I was at the bookstore and there were about 100 chess books to choose from.
Most were openings or opening variations. A few endgame books and some tactics books.
None had the "all in one" approach except for some basic ones that are too easy for me.
My 1600 rating here is only because I am beating up on lower rated players. I am about 1400 on other websites.
I do not want to have a bunch of books, I just want one to start studying and finally improve.
I looked online and thought about getting Lasker's manual of chess?
I'm an adult player in my 30's so I'm not looking to be the next best player, just a little better.
Anyone studied that book? Or should I keep looking?
I consider GM John Nunn's "Understanding Chess Move by Move" to be an excellent all in one book. It is a modern, practical, and more accurate version of Chernev's "Logical Chess Move by Move", which inspired Nunn's approach. IMHO!
Originally posted by Eladar If you want to improve, then don't read books, train tactics. I think Chesstempo is the best site for training tacitcs and it's free.
Just tactics isn't going to teach me opening traps or endgame technique or strategy. etc etc
My 1600 rating here is only because I am beating up on lower rated players. I am about 1400 on other websites.
Same here, as an aside, and for the same reason. My peak USCF rating was 1848, but I normally hover in the 1700's, but my site rating is currently 1920 because I am getting wins from lower-rated players (although Niculae from Romania, a 1450 something player, is net points positive against me- he's got my number!). I'm playing for fun and will play anyone.
I should also add that every Nunn book I've ever read has been great for helping all aspects of my chess. He writes stuff that "sticks in my head", and tends to surface when I am playing tournament games. My successes come from him.
Actually, the best overall training course I've been through was by far the Josh Waitzkin course on chessmaster. It's an all in one that's very fun also, and you'll remember everything.