The Chess Scalpel

will be suggestions  including tricky ones  to measure your concentration level. The ideas behind the moves are always explained. Points are awarded for the right answers as well as for some other moves, and at the end there is a general assessment plus a review of some of the things to be learned from the game. During my coaching period I was able to witness how motivating it is for kids to receive points for the right answers, their lives are at stake when they try to find the answers, and it is a challenge much appreciated by them. Later I also noticed a similar effect with adults although, unlike the kids, the older students try to hide it. The final score is not that important; it is not scientifically based. But of course the more points you get the better you ave playeda. The effort you put into trying to find the best move every time is what matters most. I firmly believe it really helps to learn a little more about playing chess with every game. The methodology recommended for solving the exercises is the old-school one of using a piece of paper to cover the text and scrolling down the page as you advance.