This is a book for those who know the rules of chess and are keen to start winning games.

The quickest way to improve your chess is to learn tactics. But not just knowing the themes – you need to get used to using them in real positions. Master tactician John Nunn has thoughtfully crafted a course that gives you the basic nuggets of knowledge and immediately invites you to start finding tactical ideas for yourself.

Chess Tactics Workbook for Kids is the first in a new series of books that help players gain chess skills by tackling hundreds of carefully chosen exercises. The themes are similar to those in Gambit‘s best-selling ‘Chess for Kids’ series, but the focus is on getting vital hands-on experience. Many positions build on ones given earlier, showing how advanced ideas are normally made up of simpler ones that we can all grasp.

Each chapter introduces a basic theme and features dozens of exercises, with solutions that highlight the key points. In each chapter there are tips on what to look out for to help spot tactical ideas. As the chapters progress, we increasingly see how tactical ideas are combined together, with ideas from previous sections repeatedly appearing as part of a deadly one-two punch. The book ends with a series of six test papers where you are given no clues about the themes involved.

Dr John Nunn is one of the best-respected figures in world chess. He was among the world’s leading grandmasters for nearly twenty years and won four gold medals in chess Olympiads. In 2004, 2007 and 2010, Nunn was crowned World Chess Solving Champion, ahead of many former champions.

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.

“If you have recently acquired an unexpected role in home schooling and want to expand the curriculum, I can endorse Chess Tactics Workbook for Kids by John Nunn, part of a series of excellent instructional manuals with a lot of puzzles.” – GM Michael Adams, The Daily Telegraph

“John Nunn’s Chess Tactics Workbook for Kids has a PDF of 18 of its problems at the Gambit website. Test yourself on those first 18 fork problems and see how you do. Note that the earlier fork problems are easier than the later ones. For example, the first nine problems have one-move long solutions. If you are challenged by problem 18, which has a two-move-long solution, be aware that numbers 19 to 48 mostly have two-move and three-move-long solutions. I like Nunn’s book, but I am mystified by the ‘for kids’ part of its title. It seems appropriate for all readers” – Alexey Root, texaschess.org

“Nunn uses his unique skill set as a player, author and chess composer to explain the fundamentals of tactics. The author covers one theme per chapter, and provides the reader with clear solutions and explanations to summarize the material. A remarkable primer on chess tactics that can be used for players individually or with the assistance of parents” – Miguel Ararat, Florida Chess

“It was clear when working through the easier set of exercises that the author had thought carefully about their sequence since the reader should (we did for sure!) notice the level of difficulty increasing slowly but surely. In summary, we recommend this book to any junior or adult who wishes to improve their tactical vision and results” – John Upham, British Chess News

“A new series of course books to help young students... highly recommended, and not only for kids!” – John Elburg, chessbooks.nl

“John Nunn is one of the most trusted authors in chess and Chess Tactics Workbook for Kids continues his practice of producing well organized and clearly written instructional works” – IM John Donaldson

“Finally a real treat from that magic and brilliant pen that answers to the name of John Nunn. The great Mikhail Tal argued that when he needed to start again, to consider chess from another point of view, more creative, more original, more innovative, the best way was to do so was like children, to start from basic tactical problems viewed as if for the first time. And this is the principle from which the appreciated English GM starts: (re) look at everything from a new perspective. In short, a text that has everything it takes to quickly become a new classic” – Soloscacchi

“A very interesting puzzle book, presented in an attractive hardcover edition with illustrations. The exercises arranged by theme and also in various forms (“Tougher Positions” and “Does the Tactic Work?”) are a welcome change, forcing the solver to think creatively – of great importance during a game” – IM Herman Grooten, Schaaksite.nl