Jon Speelman is one of the most successful British chess players of all time, renowned for his creative play and remarkable calculation skills. He is also a highly experienced author and chess coach. His personal selection of chess problems will entertain, test and educate players of all abilities.

This book covers the following topics, among others:
Overworked characters and distraction
Stalemate
The pike
The bondage
Farm conversion
Line opening and closing
Uncovered figures
Matting attacks
The basic series
Springer forks

Jon Speelman reached the semi-finals of the World Championship Candidates once and was a mainstay of the England team for a quarter of a century, including three times when the team won the silver medal at the Chess Olympiad. He is a highly respected author, particularly known for his groundbreaking work on endgame topics. This is his first book for Gambit.

"A book that takes up the basics of the standard works and offers entertaining entertainment in the search for the clever solution." - Thomas Machatzke, Lüdenscheider Nachrichten

"Jon Speelman's book of chess problems leaves nothing to be desired if the aim of reading is to gain knowledge in an entertaining way. Due to the good price-performance ratio, this is a volume that is recommended in every respect and will provide the reader with entertainment and aha moments." - Richard Brömel, Rochade Europa

"The combinatorics puzzles are so cleverly chosen, that is to say so exemplary, that they should be part of the actual learning content of every amateur when playing the game. With such books, you can not only study systematically with the board in front of your head, but also enjoy them 'just for fun': you read a few pages on the train, the next ones during your coffee break, more before you go to sleep - whenever and wherever you feel like learning a bit of chess tactics. The main thing is: don't cheat..." - Walter Eigenmann, Glarean Magazine

"And then you realize again, you can never know enough tactics!" - Harald Fietz, Schach Magazin 64

"Jon's work can be recommended without reservation." - Gerhard Josten, Rochade Europa

"... Jon Speelman has indeed done everything right by taking the didactically recommended progression from the simple to the complex." - E Carl, Rochade Europa

"If you ever get tired of chess, pick up the book and do the puzzle, it really makes you want to play chess!" - Martin Rieger, www.freechess.info

"...his 300 problems will provide the reader with an abundance of entertaining and informative examples, the imagination and calculation of which Speelman describes as the essence of tactics." - Steve Goldberg, www.chesscafe.com

"...fulfills the expectations of the cover in every way. If you have the slightest desire to polish your chess calculations, improve your skill at solving studies, play better against Fritz, then this is the book for you, as it was for this reviewer. Speelman at his unique best." - John Roycroft, EG

"A very useful selection of tactical problems from a true connoisseur. A highly recommended example of the genre, useful for improving tactical skills and for training before a chess tournament. Also ideal for travelling, traffic jams and waiting rooms..." - Phil Adams, 3Cs website

"Speelman is a tremendously creative grandmaster and the problems in this book confirm this fact." - Carl Portman, Defence Focus

"I find that books like this can be very useful for improving one's tactical awareness in preparation for a rapid chess tournament, or as a way to combat boredom on a long train journey" - Alan Sutton, En Passant

"This is a traditional problem book, apart from the fact that it is written by Jon Speelman, who is of course one of the most remarkably creative and imaginative chess players. The level of difficulty is quite wide-ranging, from easy/well known to highly original/diabolical... A highly entertaining selection." - John Saunders, British Chess Magazine

"...a brilliant and lively read, ideal for a quick problem-solving session to warm up for the next game" - Sean Marsh, marshtowers.blogspot.com

"One of the most exciting problem books I have ever had in my hands!" - John Elburg, chessbooks.nl

"This book is a tactical delight. Speelman's entertaining selection of game fragments and compositions ranges from simple tactical topics to chess magic, and both beginners and tournament players can enjoy it." - GM Lubomir Kavalek, Washington Post

"Speelman has organized the material in each chapter so that the student builds on previous knowledge, with each puzzle containing a clue. Helpful explanations of the solutions are provided at the end of the book. Jon Speelman's Book of Chess Problems is written by someone who has mastered the game and has spent a long time passing on his knowledge." - IM John Donaldson, www.jeremysilman.com

"...a brilliant brand-new soon-to-be bestseller" - GM Paul Motwani, The Scotsman