There are many books on the market for beginners, and very many more for established tournament players. The Chess Heroes project offers a series of books providing novices with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful competitive chess players.The books are written for chess teachers or parents to use with children, but they can also be read by novices of all ages.As you need to checkmate your opponent to win the game, the first Chess Heroes book deals with checkmates. All too often, novices head for the two rook checkmate because it's the only one they know. This book teaches the most important checkmate patterns as well as the thinking skills you need to find checkmates in any position. The book includes 552 checkmate puzzles starting with simple mates in one move and gradually progressing to longer and more difficult mates. By the end of the book you'll find it easy to finish off your opponents when you're ahead and to spot checkmates in your games.

The author, Richard James, has been teaching chess successfully in the London are for almost half a century. For thirty years he ran Richmond Junior Chess Club, many of whose members, such as Luke McShane and Jonathan Rowson, became Grandmasters or International Masters, and many more of whom developed a lifelong passion for the world's greatest game.Richard is the author of the Amazon best seller Chess for Kids and The Right Way to Teach Chess to Kids. Previously, he was the co-author (along with the late Mike Fox, the co-founder of Richmond Junior Chess Club) of The Complete Chess Addict and The Even More Complete Chess Addict. He is well known internationally for his views on how children learn and play chess.