Mastering Chess Logic

What exactly makes the greatest players of all-time, such as Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov so different from the also-rans?
The basic aspects of chess (calculation, understanding of opening theory and technical endgame ability) are of course of great importance. However, the more mysterious aspect of chess ability lies within the thought processes.

In particular:

• How does one evaluate certain moves to be better than others?
• How does one improve their feel of the game?

This work will tackle this woefully under-explored aspect of chess: the logic behind the game.

This book will explain how chess works at a basic level.

Topics include:

• What to think about when evaluating a position.
• How to generate and make use of the initiative.
• How to formulate and execute plans.

The reader also has plenty of opportunities to test their understanding by attempting 270 puzzles. These are mostly designed to develop understanding, as the justification of the moves is more important than the actual correct answer.

About the Authors

Joshua Sheng is an International Master with one Grandmaster norm from Santa Monica, California. He tied for first in the 2016 North American Junior Chess Championships and placed third in the 2019 U.S. Junior Chess Championships. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021. Joshua has been a serious chess coach for many years, and this is his first book.

Guannan Song is a FIDE Master with one International Master norm from Canada. His notable achievements include winning the Canadian Youth Chess Championships and scoring bronze at the North American Junior Chess Championships. He has represented Canada on the international stage at the World Youth Chess Championships and the Worth Youth U16 Chess Olympiad. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 2021.
Guannan is an experienced chess coach and the author of Practical Chess Puzzles: 600 Positions to Improve Your Calculation and Judgment (with Dachey Lin and Edward Song).