When I hear 'Tactics Book' I think of books like Maxim Blokh's utterly fantastic 'The Art Of Combination' or any of the series from Russian Chess House 'Manual Of Chess Combinations,' where you have a position and a side to move and an expected result (Black to play and draw, for example). In the case of Yusupov, yes.

The X-Ray tactic should be part of your toolbox of chess techniques. The X-Ray has three chessmen all on the same line in either of two ways. First, when there are two attackers and one target/defender, where the target is between the two attackers. This situation is the offensive form and the attackers cannot 'see' each other. Second, when an attacker is between two defenders. This situation is the defensive form and the defenders cannot 'see' each other.

You also need to realize that you need to spend a little more time learning it then, since you can play it to attack one piece or to protect one of your own. You would be using the X-Ray as a Double Attack or for mutual protection, that is, two levels of protection for one chessman.

Only line pieces can carry out an X-Ray tactic and those are the Queen, Rook and Bishop. It can only be done on the ranks, files or diagonals and then over several squares on one of those lines. So, the Pawn, Knight and King are not able to handle the X-Ray technique.

This game collection features some games that I find interesting and which demonstrate the X-Ray tactic well. I use other games as well when teaching, but they are not available at ChessGames.com, yet.

ACB = The Art of Combination, by Maxim Blokh
Gateway b2 workbook keys 21.

TCSC = Tactical Chess Training, by Shamkovich and Cartier

ICNT = Improve Your Chess Now, by Jonathan Tisdall Download kenge per femije.

This project is a work in progress, culling games from these books, several chess training books and personal research. The games are ordered by date, not by importance.