-ranging course in chess strategy.

Martyn Kravtsiv is an experienced grandmaster and trainer from Lviv, Ukraine. His tournament results include tied first places at Cappelle in 2012 and the 2015 Ukrainian Championship, as well as being blitz champion of the 2008 World Mind Sports Games (at age 17). He represented his country at the 2017 World Team Championship and was a coach for the team that won silver medals at the 2016 Olympiad.

Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.

Watch a YouTube video in which GM John Nunn presents a sample from this book.

“The literature on improving at chess is enriched with 400 Chess Strategy Puzzles by GM Martyn Kravtsiv. This book is geared towards club players and those who want to improve their positional evaluation” – Miguel Ararat, Florida Chess Magazine

“Perfect to develop your chess strategy skills… a brilliant book” – John Elburg, chessbooks.nl

“The solutions of the ‘400 Chess Strategy Puzzles’ are authentic positional chess lessons.” – Luis Fernández Siles @capakhine