If you are a beginner chess player, with a rating below say 1400, and you are bewildered by the array of chess material ... rest easy. This book and tactics and this entire series of chess titles are absolutely excellent, and the best presented and thought out thematic chess books aimed at lower rated players in a way people can easily digest. Seriwan and Silman have created a deceptively simple formula for articulating complex points, and present the material with succinctness and clarity. Really this series is the defacto education plan and reference set for the beginner to U1400 player. Sadly i bought many titles before this series was published .. you can spare yourself wasted time and money.