Chess Training for Post-Beginners

You have learned the rules of chess and developed some tactical skills. You are fascinated by the game and want to know more. So, the question is: what’s next? What is the best way to improve your play and start winning?

Yaroslav Srokovski, one of the most successful chess trainers in Europe, has developed a practical course which addresses the challenges that ambitious post-beginners face.

• What is the best way to train at chess?
• How do you acquire the ability to assess a position on the board?
• What should you try to achieve in the various stages of the game?
• Which long-term advantages should you aim for in what type of position?

In a clear and concise manner, Srokovski explains basic positional motifs like the strengths and weaknesses of pieces and pawns, of squares, files and diagonals. All these he illustrates with highly instructive examples. His tried-and-tested training material includes many exercises.

Yaroslav Srokovski is an International Master from Ukraine. Quite a few of his students have reached master or grandmaster level. Srokovski was appointed Senior Trainer by the world chess federation FIDE and has received the highest Soviet award for chess trainers, the Chigorin Medal.

Yaroslav Srokovski:
"Every player who studies my book intensively will gain at least 100 Elo points."

GM Adrian Mikhalchishin, Chairman of the FIDE Trainers Commission:
“I recommend this book to chess players who want to improve their understanding of chess and who wish to structure their training.”

Martin Rieger, SchachWelt:
"A crash course in understanding positional chess (..) In 12 chapters with exercises Srokovski manages to get you into great shape as a posional chess player."

Paul Kane, Manchester Chess Federation:
"Srokovski’s annotations are instructive, not least because they are refreshingly objective for textbooks of this sort. He reminds us that a positional advantage - anymore than an advantage in material – doesn’t necessarily guarantee victory (..) There are about 4 or 5 exercises to solve at the end of each chapter, 54 altogether, and the ‘Solutions’ section of the book is chockfull of analysis and explanation, so you’re not short-changed there (..) A model textbook with a clear structure and perspicacious, idiomatic prose. Very instructive and enjoyable."


GM Simen Agdestein, long-time trainer of Magnus Carlsen:
"An excellent book for all players, even for grandmasters. I, at least, did appreciate it."

GM Paul Motwani, The Scotsman:
"I am always eager to listen to any interesting ideas, and sometimes they are to be found in books that may have been primarily intended for less experienced players, but which are actually jam-packed with gold nuggets that grandmasters can still learn from. One such gem is IM Yaroslav Srokovski’s brand-new 'Chess Training for Post-Beginners, A Basic Course in Positional Understanding'. The book contains oodles of highly instructive exercises and annotated excerpts from lots of master battles. I’m not too proud to admit I’m honestly learning from this book!"

 W. Schweitzer, Rochade Europa:
“Working with this solid middlegame manual will noticeably improve the playing strength of ambitious youngsters.”

GM Karsten Muller, author of 'The Magic Tactics of Mikhail Tal':
"Srokovsky has managed to compile a really instructional middlegame primer not only for post-beginners."

CHESS Magazine:
"Covers the essentials of the non-tactical part of the game. The post-beginner or weaker club-player is very much kept in mind throughout."