Inner Game of Chess by Andrew Soltis

This Inner Game of Chess by Andrew Soltis is an English-language paperback that focuses on one of the most important skills in practical chess: calculating variations and clearly visualising the position after each candidate move.

What this book is about

Andrew Soltis explores questions many ambitious players ask themselves: do masters really cut through the tree of variations in a methodical way, do attacking players always calculate far ahead, and what does “calculation” actually mean over the board? In The Inner Game of Chess, the central idea is the ability to see the position in front of you, and the position that would arise after the moves you are considering.

The book explains why tactical knowledge alone is not enough if a player cannot keep a clear picture of the changing board in mind. Soltis also discusses the common obstacles that make visualisation difficult and offers practical ways to improve this part of your game.

What you will find inside

The author highlights several foundations of good calculation: recognising tactical motifs, knowing when to stop analysing, and checking a chosen move before playing it. All of these depend on one core skill — being able to see the position clearly. That makes the book useful for players who want to make better decisions at the board and reduce mistakes caused by imprecise calculation.

This 21st-century edition includes new material and revised analysis.

For readers building a wider training library, this title sits naturally alongside other books on practical calculation and visualisation.

Key details

• Product type: chess book
• Author: Andrew Soltis
• Title: Inner Game of Chess
• Language: English
• Binding: paperback
• Page count: 328
• Edition: 21st-century edition with new material and revised analysis
• Subject: calculation of variations and visualisation of chess positions