have to get this one to top of thread list,
really guys, I need a few examples...
I want to ask for 5 books, and maybe get three...
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual 2nd Edition is one, and Fisher's 60 games is the other... what's the full title and author of Fisher's? did he write it himself?
I want three more... PLEASE!!
Originally posted by rubberjaw30The name of Fischer's book is "My 60 Memorable Games", by Bobby Fischer. First edition was in 1969. It's out of print and hard to find, unless you're willing to pay up for it. A nice condition first edition Simon & Schuster hardcover of Bobby's book goes for somewhere around $70 to $100 on eBay. The softcover version is cheaper. And I've heard it's not a book for novices, as Bobby's analysis is pretty advanced.
have to get this one to top of thread list,
really guys, I need a few examples...
I want to ask for 5 books, and maybe get three...
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual 2nd Edition is one, and Fisher's 60 games is the other... what's the full title and author of Fisher's? did he write it himself?
I want three more... PLEASE!!
Not sure what you already own, but after glancing at my own library I have these recommendations:
1. Simple Chess by Stein. A really, really well written book on positional concepts, especially his treatment of colour complexes. Not to be confused with a book of the same name by a different author.
2. Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. Another great book on positional ideas.
3. The Art of Checkmate. A very good book on mating patterns, and probably the single most helpful book to my own improvement when I was active several years ago. Descriptive notation.
4. The Art of Combinations. Broken into two parts, the first part examinations combinations from a geometric perspective, while the second half, showing mating sacrifices, compliments the above book perfectly as it illustrates some of the ideas in more depth.
I'm not sure what else you have end game wise, but if the Dvortsky end game is the first ending book you're buying, I'd consider something simpler instead. Since so few club players pay any attention to the ending you can out play most of them if you just know the basics, so I'd recommend one of Silman's ending books first. After mastering that, you can always move on to something more advanced.
Originally posted by rubberjaw30Garry Kasparov - My great predecessors
I want the second edition or Mark Dvoretzky's Endgame manual, and Fisher's 60 annotated games...
what else should I ask for? lots of diagrams are great for me. Also, nothing on specific openings. I want more general topics, like: The Art of Attack, or the Art of Defense, etc.
J.H. Donner - The King ( not a lot of diagrams in it but it is one of the greatest chess book I have ever read.)
Pal Benko - My Life, games and compositions
Complete endgame course - Jeremy Silman
Zenon Franco - Chess self improvement
oh and a clubmate of mine really enjoyed the latest book by Steve Giddins. Didnt read that one yet though.
Originally posted by rubberjaw30The previous posters have some really good suggestions. Here's some more grist for the mill.
I want the second edition or Mark Dvoretzky's Endgame manual, and Fisher's 60 annotated games...
what else should I ask for? lots of diagrams are great for me. Also, nothing on specific openings. I want more general topics, like: The Art of Attack, or the Art of Defense, etc.
If Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games" is out of reach for you, how about "Bobby Fischer Rediscovered", by Soltis. It's basically a standard annotated games collection of 100 of Fischer's games. 23 of Soltis' annotated Fischer games were also in Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games" book.
Other book ideas:
The Sorcerer's Apprentice, by Bronstein
Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953, by Bronstein
Tal-Botvinnik 1960, by Tal
The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, by Tal
The Human Comedy of Chess, by Hans Ree (mostly stories, not very much chess)
Russians versus Fischer (2nd edition), by Plisetsky and Voronkov (mostly history, not much chess)
Modern Chess Strategy, by Ludek Pachman (descriptive notation)
Pawn Structure Chess, by Soltis
50 Essential Chess Lessons, by Steve Giddins
Understanding Chess Move by Move, by Nunn
P.S. Oh, and one minor typo correction for scandium. Simple Chess is by Stean, not Stein. (scandium may have just accidently hit the wrong key.)
P.P.S. And if you're completely obsessed with Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games", and you just have to get a copy, I'd stick with the more expensive first edition by Simon & Schuster (either hardcover or softcover). I'd avoid the later Batsford edition. The story I've heard is that the editing of the Batsford edition left much to be desired. (In fact, when Fischer does autograph his book for people, he will not autograph the Batsford edition. He hates it that much.)
Originally posted by rubberjaw30If you do go for Fischer's My 60 Memorable Games (and I think there's material there for a relative beginner as well as the more advanced)
I want the second edition or Mark Dvoretzky's Endgame manual, and Fisher's 60 annotated games...
DON'T GET THE BATSFORD REPRINT
whatever you do.
As for my own suggestion:-
I'm really fond of Simon Webb's Chess for Tigers. A really interesting and unusual book in that it doesn't try to teach technique as such but to help you make the best of what you have.
The latest edition came out a year or two back just before Simon Webb died. Well worth checking out.
One more that I almost forgot:
Van Perlo's Endgame Tactics, by Van Perlo. Over 1000 endgame positions! Maybe not quite as instructional as the other straightforward books like Dvoretsky, Muller, Silman, or Fine, but very enjoyable. (This is an endgame book more for fun. The instructional aspect is a nice side benefit.)
Originally posted by scandiumwho wrote the art of checkmate and the art of combinations? I'll ask for all three of those...
Not sure what you already own, but after glancing at my own library I have these recommendations:
1. Simple Chess by Stein. A really, really well written book on positional concepts, especially his treatment of colour complexes. Not to be confused with a book of the same name by a different author.
2. Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. Another great book ...[text shortened]... nding books first. After mastering that, you can always move on to something more advanced.