13 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by RamnedHmm a good first chess book. So many good choices, especially as you're already 1600 which eliminates the basic stuff. Perhaps "Better chess for average players" by Harding. It covers a lot of ground, except openings, and assumes you have already the basics down. Good book, cheap, algebraic, and a pretty quick and easy read.
I'm OTB rated 1600. Have a narrow opening repetoire (easily thrown off by odd gambitlike openings). But I want the book that will help me the most, have never read one.
13 Jan 08
Originally posted by scandiumI'd say my weakest is actually in openings, I have very weak knowledge in that respect.
Hmm a good first chess book. So many good choices, especially as you're already 1600 which eliminates the basic stuff. Perhaps "Better chess for average players" by Harding. It covers a lot of ground, except openings, and assumes you have already have the basics down. Good book, cheap, algebraic, and a pretty quick and easy read.
13 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by RamnedIf its an opening book you want then you have a few choices. Though I can't suggest strenuously enough NOT to get something like MCO or NCO (though doubtless some will recommend one or the other). The reason? Presumably you want an opening book to actually read and learn something from. NCO/MCO aren't it. Both books are essentially nothing but columns of moves with a conclusion, after each variation, along the lines of "and white has a slight advantage". And that's about it for text. Useful if you already understand an opening and want to to use it as a reference in CC. Useless as a first opening book.
I'd say my weakest is actually in openings, I have very weak knowledge in that respect.
If you don't yet have an opening repetoire you could do worse than my only general purpose opening book (which I still refer to now and then even after owning it for over a decade) called "Chess Openings for the Average Player" by Harding and Barden. You won't find inside the latest theory or every possible variation of every opening, but they do cover most openings and with lots of text and diagrams. Some openings, ones they recommend and the more popular lines, get heavier treatment than others. There are newer and better books of this type out today, however.
If you do have an opening repetoire you're better off buying specialty repetoire books that cover that opening as they go into more detail. The best ones, again, use lots of text and diagrams to explain the opening and usually include complete games. You have to shop carefully for these though, as the chess book market is polluted with opening books that are little more than database dumps, are woefully incomplete (neglecting crucial variations), or just stress lines that are known to be either poor or offer no advantage. But there are good ones out too, for most openings, you just have to shop carefully (read reviews and the customer feedback on amazon.com).
13 Jan 08
To add to my earlier suggestions there are two books that I think are good for just about anyone below 1800 and will help with the opening ideas a bit.
1. Chernov's Logical Chess: Move by Move
2. Chess:The Art of Logical Thinking by Neil McDonald.
#2 is less basic in my opinion and probably the better choice, it's also in algebraic as opposed to descriptive notation.
13 Jan 08
Originally posted by zebanoLogical Chess is available in algebraic. I have it in that edition.
To add to my earlier suggestions there are two books that I think are good for just about anyone below 1800 and will help with the opening ideas a bit.
1. Chernov's Logical Chess: Move by Move
2. Chess:The Art of Logical Thinking by Neil McDonald.
#2 is less basic in my opinion and probably the better choice, it's also in algebraic as opposed to descriptive notation.
13 Jan 08
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexYeah! he was sub-1200 before reading it and now look at him! 😛
Think like a grandmaster by Alexander Kotov - it changed the whole way I thought about the game after reading.
Essential reading for anybody who has difficulty forming plans in a game - it teaches you how to structure your thought processes and play in a more objective way.