Originally posted by deeploserIt was me that gave you that "flak". I'd prefer to refer to it as friendly advice. There's no point you being able to come up with great plans, if you're falling for 1 move tactical tricks and basic mating patterns.
I'd personally have to recommend How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman. I noticed I got some flack for buying the book at my rating where people said I needed to work on tactics. That's true tactics are very important but a lot of players at my level do nothing but one move threats or trade pieces without knowing which trade is better for their position.
Game 3187076
IMHO, you need to work on ironing out those problems before investing time in strategy. Knowing that you have a good bishop doesn't help you 1 iota if you hang it next move.
D
My suggestions are...
At al levels
Reinfelds 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations. This is an excellent collection of puzzles sorted by theme. I highly suggest doing a page (6 puzzles) a day. Note that this is now free (http://www.chessville.com/downloads/downloads_tactical_exercises.htm)
Silmans Complete Endgame Course
This is a well written book on endings sorted by rating. The stuff for beginners is simply basic mates (does not include B+N) and eventually expands to include K + pawn, K + rook, etc. Each chapter ends with puzzles to solve to be sure you understand the material.
up to 1200
Grandmaster Secret Endings by Soltis. Nice diagrams and a small simple book. The prose really annoys some people (a teacher talking to his student who asks all the questions needed to cover the topic...). This covers basic mates, basic king and pawn endgames and a little something on lucena and philidor positions. This is all the endgame knowledge you need for quite awhile. Note that if you have
Silmans Complete Endgame Course, this is not necessary.
1200-1400
Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking by Neil McDonald
This is composed of semi-recent (going back to Kasparov-Karpov) games with text explaining the strategic and tactical reason for every single move. An excellent book, and it has enough diagrams that the determined reader doesn't even need a board.
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach by Sunil Weeramantry
This book contains a number (7?) of chapters on various strategic themese such as active pieces, outposts and the best chapter I have ever read on color complexes. I doubt that a 1400 can make full use of all the information, but it is understandable, and it starts you thinking about this material. The layout is simple each chapter follows a sample game which illustrates the theme while the interspersed comments explain just what is going on.
Reaccess Your Chess by Silman
Another strategy book which contains a primer on mates and endgames. Silman writes in a clear concise form that got me excited to study. This also convers active pieces, outposts, color complexes, and Silmans thinking technique, which I believe to be the best part of the book. I would give this book a slight nod over Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. The one downside to this book is that While Weeramantry uses full games, Silman uses snippets of games.
1400-1600
Hmm, Continue to study, I don't think there is anything I have read which would be understandable here, but not at the 1200-1400 level.
1600+
Art of the Attack by Vukovic
This always earns high praise, but it was too dense for me as a 1400. I intend to try it again once I have some spare time.
This is an updated list...
...........
At al levels
Reinfelds 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations.
This is an excellent collection of puzzles sorted by theme. I highly suggest doing a page (6 puzzles) a day. Note that this is now free (http://www.chessville.com/downloads/downloads_tactical_exercises.htm)
Silmans Complete Endgame Course
This is a well written book on endings sorted by rating. The stuff for beginners is simply basic mates (does not include B+N) and eventually expands to include K + pawn, K + rook, etc. Each chapter ends with puzzles to solve to be sure you understand the material.
up to 1200
Grandmaster Secret Endings by Soltis.
Nice diagrams and a small simple book. The prose really annoys some people (a teacher talking to his student who asks all the questions needed to cover the topic...). This covers basic mates, basic king and pawn endgames and a little something on lucena and philidor positions. This is all the endgame knowledge you need for quite awhile. Note that if you have
Silmans Complete Endgame Course, this is not necessary.
1000-1200
Logical Chess move by move by Irvin Chernev
An excellent first book! Chernev introduces the reader to some fundamental concepts that every player should know in an easy to read and enjoyable style. This was the first book i read and it fostered an enjoyment for study, something that many beginners titles fail to do!
Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking by Neil McDonald
This is composed of semi-recent (going back to Kasparov-Karpov) games with text explaining the strategic and tactical reason for every single move. An excellent book, and it has enough diagrams that the determined reader doesn't even need a board.
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach by Sunil Weeramantry
This book contains a number (7?) of chapters on various strategic themese such as active pieces, outposts and the best chapter I have ever read on color complexes. I doubt that a 1400 can make full use of all the information, but it is understandable, and it starts you thinking about this material. The layout is simple each chapter follows a sample game which illustrates the theme while the interspersed comments explain just what is going on.
Reaccess Your Chess by Silman
Another strategy book which contains a primer on mates and endgames. Silman writes in a clear concise form that got me excited to study. This also convers active pieces, outposts, color complexes, and Silmans thinking technique, which I believe to be the best part of the book. I would give this book a slight nod over Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. The one downside to this book is that While Weeramantry uses full games, Silman uses snippets of games.
1200-1400
My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch
Probably the most read chess book in History. This book is packed full of nuggets of wisdom that are accessible to the un-studied player. I personally found the style of writing to be a little bit 'scientific', but one must bear in mind that this book was written in the 1920's so the language is bound to be a little dated...An excellent read none the less!
1400-1600
Judgement and planning in chess by Max Euwe
A truly excellent book!! Euwe takes the reader beyond the core basics of chess principles and develops the reader into a more strategic line of thinking. The book does not take random positions as it's examples, Euwe uses whole games which makes the book accessible as the reader can see how the Master in question has achieved the position in question. I read this book cover to cover in under a month, which is very quick when you consider i am fundamentally lazy when it comes to picking up a chess book! This book is ideal for 14-1600 players. 🙂
1600-1800
The Art of the Middle game by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov
This book is fairly similar in concept to Euwes book listed above on the middle game. It is definitely more advanced though. The authors take the reader through common but little written about concepts of strategy, such as opposite side castled games, where strategic play is guided by certain principles. This is a good book, i have read it and spoken to a number of players who have all had good things to say about it. The reader doesn't necessarily need to be 1600+ to read this, but i believe players of this grade will stand to gain the most from this book as it does not cover 'old ground' that the reader will no doubt have covered in previous books...
Art of the Attack by Vukovic
This always earns high praise, but it was too dense for me as a 1400. I intend to try it again once I have some spare time.
1800-2000
End Game Manual by Mark Dvoretsky
Probably the best written book i own! Dvoretsky takes the reader through all the fundamental endings that every strong player should be familiar with. The concepts are wide ranging and are not designed for the beginner! This book requires commitment to read as the author does not give simple positions to illustrate his concepts. The reader is required to undertake not inconsiderable personal analysis to gain understanding. This is a brilliant book but it is not for the faint hearted! 😉
2000+
Please add..
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Originally posted by Marinkatombyes, Pawn Structure in Chess by Andrew Soltis is an excellent book. the book describes middlegame strategy in context to most of the popular openings. i remember how instructive this book was in describing the silician and kings indian positions. this book complements My Systems. i think this is a good book for someone in the 1600-1800 range.
Again, can i get a little detail about the book please... 🙂
ALL levels, up to perhaps 2000 max:
Chess for Tigers.
I have mentioned this book in different threads, but it bears repetition.
It's really fun and easy to read, and has become a true chess classic, almost permanently in the chess book 'best sellers' league.. assuming it exists!
Basically, the premise behind this book is... never give up... you can always employ tactics. It teaches you how best to play a much stronger opponent, and also a much weaker opponent for that matter.
The author himself was renowned for his amazing escapes.
He gave up OTB play and ultimately became one of the world's leading correspondence chess players. Untimely death indeed. (Simon Webb)
Originally posted by JusuhGaprindashvili coaches kids and aims this book at junior players, but the problems are difficult as Jusuh observes. This book can be intimidating (which makes it a good choice for 1800+ or 2000+). His suggestions regarding thinking processes can be helpful at any level, but may be difficult to absorb before one has mastered more elementary tactics.
2000+: Imagination in chess, Paata Gaprindashvili
Rahim would love the last one because it has 700 difficult-to-very hard chess problems.
This is an updated list...
...........
At al levels
Chess for Tigers by Simon Webb.
I have mentioned this book in different threads, but it bears repetition. This is a really fun and easy to read book which has become a true chess classic, almost permanently in the chess book 'best sellers' league.. assuming it exists!
Basically, the premise behind this book is... never give up... you can always employ tactics. It teaches you how best to play a much stronger opponent, and also a much weaker opponents for that matter.The author himself was renowned for his amazing escapes. He gave up OTB play and ultimately became one of the world's leading correspondence chess players. Untimely death indeed. (Simon Webb)
Reinfelds 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations.
This is an excellent collection of puzzles sorted by theme. I highly suggest doing a page (6 puzzles) a day. Note that this is now free (http://www.chessville.com/downloads/downloads_tactical_exercises.htm)
Silmans Complete Endgame Course
This is a well written book on endings sorted by rating. The stuff for beginners is simply basic mates (does not include B+N) and eventually expands to include K + pawn, K + rook, etc. Each chapter ends with puzzles to solve to be sure you understand the material.
up to 1200
Grandmaster Secret Endings by Soltis.
Nice diagrams and a small simple book. The prose really annoys some people (a teacher talking to his student who asks all the questions needed to cover the topic...). This covers basic mates, basic king and pawn endgames and a little something on lucena and philidor positions. This is all the endgame knowledge you need for quite awhile. Note that if you have
Silmans Complete Endgame Course, this is not necessary.
1000-1200
Logical Chess move by move by Irvin Chernev
An excellent first book! Chernev introduces the reader to some fundamental concepts that every player should know in an easy to read and enjoyable style. This was the first book i read and it fostered an enjoyment for study, something that many beginners titles fail to do!
Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking by Neil McDonald
This is composed of semi-recent (going back to Kasparov-Karpov) games with text explaining the strategic and tactical reason for every single move. An excellent book, and it has enough diagrams that the determined reader doesn't even need a board.
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach by Sunil Weeramantry
This book contains a number (7?) of chapters on various strategic themese such as active pieces, outposts and the best chapter I have ever read on color complexes. I doubt that a 1400 can make full use of all the information, but it is understandable, and it starts you thinking about this material. The layout is simple each chapter follows a sample game which illustrates the theme while the interspersed comments explain just what is going on.
Reaccess Your Chess by Silman
Another strategy book which contains a primer on mates and endgames. Silman writes in a clear concise form that got me excited to study. This also convers active pieces, outposts, color complexes, and Silmans thinking technique, which I believe to be the best part of the book. I would give this book a slight nod over Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. The one downside to this book is that While Weeramantry uses full games, Silman uses snippets of games.
1200-1400
My System by Aaron Nimzowitsch
Probably the most read chess book in History. This book is packed full of nuggets of wisdom that are accessible to the un-studied player. I personally found the style of writing to be a little bit 'scientific', but one must bear in mind that this book was written in the 1920's so the language is bound to be a little dated...An excellent read none the less!
1400-1600
Judgement and planning in chess by Max Euwe
A truly excellent book!! Euwe takes the reader beyond the core basics of chess principles and develops the reader into a more strategic line of thinking. The book does not take random positions as it's examples, Euwe uses whole games which makes the book accessible as the reader can see how the Master in question has achieved the position in question. I read this book cover to cover in under a month, which is very quick when you consider i am fundamentally lazy when it comes to picking up a chess book! This book is ideal for 14-1600 players. 🙂
1600-1800
The Art of the Middle game by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov
This book is fairly similar in concept to Euwes book listed above on the middle game. It is definitely more advanced though. The authors take the reader through common but little written about concepts of strategy, such as opposite side castled games, where strategic play is guided by certain principles. This is a good book, i have read it and spoken to a number of players who have all had good things to say about it. The reader doesn't necessarily need to be 1600+ to read this, but i believe players of this grade will stand to gain the most from this book as it does not cover 'old ground' that the reader will no doubt have covered in previous books...
Art of the Attack by Vukovic
This always earns high praise, but it was too dense for me as a 1400. I intend to try it again once I have some spare time.
1800-2000
End Game Manual by Mark Dvoretsky
Probably the best written book i own! Dvoretsky takes the reader through all the fundamental endings that every strong player should be familiar with. The concepts are wide ranging and are not designed for the beginner! This book requires commitment to read as the author does not give simple positions to illustrate his concepts. The reader is required to undertake not inconsiderable personal analysis to gain understanding. This is a brilliant book but it is not for the faint hearted! 😉
2000+
Please add..