How to Beat Your Dad at Chess

Description

♟️ What will you learn from this book?

Many children can attack the king but don’t know how to finish the job. They see danger but can’t find the combination. The reason is almost always the same: they haven’t seen that pattern before. Attacking chess is also recognition. A player who has seen Anastasia’s mate or the Arabian mate will spot it in a game before they even have time to calculate. That’s exactly what this book teaches: 50 checkmate patterns, clear, visual and repeatable.

🎯 Who is this book for?

• Children who already play full games and want to learn how to convert attacking positions
• Beginners who reach strong-looking positions but can’t find the final blow
• Parents and coaches looking for a visual, direct book for class or home use

📖 Contents

50 checkmate models organised by pattern, with exam positions and a glossary. Includes Anastasia’s mate, the Arabian mate, Damiano’s mate, Blackburne’s mate, Boden’s mate, Morphy’s mate and Legal’s mate, among others.

📚 Patterns, not calculation

The best players don’t calculate mates from scratch — they recognise them. Chandler presents each pattern visually, explains it briefly and illustrates it with examples. The exam positions verify real retention.

👤 About the author

Murray Chandler is a New Zealand Grandmaster, five-time Olympiad participant and author of several best-selling chess books for young players.

♟️ Why we recommend it at Chesscul

At Chesscul we recommend this book because it builds a specific skill children need: recognising when the king is truly in danger and knowing how to deliver the final blow.

🔗 Recommended companions

• Chess Tactics for Kids: covers the tactical resources that create the attacking positions this book teaches how to finish.
• Chess Tactics for Kids: Exercise Workbook: active practice of the same tactical patterns.
• Chess Openings for Kids: natural complement for understanding how to reach attacking positions from the opening.