Publisher: Chess Informant, 2013, Pages 660, Hardcover
Total of 3,001 combinations
Following the path of:
3rd edition: Anthology of Chess Combinations (2005)
2nd edition: Anthology of Chess Combinations (1995)
1st edition: Encyclopaedia of Chess Middlegames – Combinations (1980)
Themes
a. Annihilation of defence
b. Blockade
c. Clearance
d. Deflection
e. Discovered attack
f. Pinning
g. Demolition of pawn structure
h. Decoy
i. Interference
j. Double attack
The White Classic
By Josip Asik, Director of Chess Informant
I have witnessed a number of occasions where someone inquired about the Encyclopedia of Middlegames – Combinations; published in 1980 that old book seemed to be well remembered and highly regarded. In addition, whenever a chess trainer visited our office, they would praise "the white classic," because that book stood out by its white cover.
In the meantime, Chess Informant had published two more editions of the very same book, under the name Anthology of Chess Combinations, using an orange color, which was fashionable in 1995 and 2005. According to the trainers, the first edition was much more suitable for daily use in their chess classrooms because of its simplicity. Later editions covered more complicated structures that turned out to be more difficult to understand and harder to use as a learning tool. Thus simplicity is king.
Well, now that the third edition has been out of print for some time, we are pleased to present the new fourth edition Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations. A return to its roots in title, content, and cover. Inside there are ten themes with 3,001 combinations subdivided into three difficulty levels, from easiest to most challenging. It is a beautiful and powerful hardcover book at 660 pages that offers years of enjoyment and training material to test the reader's tactical ability.
ECC4 is a completely revised and updated edition of one of the fundamental books about the art of combinational chess. In comparison to the third edition there are 292 more examples. The content represents the work of our Editorial Board of experienced grandmasters and international masters. It is always possible that some known combinations were missed; however, this is one of the reasons why different editions exist and future ones will follow.
