Power Mates: Essential Checkmating Strategies and Techniques

Some have criticized this work of Pandolfini's on having only 70 mating positions. If it were only a puzzle book that would be a valid criticism, but it's not one of the 1000+ problem type books that are out there. Rather what it is, and also what Pandolfini excels at, is a good intro/beginner/kid friendly book of 70 lightly annotated games showing mating attacks from modern chess praxis. The book provides you with the final diagram before the mate, so that in this instance they are "puzzels" but also for the beginning chess player having the full game allows them to learn opening systems (and opening mistakes) as well as to see how the mating position was arrived at. I have always believed that there are two sides to tactical chess first, seeing tactical oppurtunities and secondly, creating positions that have the potential for tactical shots. In chess literature the first skill is emphasized will the second is downplayed. I do not remember off hand who said once that he could see combinations as well as Alekhine but he could not create them, i.e. the positions of potential as well. Pandolfini here allows us to see both the how and the why.

I think that the negative reviews here are based on the assumption that Pandolfini tried to write a different kind ofbook but somehow failed. It's not a book of "checkmate puzzles"(although there are 70 of these)but, as its subtitle says, of elementary checkmating strategies. Its purpose is to show how a game develops from the opening to the point where one side is able to force mate. The 70 short games with light notes are not intended for the advanced player, but for those under USCF 1400 or so. For this purpose, it's an excellent book. Sure, more advanced players should look elsewhere, but so what?

I enjoy playing through short games, and games that end in checkmate. That is the kind of games this book has, with the added bonus that the author pauses to give the reader a chance to figure out how the checkmate is accomplished. I keep hoping there will be a "More Power Mates " soon!

this book is great for beginners, but is probably best suited for midlevel players.Instruction is done by selected tournament games, many by former(and current) world champions,while these games are short, each has 4 diagrams, and plenty of analysis by the author. eahc game is categorized by the opening,which by the way,teaches good and bad opening moves, and how to pounce your opponent when he makes a mistake. in this way, this book is like an advanced form of traps and zaps, also by pandolfini.At the end of each game, a diagram is presented, for you to find forced mate, with all solutions at the back of the book. hence this book becomes good for puzzles, as well. But the most valued thing i personally got from this book was sacrificing pieces. i used o be somewhat timid at doing this, but thanks to this book, i now sacrifice to shatter king protection, deflection, ect. sorry for the long review, but this is really a very thorough, handy book.