Simple Checkmates

by A.J. Gillam, Tony Gillam

Here is the classic guide to winning chess for beginners. Recommended by chess coaches the world over, it presents a wide range of specific chess positions and asks the reader to find the next move or series of moves that lead to checkmate -- with two diagrams per page and the answers spelled out underneath.

The beauty of Simple Checkmates is that it turns learning into a game. It's fun, it's fascinating, it's fundamental -- an invaluable tool for anyone who wants not only to play chess, but to win at chess. With more than 430 diagrams in all, this book is certain to take you -- or your children -- to a whole new level op play.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1978

About the author

Anthony John Gillam

other names:
- Tony Gillam, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Thomas Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple Checkmates, A.J. Gillam, 1978, but in the new, algebraic, notation, reformatted 1996 with just two, larger, diagrams per page, their solutions at the bottom of the page. 233pp. ISBN 034540307X. Dewey 794.124

116 mate-in-one; 317 mate-in-two. Begins by showing many patterns of checkmates with each of the pieces. Introduces pins; mate by pawn promotion; by discovered check and double check; back-row mates; mates with each piece. From the simplest to more complex.

Well done. For all ages.

In each drawing, white pawns move up; black pawns move down. It's always white to move and win.

In my diagrams below, capital letters are WHITE pieces; lowercase letters are black pieces:

#210 "Back Row Mates in Two Moves" 

 black
8 - - - - - - - k
7 - q - - - - p -
6 - - - - - - p -
5 - - - r Q - - -
4 - - - - - - - -
3 - - - - - - P -
2 - - - - - P K -
1 - - - - R - - - 
- a b c d e f g h
 WHITE

 Not 1 Qe8+? Kh7 2 Rh1+ Rh5+!! [discovered check from the black queen on b7] but 1 Rh1+! Kg8 2 Qe8 mate!


#427 "Some Harder Mates in Two Moves" 

 black
8 - - - - Q - - -
7 - - - - - p k -
6 - - N - - - p -
5 - - p P p - B p
4 - - n - P - - P
3 - - - - - - P K
2 - r - - - - - -
1 - - - - - - r -
- a b c d e f g h
 WHITE

 
Not 1 Bh6+?? Kh7! 2 Qxf7+ Kxh6 and white has only perpetual check to avoid black's … Rh1 mate. Instead, 1 Bf6+ Kxf6 2 Qh8 mate! or 1 Bf6+ Kh7 Qh8 mate.


There's lots more at 
https://lichess.org/practice 

Permalink:
https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/Tom... 

[Corey Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely useful for beginners, and also for intermediate players who want to sharpen their eyes for checkmates. There is simply no substitute for these kinds of exercises to develop the pattern recognition ability which underlies skill at chess-- and they're a lot of fun too!

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've owned this book for about 30 years. I bought it from an independent book store in a small market town in Dorset, England (this was back in the day when you could find independent bookstores in the market towns of England, let alone chess books). It has sat on my shelf in the UK and the US ever since and at least once a year I say "I really should go through that book". Well, I finally did it and it's a great book, the puzzles get slowly more challenging, as you'd expect, but the author has grouped them well under broad themes and there are some great, if brief, introductions to the various sections. The puzzles are also created in such a way to promote the recognition of familiar patterns on the board, which is invaluable.

Most people in the know in Chess say there is very little secret to improving from beginner to intermediate level, you just have to work through hundreds of puzzles to sharpen your mind and get some pattern recognition going. I've noticed an uptick in my abilities since I started taking books like this seriously a few years ago so it definitely works. Now, if I could just visit the 20 year old me and tell him...

I scored 402/433 by the way.

[Eyera the Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

i feel like this applies to most chess "books," but it's more of a workbook that you buy than a book that you get from the library(ik this may be obvious but everyone has their silly moments). from doing most of them in my head, I think that they're good practice positions but I think it's probably best to purchase the book if you really want good, extra practice. but by doing it in your head it does help with your chess visualization so that's good too(but it is difficult to get into the habit of it tbh). overall, good practice problems, would recommend

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to use for drilling yourself on simple checkmate patterns. Pattern recognition is important for success in chess, and this book can help.

[Max Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

The logical next step after the Fischer tactics book. It's harder, and the lessons are slightly more advanced. But the recipe is the same: repetition repetition repetition. Why is this worth getting when chesstempo.com has free tactics? I wondered the same thing, but now realize it's the curation that you're paying for. A good bit of work went into organizing these ~430 puzzles into coherent sections. I get the feeling I learned more by reading a 1-page primer and then doing 50 puzzles for each section than if I'd done the same number of un-curated online puzzles. Recommended for beginners!

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple Checkmates
and
Simple Chess Tactics

by Gillam is probably the ideal books for beginners, starting the path on reading future books on tactics

---

New Way: Learn Chess - Alexander and Beach
Simple Checkmates - Gillam
Simple Chess Tactics - Gillam

Are probably the best thing for someone's first books on chess

and will help going from 800 Elo to 1200 Elo

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually pretty good as a primer for young players. A lot of the positions are a bit strange, but the checkmate emphasis on certain patterns is good.

There was only one I found incorrect, puzzle 430 is supposed to be mate in 2, but that's cooked, and it is, in fact, mate in 3.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple checkmates is okay. It's really just a workbook but doesn't hold up against Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.

[Frederico Gomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It does well to get you to recognise different checkmate patterns

[Elias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for beginners, a little bit harder than Bobby Fischer teaches chess.

[Himanshu Kapila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has over 400 mate in 1 and mate in 2 positions. The theory is sparsely explained and it’s mostly solving the problems. Good for a player rated between 1000-1200. Note the number of checkmate which you couldn’t get right and solve it again once you have finished the book. This will help you learn the pattern and get the maximum out of this book.

[Alec · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great it has 430 diagrams split into types back row mates in 2, Bishop Checkmates, Queen Checkmates in 2, Rook Mates in 2 moves, Knight Mates in 2, mates in 1 move, Checkmates using a pin, Discovered and Double Checks, Queen sacrifices etc

I bring Simple Checkmates with me when I have long waits at the Hospital or Doctors appointments that take around 4-5 hours it's great for helping killing time I liked it so much I bought a second copy the first one is well worn and used.

[Mark Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this type of chess book. I am a beginner and may never have the stick-to-it-ness to study the game in anymore depth. Setting up a board and going through 30 or 40 moves I just don't have patience.