The only opportunity I find for studying chess is while taking a train. So books with lots of diagrams are of great help as I can't use the board. For example I am currently going through Good Move Guide by Bent Larsen and it suits me fine.
What other books can be used this way?
Originally posted by iruIn my opinion it is impossible to read a chess book which is intended to improve your play without at least one chess board in front of you.
The only opportunity I find for studying chess is while taking a train. So books with lots of diagrams are of great help as I can't use the board. For example I am currently going through Good Move Guide by Bent Larsen and it suits me fine.
What other books can be used this way?
Get yourself a travelling chess set. I use one of these: http://tinyurl.com/yfyecd
It was quite expensive (I paid about £12) but very durable and folds up nice and flat.
Originally posted by Fat LadyThanks for your answer, Fat Lady. I tend to agree with what you say but I find at least 2 additional benefits in reading book without board:
In my opinion it is impossible to read a chess book which is intended to improve your play without at least one chess board in front of you.
Get yourself a travelling chess set. I use one of these: http://tinyurl.com/yfyecd
It was quite expensive (I paid about £12) but very durable and folds up nice and flat.
1) no time spent to set a position
2) training of your calculation ability
Originally posted by iruChess by Lazlo Polgar. A huge number of problems. Ideal for keeping you amused on a long journey.
The only opportunity I find for studying chess is while taking a train. So books with lots of diagrams are of great help as I can't use the board. For example I am currently going through Good Move Guide by Bent Larsen and it suits me fine.
What other books can be used this way?
Understanding Chess tactics by Martin Weteschnik. Lots of diagrams and the author comments that it is intended to be readable without a board.
Originally posted by iruThere are a couple of books called 303 tricky chess puzzles and another called 303 tricky checkmates which are very good and have diagrams. It is helping my visualization quite a bit.
Thanks for your answer, Fat Lady. I tend to agree with what you say but I find at least 2 additional benefits in reading book without board:
1) no time spent to set a position
2) training of your calculation ability
Analysing without a chessboard in front of you means that you can't play through the sidelines or try your own ideas out.
To get the best out of a chess book you should spend ages on each game, trying to understand why each side chose the plans they did and why the plans you may think of are inferior. If the author has chosen the games well then each one will merit hours of study.
It seems a pity to waste good study time on stuff which isn't going to improve your chess much.
However, it would be very good for visualisation training if you can manage to follow these books without a chessboard.
EDIT: I am going through "How To Reassess Your Chess". While at home I will go through a particular chapter with a chessboard. While on the train I will read through that same chapter and try and visualise what I went through before.
Originally posted by iruTry the Weltgeschichte des Schach books on Anderssen, Chigorin, Lasker, Capablanca, Botvinnik, Keres, Euwe, Petrosian, Tal or Spassky. The books cover most of the careers of the giants of chess and there is a diagram every fifth move, so you can play through each of the games sans board. The only drawback is that they are out of print and some are becoming quite expensive.
The only opportunity I find for studying chess is while taking a train. So books with lots of diagrams are of great help as I can't use the board. For example I am currently going through Good Move Guide by Bent Larsen and it suits me fine.
What other books can be used this way?