Originally posted by vatiquetteThe improvement books are at the very beginning of this thread.
I've probably got about 100 or so and was wondering if I had some serious addiction problem ... guess I am not alone.
I'd be interested in the ones that most improved your game to be honest.
Originally posted by vipiuMost of these opening books are for reference.
nice, I hardly can read 1-3 chess books / year 🙁
You study a few lines. Play a game and look up where you left book.
It's all of the opening learning process. I don't think many people read this kind cover to cover.
385. Alekhine's Defense By Chess Digest
1972 43 Pages
Slim pamplet with old analysis
386. The Alekhine For The Tournament Player By Alburt & Schiller
1985 134 Pages
Not a bad opening book. It references the Bagirov book a lot. (Bagirov's book from around the 70's was the first great look at Alekhine's Defence. I have only heard good things about it, although it is surely dated by now.)
This book starts with illustrative games first ! Next, it takes a look at many of the variations, mostly from black's perspective. There isn't a whole lot of analysis but what is there is pretty good. There is even a look at 2. ... Ng8. Alburt is a GM who USES the Alekhine Defense. Much of his analysis/games is referenced.
Good ... But Dated
387. The Complete Alekhine By Burgess
1992 252 Pages
The analysis is within games. Every variation is examined.
A good guide to the Alekhine.
388. New Ideas In The Alekhine Defense By Burgess
1996 127 Pages
The follow up to the previous book. Newer lines/games are examined by opening variation
389. The Alekhine Defense Playbook By Sawyer
2000 157 Pages
This book gives a complete repertoire from the black side with 1.e4 Nf6.
Rare sidelines are covered.
exd6 is given to combat the exchange variation. I don't think symmetrical/drawish position is all that great for black. cxd6 has been taking a beating over the years as well, so the exchange may be white's overall antidote to the Alekhine.
The analysis is within games and there is tons of it.
Opinions on this one may vary but I DON'T LIKE IT.
390. Alekhine's Defense As White By Christiansen, Raingruber, And
Joseph 1988 57 Pages
A repertoire book for white that advocates the four pawns attack.
There is analysis, games, and test positions.
The format is very silimar to the King's Gambit As White book.
Short but good
391. Bronstein-Ljubojevic Variation Alekhine's Defense Four Pawns Attack By Thinker's Press
Same publisher as previous book.
A sort of addendum to it.
1989 19 small pages
It takes a look at the game in the title, with analysis and extra games.
392. The Pirc Defense By Botterill And Keene
Copyright 1973 259 Pages
Lots of (good) analysis of 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6.
This was one of the earliest books on the Pirc and does take a very thorough look at it.
Aged but Good
393. The Ultimate Pirc By Nunn
1998 320 Pages
Perhaps, the best Pirc/Modern reference book there is.
Every variation is examined thoroughly.
Better than the Keene book because it is so much more recent.
1.e4 d6 and 1.e4 g6 is examined.
394. The Pirc Defense By Chernin And Cartier
1997 167 Pages
This is an excellent repertoire book for black.
There isn't actually a discussion of the plans/ideas.
Good (Great) lines are given for black to combat white's strongest systems.
The author really is an excellent analysis.
There is some text within the analysis as well.
The Austrian is defanged by an early c5.
Also covered is 4.Be3, 4.Bg5,4.Bc4, 3.Bd3,4.Nf3 (with/without h3),4.g3, and 4.Be2 (followed by h4).
These are the only variations covered.
Rare moves are not examined in this book.
Be Warned: Mostly just variations
An Excellent Repertoire Book
See Next Review
395. Pirc Alert By Alburt And Chernin
A Complete Defense Against 1.e4
Same author as the previous book. Much of the analyis in that book is in this one.
2001 448 Pages
This book is how an opening manual should be written.
The ideas are explained first.
Throughout the book are markers of what you should remember.
Variations are discussed with detail.
All variations are examined (mostly from black's perspective).
There is even coverage and comparisons to a Modern Defense move order.
This book is loaded with analysis.
There are even fun little photos and bios of the players throughout history that have used the defense.
I wish there was an opening book like this on every opening!!!
VERY WELL DONE ... Mainly for the fan of 1.e4 d6 with black.
396. Pirc Defence A Line For White By Thomas
1980 48 Pages
Fun little pamplet with a white system to combat the Pirc and Modern.
(Early Bc4)
397. Pirc Defence A Second Line For White By Baker
1979 (How is that possible?) 40 Pages
Another fun little pamplet (titled second but written first ???).
This time the Austrian (with an early e5) is examined.
398. Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation By Soltis
1993 74 Pages Very Skimpy ... Not That Good
399. The Modern Defence By Keene And Botterill
1972/ 1976 Printing 168 Pages
The book that put the Modern on the map.
If I'm not mistaken, Keene even gave it the name , the Modern.
Full of analysis and games of 1.e4 g6
A great manual back in its day ... Dated Now
See The Ultimate Pirc By Nunn (above)
400. Modern Defence By Speelman And McDonald
Analysis within games format
Speelman is a great writer. Unfortunately, he doesn't do much of it in this one.
There is a lot of text with the analysis.
Speelman sometimes notes when it is better to just transpose to the Pirc !!!
OK (in my opinion)
401. Black To Play And Win With 1. ... g6 By Soltis
1993 145 Pages
A repertoire book (for black) advocating 1. ... g6 versus just about everything.
The heart of the book is the c6/d5 setup (like in the Norwood book, next). An early Nc6 is given against 1.d4/2.c4. Other variations, like the London System, are also (briefly) examined.
One flaw I have with the book is the line suggested against 1.d4 has a hidden forced draw in it. There is a variation where white gets a perpetual check on the queen !!! This shouldn't matter most of the time. (Most white players won't force a draw, and the ones that would probably won't find the line in the first place.)
Good ... Not Great
402. Winning With The Modern By Norwood
1994 145 Pages
Written about the same time as the previous book (with many similarities).
The first chapter has a nice little discussion (before actual analysis).
Since the author plays the variation, the analysis/text is better than most. The book covers 1. ... g6 vs just about everything. The analysis is pretty good but I wish there was more of it.
The heart is once again c6/d5 system.
Pretty Good (But Very Short)
Next Post ... Finishing 1.e4 Openings ... Scandinavian to St. George !!!
Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromficsUnfortunately I was not refering to the openings' books 🙁 ...when I was reading Silman(previous year) I was able to read about 3-4 books as he has a nice style,but when I moved to Vukovic(Art of attack) it took me more than half a year and is still in progress 🙁
Most of these opening books are for reference.
You study a few lines. Play a game and look up where you left book.
It's all of the opening learning process. I don't think many people read this kind cover to cover.
I am courious how how the next one will be(that ending manual-boring-by silman-interesting-)
I'm not sure that anyone is getting anything out of these opening book reviews.
I feel as though people are losing interest.
Here, I will just name the remainder of my collection.
If anyone wants a review of a particular book, I will be glad to give it.
If there is also a high demand, I will go on and review ALL of them.
403. The Scandinavian By Emms
404. Let's Play The Center Counter Game By Chess Digest
405. The Center Counter Game: Rehabilitated By Chess Digest
406. Winning With The Scandinavian By Harman And Taulbut
407. Scandinavian Defense Portuguese Variation By Roush, Landce, &
Cornell
408. Center Counter Defense The Portuguese Variation By Anderson
409. The Nimzovich Defense To 1.e4 By Myers
410. Nimzowitsch Defence By Harding
411. Nimzovich Defence By Kapitaniak
412. The New St. George By Basman
413. A Winning White Repertoire By Tangborn
414. A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire By Summerscale
415. White Opening System With 1.P-Q4 By Soltis
416. Winning With 1.d4 By Soltis
417. An Opening Repertoire For White By Keene And Jacobs
418. Play The Queen's Gambit By Marovic
419. The Queen's Gambit For The Attacking Player By Burgess &
Pedersen
420. The Queen's Gambit & Catalan For Black By Janjgava
421. Middlegame Strategy With The Carlsbad Pawn Structure By
Leninger
422. How To Play The Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation By Wicker
423. Queen's Gambit Declined Exchange Variation By Konikowski
424. Lasker's Defense To The Queen's Gambit By Soltis
425. Cambridge Springs Defense By Schiller
426. The Queen's Gambit Declined 5.Bf4! By Crouch
427. Complete Defense To Queen Pawn Openings By Schiller
428. Meeting 1.d4 By Aagard And Lund
429. Von Hennig-Schara Gambit By Schiller
430. Henning-Schara Gambit By Smith And Hall
431. A Complete Defence To 1.d4 By Cafferty And Hooper
432. Queen's Gambit Accepted By Chess Digest
433. Queen's Gambit Accepted By Ward
434. Winning With The Slav By Markov And Schipkov
435. The Slav By Sadler
436. The Semi-Slav By Sadler
437. Play The Noteboom By Van Der Werf & Van Der Vorm
438. The Exchange Variation Of The Slav By Silman & Donaldson
439. The Tchigorin Defense By Soltis
440. Albin Counter-Gambit By Lamford
441. How To Play The Albin Countergambit By Schiller
442. Albin's Counter-Gambit By Raetzki/Tschetwerik
443. Beating The Indian Defences By Burgess And Pedersen
444. The King's Indian Defence By Barden, Hartston, And Keene
445. Secrets Of The King's Indian By Gufeld And Schiller
446. The King's Indian For The Attacking Player By Burgess
447. Bronstein On The King's Indian By Bronstein
448. Kasparov On The King's Indian By Kasparov With Keene
449. King's Indian & Grunfeld: Fianchetto Lines By Janjgava
450. King's Indian Defence Averbakh Variation By Petursson
451. Beating The King's Indian And Benoni By Vaisser
452. Beating The Anti-King's Indians By Gallagher
453. The Unconventional King's Indian By Watson
454. The (Not So) Old Indian By Soltis
455. Winning Against 1.d4 By Tangborn
456. Mastering The Nimzo Indian By Kosten
457. Winning With The Nimzo Indian By Keene
458. Rubinstein Complex By Pliester
459. The Complete Queen's Indian By Geller
460. The Blumenfeld Gambit By Przewoznik And Pein
461. Understanding The Grunfeld By Rowson
462. The Complete Grunfeld By Suetin
463. Beating The Grunfeld By Karpov
464. Guide To The Modern Benoni By Watson
465. Benko Gambit By Chess Digest
466. The Benko Gambit By Benko
467. Winning With The Benko By Jacobs
468. The Benko Gambit By Jacobs And Kinsman
469. Guide To The Benko Gambit By Pedersen
470. Winning With The Catalan By Dunnington
471. The Catalan System Open Variation With 5.N-KB3 By Ciaffone
472. Dutch Defense By Christiansen And Silman
473. The Classical Dutch By Bellin
474. Play The Classical Dutch By Williams
475. Modern Stonewall Dutch By Schiller
476. The Dutch For The Attacking Player By Pedersen
477. The Dutch Leningrad By McDonald
478. Leningrad Dutch By Hall And Cartier
479. Dutch Defence Leningrad Variation 7. ... Nc6 By Luccioni
480. Staunton Gambit By Gillam
481. The Anti-Dutch Spike By Watson
482. The Budapest For The Tournament Player By Tsetlin & Glasgov
483. The Budapest Gambit By Lalic
484. The Fighting Fajarowicz By Harding
485. Play Anti-Indian Systems By Varnusz
486. Trends In The London System, Stonewall Attack, And Colle By
Wade And Gkountintas
487. How To Play The Torre Attack By Schiller
488. Guide To The Torre Attack By Burgess
489. The London System By Soltis
490. The Stonewall Attack By Soltis
491. White Opening System Combining Stonewall Attack, Colle
System, Torre Attack By Soltis
492. Colle System 12th Edition By Koltanowski
493. Colle System Koltanowski Variation By Soltis
494. Colle System Zukertort Variation By Soltis
495. The Ultimate Colle By Lane
496. The Trompowsky By Gallagher
497. Richter Veresov By Gufeld And Stetsko
498. The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Keybook By Sawyer
499. The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Keybook 2 By Sawyer
500. Blackmar-Diemer Gambit By Lane
501. Discover The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Vol 1 By Tejler
502. Discover The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Vol 3 By Kampars
And Tejler
503. Discover The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Vol 4 By Kampars
And Tejler
504. Blackmar-Diemer Gambit 1977 Edition By Chess Digest
505. Winning With The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit By Smith/Hall
506. Euwe Defense Blackmar-Diemer Gambit By Tejler & Marfia
507. The Ryder Gambit Accepted By Schiller & Crayton
508. Blackmar, Diemer, & Gedult By Purser & Tejler
509. Hubsch Gambit By Pape, Jensen, And Burk
510. The Blackmar-Diebert Gambit By Diebert
511. 500 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Miniatures By Wall
512. Trends In The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit By Hodgson
513. Blackmar-Diemer Gambit By Gunderam
514. Neue Eroffnungswege By Gunderam
515. Neue Eroffnungswege 2 By Gunderam
516. Das Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit By Druke
517. The Vulture By Bucker
518. The Polish Defense By Kapitaniak
519. Englund Gambit By Bucker
520. The Englund Gambit By Smith And Hall
521. Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit By Bloodgood
522. Hypermodern Opening Repertoire For White By Schiller
523. A Strategic Opening Repertoire By Donaldson
524. Winning With The English Opening 3rd Edition By Soltis
525. English ... e5 By Raetsky And Chetverik
526. The English Opening Lukin's Variation (A21) By s1 Editrice
527. English Opening 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Bb4 (A21) By Tirabassi
528. Symmetrical English 1. ... c5 By Watson
529. The Symmetrical English By Hansen
530. Winning With The English By Ribli And Kallai
531. The Hedgehog By Suba
532. The Double Fianchetto Opening System By Marfia & Dudley
533. The English Defense By Keene, Plaskett, And Tisdall
534. The Defense 1. ... P-QN3 By Soltis
535. Winning With The English Defense By Soltis
536. Winning With The Reti Opening By Smith And Hall
537. Easy Guide To The Reti Opening By Dunnington
538. Modern King's Indian Attack By Hall And Cartier
539. The Ultimate King's Indian Attack By Dunnington
540. Nimzovich Attack The Norfolk Gambits By Bloodgood
541. The Futuristic Chess Opening By Santasiere
542. The Lisitsin Gambit By Gordon
543. Tennison Gambit By Lutes
544. Winning Unorthodox Openings By Dunnington
545. Bird's Opening By O'Connell
546. A Modern Approach To Bird's Opening By Picket
547. Winning With 1.f4 By Soltis
548. How To Play The From Gambit By Schiller
549. Trends In The Bird's Opening Vol 2 By Regan And Lalic
550. 1.Nc3 Dunst Opening By Wall
551. 1.P-QN4 By Soltis
552. Orangutan By Wall
553. The Tactical Grob By Bloodgood
554. The Killer Grob By Basman
555. New In Chess Magazine 2002 Nr. 1
556. Informant 76 1999
557. Correspondence Chess Yearbook 8
558. Modern Chess Openings 10 By Evans And Korn
559. Modern Chess Openings 12 By Korn
560. Modern Chess Openings 13 By De Firmian
561. Modern Chess Openings 14 By De Firmian
562. World Champion Openings By Schiller
563. Chess 5,334 Problems, Combinations, And Games By Polgar
564. The Best Of Chess Life And Review Vol 1 1933-1960
565. The Best Of Chess Life And Review Vol 2 1960-1988
566. Practical Chess Openings By Fine
567. BDG (Blackmar-Diemer Gambit) World Magazine
Every Issue From March 1988 to December 1997 (Last Issue)
568. Chess Digest Magazine Apr 74 And All Of 1979 (Last Year)
569. Chess Hammers (ChessCo/Thinker's Press) All 41
I might as well name the VHS videos.
570. Grandmaster Video Magazine 18
571. Kasparov-Anand 1995 (2 Tapes)
572. Play The Sicilian Vols 1 (Anti-Sicilians) & 2 (Najdorf)
By Browne And Henley
573. Roman Forum Crushing Lines Against Pirc,French,Caro, Alekhine
574. Foxy Openings King's Gambit (Martin)
575. Foxy Openings Albin Counter-Gambit (Martin)
That about sums up the collection !!!
Please name a book from above if you would like it reviewed.
If you would really appreciate for me to do them all, please mention that too.
Thanks
Originally posted by vipiuSilman's endgame book is really good. I find it very interesting and helpful. I like the endgame, though.
Unfortunately I was not refering to the openings' books 🙁 ...when I was reading Silman(previous year) I was able to read about 3-4 books as he has a nice style,but when I moved to Vukovic(Art of attack) it took me more than half a year and is still in progress 🙁
I am courious how how the next one will be(that ending manual-boring-by silman-interesting-)
Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromficsCan you talk a little bit about #428 Meeting 1.d4, and the VHS videos. Actually, pertaining to the videos, I would like to know what you think about watching videos vs reading books.
I'm not sure that anyone is getting anything out of these opening book reviews.
I feel as though people are losing interest.
Here, I will just name the remainder of my collection.
If anyone wants a review of a particular book, I will be glad to give it.
If there is also a high demand, I will go on and review ALL of them.
403. The Scandin ...[text shortened]... ciate for me to do them all, please mention that too.
Thanks
Originally posted by passedpawn22To review Meeting 1.d4, I would first like to review A Complete Defense To Queen Pawn Openings (Both books cover the Tarrasch Queen's Gambit (1.d5 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5) from black's perspective.
Can you talk a little bit about #428 Meeting 1.d4, and the VHS videos. Actually, pertaining to the videos, I would like to know what you think about watching videos vs reading books.
Compete Defense To Queen Pawn Openings By Schiller
1998 288 Pages
First, there is an overview, followed by strategic themes in the Tarrasch Defense. Next, typical strategies and tactics are covered.
Then, we get to the analysis. The analysis is within games (There is a lot of it.). The first chapter of analysis starts on move 8! It is explained how to get that far, and deviations are covered within the book. Every variation that white can throw at you appears to be covered. After coverage of the Queen's Gambit proper, is a defense for black to the queen pawn openings (Colle, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit). The coverage is rather brief but it's good. Next, comes my favorite part of the book - Heroes Of The Tarrasch. There is a game and brief bio of great players who have used the defense. In closing are a few test positions.
Overall this is a pretty good repertoire book (above average for Mr. Schiller)
Meeting 1.d4 By Aagard And Lund
2002 176 Pages
The analyis is within games.
This also covers the Tarrasch for black. Chapter 1 starts on move 10! There are more chapters explaining deviations from the main line and other variations. Next, there are chapters on how to meet the queen pawn openings. The coverage is brief but okay. The back even has a defensive set up vs the flank openings (1.Nf3 and 1.f4).
I generally don't like this format of opening book.
I think this specific book doesn't give nearly enough analysis.
Most players won't even reach the main lines, which get the most coverage.
Silman, on his web page, gives this book a pretty good review.
I really dislike it. This is one time that I actually prefer Mr. Schiller's version of the same book.
You be the judge.
As for the videos ...
Video is a quick way to take up an opening.
The host usually gives some good examples/ideas before he starts analysis.
You don't have to go the trouble of setting up a board and playing out all these variations (which can be time consuming).
You also get a complete repertoire against everything the opposing player can throw at you.
This is equal to repertoire books (and not nearly as troublesome as looking at ALL the variations and having to pick out the ones you like).
That being said, there are bad sides to video to.
You generally have to rewatch them to remember/learn some of the variations. Finding a spot of analysis that you want to look over may take a little while to find.
Also, the host/author can't cover every variation in a 60 minute (or so) time frame. I generally watch the video AND use a book with it.
I have even written down video variations by hand to be able to study them when away from a tv.
There are good and bad qualities to video analysis.
For me, the price plays a big part too.
$30 or $40 for a video seems too much to me.
There are some videos that seem worth it, however.
You really do have to decide for yourself. Buy one and try it out.
Originally posted by passedpawn22That book is on my wishlist !!!
Silman's endgame book is really good. I find it very interesting and helpful. I like the endgame, though.
I bet most of it is in my other Silman book (and other endgame books) but I still may give it a try.
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual also gets great reviews.
I may get one or both of them real soon.
Originally posted by passedpawn22Read my first response (above) first.
Can you talk a little bit about #428 Meeting 1.d4, and the VHS videos. Actually, pertaining to the videos, I would like to know what you think about watching videos vs reading books.
I wanted to make it clear that just because I prefer the Schiller book to Meeting 1.d4 that I don't think you should necessarily get it either.
The Tarrasch Defense is a really hard defense to master. Black gets an isolated pawn right out of the opening and has to play just active enough so that the weakness won't show.
The line was dropped in GM chess for years and years.
Then, Kasparov unleashed it on Smyslov in their match. He got some really nice positions out of the opening. It was until he met Karpov (with this defense) that the weakness started to show. Karpov really put a hurt on this variation. It may be playable but you have to play pretty precisely. ( I know for a while it was my only defense to 1.d4. After a lot of games of dishing out 15 move main lines, and not really having a position that I cared for, I gave it up. There are too many variations to learn, and even after doing so, you can still get into trouble.)
Just My Opinion