Key Elements of Chess Tactics

Georgy Lisitsin (1909-72) was a respected Soviet master, theoretician and writer. In 1958 he published a revised edition of his most ambitious work, entitled Strategy and Tactics of Chess, which became one of the most legendary manuals in the Soviet chess school, and no doubt one of the books that motivated the young Bobby Fischer to learn Russian. 

Lisitsin broke down Strategy and Tactics into their key constituent elements, enabling players of all levels to study chess systematically, learning from carefully selected game fragments and studies. Key Elements of Chess Tactics and its companion volume Key Elements of Chess Strategy are the first ever complete English translations of Lisitsin’s classic. 

In Key Elements of Chess Tactics, Lisitsin illustrates key tactical concepts such as pinning, discovered attacks and checks, deflection, interference and many more, building a foundation before moving on to more complex and beautiful tactical themes.

Author

Georgy Lisitsin was a formidable player who thrice won the Leningrad Championship – an event which was stronger than many national championships. He qualified for the immensely strong Soviet Championship eleven times, once finishing in third place, behind the champion Botvinnik. When FIDE introduced the International Master title in 1950, Lisitsin was awarded it immediately.

Excerpt