First two books were (at first edition in 1997) just in one volume (Chess School 1a + 1b = it

was just Chess School 1) although at present they are split into the two. There are stages
(the same as chapters in a standard books) and each one seems to be more demanding for
readers (I mean a bit more difficult than the previous ones).


Chess School 1a: for players rated 800-1300
720 positions - 3 stages of studies (think of it in the term "3 levels of difficulty").
1st level - pages 9-29: for players rated 900-1000
a) mate #1 (with hint what piece gives mate) - positions 1-60
b) mate #1 (without hint what piece gives mate) - positions 61-120

2nd level - pages 31-80: for players rated 1000-1200
b) mate #1 (without hint what piece gives mate) - positions 121-150
c) gaining (winning) material - gain a rook (with hint what piece you should win) - positions
151-174
d) gaining (winning) material - gain a knight (with hint what piece you should win) -
positions 175-186
d) gaining (winning) material - gain a bishop (with hint what piece you should win) -
positions 187-198
e) gaining (winning) material - gain a queen (with hint what piece you should win) -
positions 199-240
f) find a draw: positions 241-270
g) find #2 with the help of double check: positions 271-300
h) find #2 with the help of queen sacrifice: positions 301-372
i) find #2 with the help of rook sacrifice: positions 373-402
j) find #2 with the help of bishop sacrifice: positions 403-407
k) find #2 with the help of knight sacrifice: positions 408-419

3rd level - pages 82-131 for players rated 1200-1400
a) find #2: queen checkmates: positions 420-467
b) find #2: rook checkmates: positions 468-503
c) find #2: knight checkmates: positions 504-533
d) find #2: bishop checkmates: positions 534-557
e) find #2: pawn checkmates: positions 558-569
f) gaining (winning) material - gain a rook: positions 570-587
g) gaining (winning) material - gain a knight: positions 588-611
h) gaining (winning) material - gain a bishop: positions 612-641
i) gaining (winning) material - gain a queen: positions 642-719

From page 132 untill 142 - you can find solutions.

Chess School 1b: for players rated 1300-1700
The continuation from the volume 1a: 580 positions - 2 stages of studies (think of it in the
term "2 levels of difficulty").
4th level - pages 5-54 for players rated 1200-1500
a) gaining (winning) material - gain a queen: positions 720-815
b) gaining (winning) material - gain a rook: positions 816-857
c) gaining (winning) material - gain a bishop: positions 858-899
d) gaining (winning) material - gain a knight: positions 900-929
e) find a draw: positions 930-959
f) how to proceed (how to play - no hints!): positions 960-1017

5th level - pages 56-104 for players rated 1500-1700
a) how to proceed (how to play - no hints!): positions 1018-1299

From page 103 untill 112 - you can find solutions.

Chess School 2: for players rated 1600-2000
The continuation from the volume 1 (a+b): this time 1188 positions - 6 stages of studies
(think of it in the term "6 levels of difficulty"). The best thing is that book does not include
ANY hints! You have to find the best solution - a series of move that gives positive result
(effect). It means - sometimes you have to win (if it is possible) and sometimes you have to
find how to draw from inferior (lost at first sight) position.
6th level: positions 1-198 (pages 7-40) for players rated 1650-1800
7th level: positions 199-396 (pages 42-74) for players rated 1800-1900
8th level: positions 397-594 (pages 76-108) for players rated 1900-2000
9th level: positions 595-792 (pages 110-142) for players rated 2000-2100
10th level: positions 793-990 (pages 144-176) for players rated 2100-2150
11th level: positions 991-1188 (pages 178-210) for players rated 2150-2200

From page 211 untill 255 - you can find solutions.

Chess School 3: for players rated 1900-2200

This volume is some kind of essential training excercise for improvement in the calculation
of variations. The positions were specially selected for this purpose. We should remember
that the ability to calculate variations quickly and deeply is an inherent quality of a strong
chess player. The best way of acquiring this skill is by systematic, purposeful training.

The ability to calculate variations is an essential component of a chessplayer's practical
strenght. During a game one has to select candidate moves and (quite) quickly calculate all
the (important) branchess (variations of possible moves played by two sides), spending as
little time as possible on this. The best way of acquiring this skill is by systematic,
purposeful training.

This book gives positions intended for training of players rated at least 2000 (ELO) or above
(it means 1st category players or A players and above). In each position you have to find
the strongest move and in some cases a choice out of several suggested moves, justifying
(providing) it with variations (you have calculated in your head).

The author (IM Alexander Mazja) gives the metodological advice for conducting
the training. I have decided to expand it and give a bit more explanation of his pieces of
advice. I hope you might be satisfied with the results:
1. Set up the position on a board and take yourself the side whose turn it is to
move (try to imagine you are playing against IM or GM and you have the chance to crush
him or save the game before losing - if you find the best variation).

2. Fix the time for thought (thinking time) depending on the complexity of the
position (15-30 minutes). If after that period of time you are not able to find a solution,
just stop, relax or try to solve another task. Do not blame yourself if you have really tried
hard! Nobody borns as an expert, but with the help of efficient traing - most players might
make a real progress toward mastery!

3. Decide on several candidate moves (no more than 3-5 minutes). It is important NOT
to hesitate when you want to make selection of the moves you want to consider in a later
stage. Do not afraid of taking too much or too little of them - as you are learning how to do
it and after some trials you are going to understand what moves should be taken into
consideration and what should be discarded without further examination. Remember that
when you are learning - the mistakes are the natural process of that!

4. Calculate and write down the variations, beginning with the first candidate
move and so on. You can write in any way you want (A variation, B, C and coming back to
one of them or write all the "exhausted" answers to A, next to B and C). However the more
efficient way you work out - the better the calculation process might be functioning. You are
building your own "calculation system".

5. Choose the best move. No matter how many candidate moves you have selected and
what kind of position they were terminated - you HAVE to decide what is the best move. It
is your move and remember - the opponent is respected GrandMaster from the top elite
(have you ever outplayed such giants of the chessboard as Kramnik, Kasparov, Fischer,
Spassky, Petrosian, Carlsen, Anand, Topalov, Morozevich and similar guys?). Now you have
the opportunity to show and convince him (yes, your favourite GM!) you are able to choose
the best move possible - even if not every time! Be sure you have the same powerful brain
when proper training is being made! This way you might build and improve your self-
confidence!

6. In the case of insufficient time for calculation - you can add 5-10 minutes (but
just once per position and try not to "use if too often" - in a real play you might not have
the opportunity to "gain a time" - especially when you have left just 15 minutes on your
clock). The biggest benefit of that "helping hand" is to convince yourself that "I would be
able to figure it out when I would have another 5 to 10 minutes". However when you are
not able to find the best solution when using this "trick" - do not cheat yourself! Respect
yourself and accept your weak sides - the better your know yourself the better you can
overcome your disadvantages!

7. If at the end of the calculation (process) you have the feeling that the solution
has not been found (even if you tried really hard!), the position can be analysed by
moving the pieces. After that you should write down all the results of your analysis
together with the conclusions what you have (or haven't!) seen when you were not able to
move the pieces. Remember that it is VERY important to record not only the correct
solution, but also the entire process of the search. This will help you and your coach
(trainer) in your work toward the improvement at this area! The more you discover - the
easier it will be to work with the problems at this specific area
The book is divided into 8 parts - you can see what they cover:
1. Combinative vision - pages 11-26
Positions 1-90

2. Accurate calculation of short variations - pages 27-37
Positions 91-150

3. Lenghty forcing variations - pages 38-46
Positions 151-198

4. Rational choice of candidate moves - pages 47-57
Positions 199-258

5. Finding strong moves during calculations - pages 58-80
Positions 259-390

6. Taking account of the opponent's resources - pages 81-101
Positions 391-510

7. Searching for unusual solutions - pages 102-120
Positions 511-618

8. Complicated calculation - pages 121-143
Positions 619-750

From page 144 untill 183 - you can find solutions.
Chess School 4: for players rated 1600-1900
Here you can find 600 positions focused entirely on endings - they are most standard (exact)
endgame positions. The book consists of 8 parts: it covers - pawn endings, Knight endings,
Bishop endings, Bishop against Knight, mixed piece endings, mate with the minor pieces, Rook
endings, Queen endings and endings with an unusual material balance. Each section concludes
with tests for independent solution (the answers are included at the end of the book).

It is really good volume to test your skills at endings. In my opinion this volume should be
very good test for players at least rated 1600-1700 (best for those 1750-1850). Please
remember that it is testing manual, not instructional one! Many positions are just some kind of
reminder or they are studies! It means the basic knowledge of chess endgames is expected to
do this volume and learn some new stuff!
PART 1: Pawn endings (pages 7-24)
Positions 1-42; test yourself: positions 43-73

PART 2: Knight endings (pages 25-37)
Positions 74-106; test yourself: positions 107-120

PART 3: Bishop endings (pages 38-57)
Positions 121-176; test yourself: positions 177-190

PART 4: Bishop against Knight (pages 58-69)
Positions 191-222; test yourself: positions 223-232

PART 5: Mixed pieces - mate with the minor pieces (pages 70-74)
Positions 233-238 and 241-244; test yourself: positions 239-240 and 245

PART 6: Rook endings (pages 75-131)
Positions 246-414; test yourself: positions 415-438

PART 7: Queen endings (pages 132-148)
Positions 439-489; test yourself: positions 490-497

PART 8: Endings with unusual material balance (pages 149-174)
Positions 498-574; test yourself: positions 575-600

From page 175 untill 183 - you can find solutions.