Paulbuchmanfromfics Chess Book Reviews

41. and 42. Chess Middlegame Combinations/Chess Middlegame Planning by Romanovsky

TWO CLASSICS on middlegame strategy. Semi-advanced books on many aspects of combinational play and planning.
Algebraic Editions
Many excellent examples of combination play, including whole games.
The same goes for the planning book. Many actual games annotated with very good annotations.
Maybe not top priority but ...
Recommended

43. Chess: Improving And Staying Sharp by Eric Tangborn
Very Slim (78 pages) A few games, mostly tactical diagrams. The emphasis is on tactics. Will definitely improve your game but not really necessary.

44. Practical Middlegame Tips By Edmar Mednis

This is not a middlegame manual !!!
This IS 33 very well annotated games, sorted by the middlegame theme used in them. It is more of an annotated game collection than a general improvement manual. That being said, the games and annotations are excellent.
Includes games from Kasparov and Anand to Mednis himself.
Good Book

45. Chess Master At Any Age By Rolf Wetzell
It's not really about looking at specific positions. This is more of a book about identifying the holes in your game and improving. The author suggests making flash cards of certain positions (from your games and others) to help memorize them. The book is more about frank talk. I really haven't read much of it myself but did have a friend who really loved it. Good but not really recommended.

46. How Good Is Your Chess? By Daniel King
The funny thing is that I bought this and 2 other books in a Killer Chess Box just to get the magnetic set that came with it. Surprisingly, this turned out to be a rather good "test yourself" book. He takes GM games and leaves a little space between moves. Your goal is to find the move before you uncover it. Moves are worth points. Sometimes the second best move is worth points too. Sometimes you even lose points. At the end of the game, you tally your score to see what category of player you are. You are actually playing through GM games in the process, so there must be some instructional value to it. Good but not great.

47. A Contemporary Approach To The Middlegame by Suetin

Another CLASSIC.
I haven't really read it but it seems like a pretty good middlegame book. I suggest you seek another review.

48. My System By Aaron Nimzowitsch
21st Century Algebraic Edition
One of the CLASSICS.
Nimzowitsch wrote his own manual on chess. Many aspects of chess are covered. It starts out with basic concepts and gets really advanced. A nice annotated game section is included in the back.
Nimzowitsch was the PIONEER of hypermodernism. I have to go on and say it. This is a MUST HAVE.

49. Chess Praxis : The Praxis Of My System By Nimzowitsch

A companion volume to My System. My System is the how to manual. Praxis is a collection of well annotated games (played by Nimzowitsch) using the same strategy he showed in My System.
Nimzowitsch was truly different from his contemporaries, and that's one of the things that makes this a must read. I recall World Champion Petrosian deeply studying one of Nimzowitch's books when he was younger. I believe it was this one although it could have been My System. Highly Recommended

50. Blockade By Aaron Nimzowitsch
Very Slim 65 Pages
All about forming blockades. "Blockade And Destroy"
A nice little book but not really necessary

51. Hypermodern Strategy By Jan Van Reek
(Subtitled A Revision Of Nimzowitsch's My System)
112 Pages
The author takes modern games to illustrate some of Nimzowitsch's theories/ideas. Not Bad but Again Not Necessary

52. Mastering Chess: A Course in 21 Lessons
By Chandler (Mr. Greenpawn himself !!!),Kopec,Morrison,Davies, and Mullen

This a great book. I actually typed that before I looked up greenpawn's profile to make sure he was the same guy. 🙂
It really is a small world. 🙂

Believe it or not (I am as shocked as you are), the first chapter (by Greenpawn) is worth the price of the book alone. I can't believe greenpawn taught me the classical bishop sacrifice and double bishop sacrifice before anyone else. No wonder I am a tactician and gambiteer at heart. 🙂
Also included are smothered mate, the skewer, and many other tactical themes. Many test diagrams are included too and that's just chapter one !!!
There is also how to analyze a position, how to formulate a plan, opening ideas, endings and many test positions.
I'm still in shock over greenpawn being the author.
Highly Recommended !!! Maybe even a ... dare I say it ... Must Buy

53. The Road To Chess Improvement By Alex Yermolinsky

I think this one won book of the year. It is a very advanced middlegame manual. There are some really good ideas/annotations in this one. I recall him dissecting a few Capablanca games and showing some mistakes by the man himself. Also included is antidote to the Sicilian Grand Prix. This is a great book by a wonderful author. Be warned ... This too is a bit advanced.
Highly Recommended

54. Secrets Of Modern Chess Strategy (Advances Since Nimzowitsch) By John Watson
Also winner of the book of the year award.
Watson takes time to look at many aspects of the dynamics of modern chess. Many modern examples of Nimzowitsch's ideas being used by the modern elite players. An excellent book.
Highly Recommended ( Again A Little Advanced)

55. The Seven Deadly Chess Sins By Jonathan Rowson
I picked it up looked at it a few minutes and shelved it. I can't really give a good review of this one. It does keep itself fairly dust free, however. 🙂 Please look elsewhere for a good review.

56. The Art Of Sacrifice In Chess By Rudolf Spielmann

A CLASSIC manual on how to attack. Many types of sacrifices are looked at with analysis and commentary. Spielmann was considered an attacking genius.
Great Book but not really high on the list of priorities.

57. The Art Of Attack In Chess By Vukovic

Another LONG HAILED CLASSIC

This is THE BOOK to learn how to attack with. Attacking the castled/uncastled king, mating patterns, focal points, and many other themes are covered here. If you want to learn to attack correctly/succesfully then this is the book to get.
It's not to shabby either (352 pages).
Highly Recommend to Must Have

58. Pawn Structure Chess By Soltis

Various Pawn Structures (Caro-Slav,King's Indian,Stonewall) are looked at in detail. Plans based around these pawn structures are examined. This is a very good middlegame book.
Recommended

59. The Art Of Defense In Chess By Soltis

A pretty good book on defense. Soltis coves many aspects of defensive chess including ways to obtain counterplay and putting up the toughest resistance. Defense practice never hurts. Everyone learns how to attack but not many defend well.

Very Good

60. The Inner Game Of Chess By Soltis

Another book on calculation. Many diagrams and examples. I never really read much of it. Sorry

61. Tension In The Chess Position By Sheffield
Slim 68 Pages
Mostly about when to relieve the tension (trade pieces) and when not too. I haven't really read all that much of it either.

62. Positional Sacrifices By McDonald
Just about every sacrifice imaginable is examined by Mc Donald.
Again, haven't really read it.

63. Practical Chess Analysis By Buckley
A Thinker's Press (ChessCo) book on how to analyze. I see a pattern here. I went through it a little but didn't read it.

64. The Search For Chess Perfection (The Life, Games, and Writings Of C.J.S. Purdy) by C.J.S. Purdy
Another Thinker's Press (ChessCo) book.
A nice improvement book.
The title says it all.
Very Good

65. 40 Lessons For The Club Player By Kostyev
Various aspects covered in 40 "Lessons".
Not your usual chess improvement book.
Not my cup of tea.
I suggest seeking another review.

66. Danger In Chess (How To Avoid Making Blunders) By Amatzi Avni
Part of the Killer Chess Box ... Didn't really read it

67. Why You Lose At Chess By Harding See previous review

68. Creative Chess By Amatzi Avni
Studies/tactical positions are examined where some really out of the ordinary maneuvers where used to win.
Certainly Not Bad But Again Not My Thing

69. Basic Chess Endings By Reuben Fine

For years and years, this was considered the endgame reference manual. Every endgame imaginable is here. I have the old descriptive edition. It is full of flaws, however. Over the years, many of the flaws were corrected (a lot of which in GM Larry Evans's Chess Life Column). Since my edition, they have released a revised algebraic edition. I must warn you this is not an improvement book, so to speak. If you get a bishop and pawn vs knight ending (or something similar) though, you just pull out your copy and look in the appropriate section. The Standard Manual For Years And Years.
Recommended

70. Pandolfini's Endgame Course

A very good "first" endgame book. It starts out with basic mates (queen vs king, rook, two bishops, etc). Then you wander into other endings such as king and pawn endings. They get more complicated. Each ending has a diagram (there is one on every single page). In all 239 endgames are covered. A very good first book on the endgame. Recommended

71. Grandmaster Secrets Endings By Soltis

Another great endgame book. This book has quite an unusual shape. It reads like a regular book turned sideways. The basics aren't covered here. This book is written in a fun q&a format. It is like you are watching a lower rated player get lessons from a master. Another thing that I really like about this one is that it is filled with quotes from famous players. Beside the quote is a cartoon type illustration of that player. 🙂 I think players of many levels can benefit from this book. A lot of endgame essentials are covered here. Most of all it makes studying the endgame kind of fun.
Very Highly Recommended

72. Essential Chess Endings Explained Move By Move Volume One
By Jeremy Silman
Another excellent first endgame book. The basics are covered here. It works its way up to knight endings and other complicated stuff.
NOTE: I do not have Silman's Endgame Course. I imagine this is similar to that book and would suggest taking a look at that one first.

73. Essential Chess Endings Explained Move By Move Volume Two
By Ken Smith
Silman goes out of his way to say he had nothing to do with this book.
I don't think I've read a good review of it yet.
Enough Said

74. Practical Chess Endings By Chernev

300 x to move and win diagrams are covered here.
They range from basic wins to endgame studies.
Each page has the solution below the diagram.
Also included is text within the solution!!!
Descriptive Notation

Great Book ... Recommended

75. and 76. Making Chess Endings Easy To Study Vols 1 And 2
By Ken Smith
To little pamplets (54 and 56 pages) with diagrams of a side to move.
Good endgame practice but not really necessary..

77. Queen v. Rook/Minor Piece Endings By Averbakh, Chekhove, and Henkin
Part of the famous Averbakh endgame series. He wrote a whole set that covered every aspect of the endgame. They are very nice if you can find the whole set at a good price. I bought a CD titled Comprehensive Chess Endings. It is said to have most of the material from all these books. It sure saves a lot of money if that is correct.

78. Rook Endings By Smyslov and Levenfish
Also, part of the above series. I have the algebraic edition but it is said to be full of errors.

79. Practical Knight Endings By Mednis
He also wrote Practical Rook Endings and Practical Bishop Endings.
In this book, the correct way to play knight endings is supposed to be demonstrated. I haven't read it yet. In all my years of chess, I can still count the knight endings on my fingers.

80. Practical Endgame Play By Mc Donald
Mc Donald examines various endgames in great detail.
Haven't read it.

And another great bullet sac.




oops wrong thread. 😛

Originally posted by tomtom232
And another great bullet sac.

[pgn][Event "RHP Blitz rated"]
[Site "www.chessatwork.com"]
[Date "2008.11.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "tomtom232"]
[Black "Bobbyt65"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. f2-f4 e5xf4 3. Ng1-f3 d7-d6 4. Bf1-c4 h7-h6 5. O-O Ng8-f6 6. d2-d4 Nf6xe4 7. Rf1-e1 f7-f5 8. Nb1-c3 Bf8-e7 9. Nc3xe4 f5xe4 10. Re1xe4 c7-c6 11. Re4xf4 d6 ...[text shortened]... 12. Nf3-e5 d5xc4 13. Qd1-h5 g7-g6 14. Qh5xg6 1-0[/pgn]


oops wrong thread. 😛

How did something interesting get in this thread????
LOL

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
How did something interesting get in this thread????
LOL

I don't know... it must have fallen from the sky.

Originally posted by tomtom232
And another great bullet sac.

[pgn][Event "RHP Blitz rated"]
[Site "www.chessatwork.com"]
[Date "2008.11.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "tomtom232"]
[Black "Bobbyt65"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. f2-f4 e5xf4 3. Ng1-f3 d7-d6 4. Bf1-c4 h7-h6 5. O-O Ng8-f6 6. d2-d4 Nf6xe4 7. Rf1-e1 f7-f5 8. Nb1-c3 Bf8-e7 9. Nc3xe4 f5xe4 10. Re1xe4 c7-c6 11. Re4xf4 d6 ...[text shortened]... 12. Nf3-e5 d5xc4 13. Qd1-h5 g7-g6 14. Qh5xg6 1-0[/pgn]


oops wrong thread. 😛

That's why I never accept the KG in bullet. 2 ... Bc5 or 2 ... d5 are much safer.

Originally posted by danilop
That's why I never accept the KG in bullet. 2 ... Bc5 or 2 ... d5 are much safer.

2...d5 isn't safer just different. If you wanna go safe then try 2...d6


Edit: On a serious note; thanks for the reviews paulbuchmanfromfics.

I want to go safe, but I want to pose white some problems too. 2. ... d5 is a nice way to mix things up without having to lose precious time keeping an eye on possible f7 sacs for white every move.

Edit: Yeah, good job on the reviews, keep it up. It would be great if more people did that; it's hard to find chess books for a reasonable price where I live, and reading such reviews is a nice way to be sure every book I buy is worth it.

Originally posted by danilop
I want to go safe, but I want to pose white some problems too. 2. ... d5 is a nice way to mix things up without having to lose precious time keeping an eye on possible f7 sacs for white every move.

Edit: Yeah, good job on the reviews, keep it up. It would be great if more people did that; it's hard to find chess books for a reasonable price where I live, and reading such reviews is a nice way to be sure every book I buy is worth it.

2..d5 is just like 1...d5 but worse. If you wante to pose real problems accept the pawn then play g5 and h6.

That's what I play in slow OTB chess. For bullet, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 gives black better chances to win faster - or at least make white think.

Believe it or not, I am still on the first shelf (of 5).
When I finish this shelf, I may take a couple days off from reviewing. I think I've already bored enough people to death.
Well, here goes... the rest of shelf 1.

81. Capablanca's Best Chess Endings By Chernev

This book contains 60 complete games played by the maestro himself. Capablanca had a very simple looking but efficient style. It really is a joy to play over his games.
The games are annotated and when it gets to the critical ending, the diagram says so. If you want, you can just set it up from there.
This is more of a Capablanca book than an endgame book.
Very Good

82. Vassily Smyslov: Endgame Virtuoso By Vassily Smyslov (LOL ... I always got a kick out of that. ... It's kind of like me, king of the world by me. 🙂 )

All joking aside, Smyslov really is an excellent endgame player (quite possibly one of the all time greats). Smyslov breaks down and discusses endings that he has actually played. Also included are his studies and many illustrative games. This is an advanced book.
Highly Recommended

83. Tactical Chess Endings by John Nunn

Nunn has written many books on the endgame. It is my understanding that a lot of them are reference manuals. I particularly remember a very funny review by Tony Miles. 🙂
This book, however, is not the case. Many endings/diagrams are shown where there is a tactical win. This is a good book for endgame practice.
Very Good but not necessary

84. and 85. Analysing The Endgame and Endgame Preparation By John Speelman. A world champion candidate breaks down and analyses many endgames. I haven't really read much of them yet. (They are fairly new for me.) I believe them to be highly praised by other reviewers. There are a bit advanced. I suggest you read another review and consider purchasing both.

86. American Chess Art: 250 Portraits Of Endgame Study By Walter Korn 250 very good endgame studies. They can be very complicated. Good Practice

87. and 88. Mastering The Endgame Vols 1 and 2 By Shereshevsky and Slutsky

Two advanced but very good endgame books.
Vol 1 covers endgame structures that arise from various openings.
Vol 2 covers dark square and light sqaure strategy along with symmetrical and assymmetrical endings.
These books are very highly praised. I haven't read all of them but I what I did read was very impressive.
Recommended

89. and 90. Chess Endgame Lessons Vols 1 and 2 by Pal Benko

These two books cover various articles from his Chess Life column.
Benko is the ENDGAME AUTHORITY.
The endings, being magazine articles, tend to hop around a bit.
They are excellent, however. They are very advanced.
These are geared more at the endgame specialist.
Recommended (But Advanced)

91. 1001 Best Short Games Of Chess By Chernev

1001 fun miniatures (games in under 20 moves).
They are from very long ago to about the 50's.
This is one of my personal favorites as well.
Greenpawn says it is available online for free.
Under those circumstances, it's a must have. 🙂

92. Great Short Games Of The Chess Masters By Reinfeld
80 more short games played by famous masters.
Another good miniature book.

93. 100 Soviet Chess Miniatures By Clarke

A nice collection of miniatures from the Soviet Union.
Some are very complex. All are quite enjoyable.
Very Good

94. Masters Of The Chessboard By Reti

BELONGS IN EVERY CHESSPLAYER'S LIBRARY
Reti examines the great games of all the great chess players up to that point. The annotations are excellent. One of the all time best classics, in my opinion.
Highly Recommended

95. Modern Ideas In Chess By Reti

Another Reti Classic. Reti examines more great players/ games. It is, however, very similar to the book above. I think all you really need is Masters Of The Chessboard.

96. The World's Great Chess Games By Reuben Fine

This is very similar to Masters Of The Chessboard. Fine gives a brief bio followed by a few games of every great player up to Karpov.
This book is kind of like examining the history of chess itself.
Less famous greats like Janowski and Bogolyubov are covered.
Even players you've probably never heard of like Ossip Bernstein and William Lombardy are in here.

Highly Recommended (for its historical value)

Alas my dear chess friends we have come to the end of shelf 1. 🙂

You have seen my basic manuals, middlegame, tactical, general improvement, and miniature books.
Rest assured the best is yet to come (game collections in groups, game collections on/by individual players ... my favorite , and opening books).

Originally posted by danilop
That's what I play in slow OTB chess. For bullet, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 e4 gives black better chances to win faster - or at least make white think.

I don't think I just play 4.Qe2.

Originally posted by tomtom232
I don't think I just play 4.Qe2.

Get back in your own thread. LOL