Geoff Smith’s Primer is worth owning physically. Its compactness, wit, and focus on problem-solving psychology (e.g., “When you see a 7 and a 3, think mod 4”) make it a perfect companion for a student in their first serious olympiad year. If you can’t buy it, borrow it — but don’t hunt for an unauthorized PDF. Instead, work through free BMO papers from the UKMT website and pair them with Engel’s online chapters; you’ll cover 80% of the same ground.

First published by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT), Geoff Smith’s Primer is not just another problem collection. It is a strategic mentorship program bound in paper (or pixels). Smith, a prolific problem-setter and leader of the UK’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team, understood that novices often freeze when facing Olympiad problems. They possess the textbook knowledge but lack the tactical flair.

: A sequel that analyzes BMO1 problems from 2011 to 2022.