Chess Exam and Training Guide

In February I completed Igor Khmelnitsky’s Chess Exam and Training Guide. I hadn’t planned to do this as part of my study this year, but IM Igor Foygel, who worked with Khmelnitsky on the book and who plays at my club, has been recommending it highly. I bought a copy from him.

The book presents a set of 100 positions and asks two multiple choice questions about each. On the next page, each test position is examined in detail, with scores and explanations given for each answer. Khmelnitsky has collected test scores from many chess players with a wide range of abilities, and he has developed a statistical scoring technique that correlates test scores with USCF ratings. Khmelnitsky and Foygel both say this test-rating correlation is pretty accurate.

My overall estimated rating based on my test score is 1745. This is about 350 points above my latest official USCF rating, and it’s about 250 points above my current unofficial rating. This discrepancy raises some questions. Is the test inaccurate, or am I just an “outlier”? My chess instructor, Dan Heisman, and I have discussed this issue in our last couple of lessons, and we have chosen an optimistic interpretation. Specifically, I do have the potential to be playing at the Class B level, and my performance on this untimed test is not an anomaly. But I also have some basic thought process and time management defects; these are preventing me from reaching my potential.

Statistics, ratings, and interpretations aside, I really enjoyed this book. The discussions that accompany each problem are clearly written and understandable. The problems themselves are fun and interesting to think about. The book’s layout is clear and effective. It shows great attention to detail, as well as consideration for the needs of the reader. For example, each position is reprinted on the solution page, which saves a lot of frustrated flipping back and forth.

The end of the book includes an overview of how to study and improve in different areas of the game, including specific book and software recommendations.

I highly recommend this book.