I don't remember where I collected this information, but the topic of which books to recommend keeps popping up, so here you go:
10 essential chess books
There are thousands of books written about chess, more than for any
other game. There is simply no way to read them all, as more are
published every year. Here is a list of the ten books universally
regarded as absolutely essential to any chess player. You will not
find any opening "repertoire" books or "Easy guide to..." books or
anything like that. These are not shortcut books, they are serious
works by serious authors for serious students. Most advanced players
will own 9 out of the 10 at least. They have not been numbered because
that would imply that one book is more important than another. So here
you have them:
Title: My System
Author: Aaron Nimzovitch
This is the timeless classic from the Father of Modern Chess.
Nimzowitch was the first to explore and describe the game of chess
from a viewpoint of its "elements." At the same time, he layed the
foundation for modern positional play with his concept of
overprotection This is required reading for anyone aspiring to
mastership.
Title: Basic Chess Endings
Author: Reuben Fine
This is the Bible for chess endgames. Every conceivable endgame that
could ever arise is analyzed by a superb GM. It will take you months,
even years to read and understand this book. Although tedious work,
your effort will be rewarded by this book. Only drawback: It's in
descriptive notation. All other efforts since this endgame study have
been basically to condense the knowledge in this book.
Title: 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices And Combinations
Author: Fred Reinfeld
This is probably the most famous of the "tactical trainer" genre.
It is well known that tactics is the weakest part of an amateurs
game and prevents his progress. I do about 10 of these
exercises a day to keep me tactically "fit." A must for anybody
under 2200.
Title: How To Reassess Your Chess
Author: Jeremy Silman
This book is already considered a modern classic. You can think of it
as a modern "My System," but in a more user-friendly presentation. It
introduces the reader to a new vocabulary and concepts in much the
same way. Tons of improving chessplayers swear by this book. It is a
"I want results now!" book. Actually, I recommend buying his "The Amateur's Mind" and reading it before his Reassess Your Chess.
Title: My 60 Memorable Games
Author: Bobby Fischer
60 great games annotated thoroughly by arguably the best chessplayer
in the history of the world. If you get any game
collection book, make it this one. You will spend many pleasurable
hours by the chessboard playing over magnificent games, all fabulously
commented. Good luck getting this one. I got it for "only" $60 USD.
Title: The Art Of Attack In Chess
Author: Vladimir Vukovic
A necessary component of any chessplayers library is this treatise by
Vukovic on the subject of Attack. This book guides the reader through
all the common ideas that are essential so that you can "bring home
the victory." Aggressive players will love it.
Title: Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953
Author: David Bronstein
This tournament book stands out from all other books because of Bronstein.
Many strong masters of the day played at this tournament of lore:
Bronstein, Smyslov, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, Geller, Najdorf,
Kotov, Taimanov, Euwe and so many others. Bronstein studies all 210
games with great annotation and throws in stories as well.
Title: Logical Chess: Move By Move
Author: Irving Chernev
This book is incredible because it gives an explanation after every
move! Everybody is tired of books that give a line and no annotation
or explanation. Well, this book is the answer chessplayers were
looking for.
Title: The Ideas Behind The Chess Openings
Author: Reuben Fine
Although the openings studied are often not up to date, that is not the
point. This is not a traditional openings book that may "teach" you
the Sicilian, it attempts to explain the WHY not the WHAT. In this
regard, it is similar to "Logial Chess: Move by Move." An
important classic so you can play the first moves with understanding
and confidence.
Title: Pawn Structure Chess
Author: Andrew Soltis
Books like these have become increasingly important in the information
age. It is no longer possible to blow out your opponent in 15 moves
every other game. Modern masters rely on their knowledge of topics
such as pawn structures to separate them from the stronger amateurs.
This book lets you know exactly what they know.
Any other recommended books, fellas?
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It can't be denied that the list you've chosen contains a wealth of chess knowledge. however, it's become increasingly apparent to me after drowning in a sea of chess literature for the past two years that there is a big difference between knowledge and skill.
This point is addressed in detail in Rowsan's awesome book Chess For Zebras. In fact after reading this book my whole attitude towards improvement has changed.
Rowsan talks about one of his online students who after reading My System said " I feel like Capablanca without the talent" He was making reference to the fact that he'd consumed a vast amount of knowledge but still couldn't progress.
I'm now convinced the key to improvement lies in hard chess training!
Playing out games against strong computer programmes from superior positions and studying chess problems from real games, either positional or tactical.
I'll not say anymore as i'd only be quoting a load more from CFZ. It's one hell of an eye opener and the improving player once grounded in the basics of tactics and strategy could do a lot worse than make this their one and only chess improvement manual.
I have two that could reasonably replace Basic Chess Endings and The Ideas Behind the Openings.
Mastering the Chess Openings vols 1 & 2 is also a why rather than a what book on opening theory.
Fundamental Chess Endings by Karsten muller and Frank Lamprecht is more of a bible for chess endings than a condenstaion of Basic Chess Endings. Again this could easily take years to read and digest.
My personal favourite is Chess for Tigers by Simon Webb. It is not too fat and is an easy read.
I have to say that I agree with Talisman that book study does not necessarily make one a better player. I tried studying chess books when I was much younger. It did me no good at all. I found that playing the game was the only real way to improve for me.
Originally posted by TalismanI both agree and disagree. if you study the books properly, analyzing every position as deep as you can, then checking your analysis with the annotations in the book, it should be no different than playing those positions against strong computers, or playing games. actually, you may do even better; play the positions in the book against computers, which covers your idea too (since those positions are from real games). the difference is that at my level for example, I quickly get lost in my (or the computer's) analysis of GM games, but studying positions from books, you have an idea on what to think about.
Rowsan talks about one of his online students who after reading My System said " I feel like Capablanca without the talent" He was making reference to the fact that he'd consumed a vast amount of knowledge but still couldn't progress.
I'm now convinced the key to improvement lies in hard chess training!
Playing out games against strong computer programm ...[text shortened]... rior positions and studying chess problems from real games, either positional or tactical.
We should all ask Akizy for book recommendations. He owns like 4000+ 🙂-
_While there are certainly seminal books on chess, understanding of the game supercedes any book. Obviously Weyerstrass has proven this time and again!!
_“Play the opening like a book, the middle game like
a magician, and the endgame like a machine”
(Spielmann)
Originally posted by magnublmFine's endgames book has been updated by Pal Benko using computer analyses and is in algebraic notation. I highly recommend it and it helped my endgames immensely.
I don't remember where I collected this information, but the topic of which books to recommend keeps popping up, so here you go:
[b]10 essential chess books
There are thousands of books written about chess, more than for any
other game. There is simply no way to read them all, as more are
published every year. Here is a list of the ten books uni ...[text shortened]... know exactly what they know.
Any other recommended books, fellas?[/b]