This is a topic that comes up again and again. This time, hopefully, a bit more specific.
I've been scouting around the bookshops looking for good chess books... and found almost none at all. There are piles of books about specific openings (yawn) or about improving the basics (bigger yawn) but very very few good ones.
I want books that will entertain as much as they will instruct.
By good I mean those that are literate, written about chess strategy, tactics, methodologies, with anecdotes, humour, stories etc. By good I don't mean books that contain hundreds of boring excercises and equally boring annotated games. (Okay, the games aren't necessarily boring, but working through them is!)
Really, there's no way I'm going to waste valuable chessplaying time working through other people's games. I'd rather put that effort into my own games. 🙂
My personal opinion is that these kind of books, if worked at diligently, may well improve your ability to spot combinations but then so does playing lots of chess, as long as you take the time to properly analyze each move. It is much more important that you grasp the concepts; because the chances of coming across identical positions in your own games are extremely remote.
I recently read Play like a Grandmaster by Alexander Kotov. Although also containing some exercises and annotated games, there is plenty of excellent discussions and insights into the middle game, and the ways grandmasters tackle various aspects of the game. Quite facinating. It is this kind of book that is worthwhile, because (a) it is readable and entertaining, (b) it provides general methods and theories that can be applied to any position, and (c) it does not require huge amount of time effort to extract the benefits of the author's insight and experience.
So what other suggestions are there for general chess books that are a good, enjoyable read, that can improve your chess thinking... and, of course, do not require you to tediously work through hundreds of games?
Originally posted by GatecrasherWhat books have you read? What do you currently have?
This is a topic that comes up again and again. This time, hopefully, a bit more specific.
I've been scouting around the bookshops looking for good chess books... and found almost none at all. There are piles of books about specific openings (yawn) or about improving the basics (bigger yawn) but very very few good ones.
I want books that will en ...[text shortened]... thinking... and, of course, do not require you to tediously work through hundreds of games?
Originally posted by ketchuploverVery few, which is why I'm asking the question.
What books have you read? What do you currently have?
There are books I've had for donkey's years:
Baroque Chess Openings - Richard Wincor (very good, very offbeat)
The Penguin Book of Chess Openings - WR Hartston
And a tiny technical book about some variation of the Sicillian (which I've never read, and probably never will)
I didn't buy any of the above - they were prizes won at school. Since rediscovering chess at RHP I've bought the Kotov book I mentioned above and The Inner Game of Chess by Andrew Soltis, which looked promising, and has some useful sections, but on the whole was a little disappointing.
And that's it. And I haven't seen any other book that I would want to own.
The Tal book sounds good. Thanks, Sir. And I beleive "My system" by Aron Nimzovich is a must have (I just haven't stumbled across a copy yet).
As a novice player just starting out, I found The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, by GM Patrick Wolff, to be indispensible.
Despite the unfortunate title, and my overall dislike of the For Dummies/Idiots genre of books, it's an excellent book with humor and anecdotes. It's also clear, concise, well-written, and enthusiastic. That was definitely money well spent. Highly, HIGHLY Recommended..
Here's the Amazon look-up...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0028641825/ref=sib_dp_pt/002-4772586-7960814#reader-link
beermaestro
Originally posted by GatecrasherMy System is entertaining and greatly instructive at the same time:if you didn't read it go and buy,you will be surprised that this book was written 80 years ago.
Very few, which is why I'm asking the question.
There are books I've had for donkey's years:
Baroque Chess Openings - Richard Wincor (very good, very offbeat)
The Penguin Book of Chess Openings - WR Hartston
And a tiny technical book about some variation of the Sicillian (which I've never read, and probably never will)
I didn't buy any ...[text shortened]... "My system" by Aron Nimzovich is a must have (I just haven't stumbled across a copy yet).
A ''must'' for every chess player.
One of the greatest chess books ever written: Tal - Botvinnik, 1960.
Here's a couple of reviews of this book, which will give you a good idea what it's all about:
http://www.chessville.com/reviews/reviews_tal-bot.htm
http://www3.sympatico.ca/chesspraxis/tenbestbooks.htm
Scroll to the bottom of this second page, where the reviewer rates it the best book ever...
"Well, you have reached it. The pinnacle, the summit, the top of the heap -- call it whatever you want. This book is IT - the best one. Period."
Best books that I have come across which combine great teaching with great prose are from Gambit:
'The Road to Chess Improvement' - Yermolinsky
'Seven Deadly Sins' - Rowson
'Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy' - Watson
All fairly advanced books, but are well worth checking out. Jeremy Silman's website has reveiws of all of them - have a look.
The new Soltis book: Bobby Fischer Rediscovered is great for reading and playing over. Excellent analysis, every game is given a context/background. The book is well-organized and eminently readable with lots of insider information. One of the few books I've played all the way through. Soltis has a knack for the literate chess book. I know there's alot of Fischer nonsense out there. Lists at 25 bucks paperback.
Originally posted by GatecrasherFirst of all, I hear you about the non-literate books... I've tried lots of books but while I find the games interesting enough, it's such an ordeal playing through the games that I just can't face finishing the whole book. Forbidding is the word...
There are books I've had for donkey's years:
...
The Penguin Book of Chess Openings - WR Hartston
Did you like the Hartston book? There's a 'Teach Yourself' series about all manner of things, including sports and languages. But William Hartston wrote the chess ones: 'Teach Yourself Chess' and the one I'm reading/recommending to you, 'Teach Yourself Better Chess'.
It is simple. It has 75 2-page lessons. On the left hand page is a direct, well written synopsis of the concept. On the right is a single example to play through. They are quite short and unforbidding. I have noticed a definite improvement in my game.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0071419705/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-5465478-2046516#reader-link
Originally posted by CaptainDangerousThanks to everyone who have made suggestions.
First of all, I hear you about the non-literate books... I've tried lots of books but while I find the games interesting enough, it's such an ordeal playing through the games that I just can't face finishing the whole book. Forbidding is the word...
Did you like the Hartston book? There's a 'Teach Yourself' series about all manner of things ...[text shortened]... e.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0071419705/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-5465478-2046516#reader-link
CaptainD, I seem to remember seeing a Hartston book just as you describe. It did look interesting, definitely a different format to the run of the mill, but I thought it might be more for the beginner. I will give it another, deeper, look when I am back in the bookshop.
I quite like Hartston's writing, but the Penguin book is missing many of the more interesting openings.
About to start reading "My System"... thanks Panuka.