Only Chess
26 Jul 07
26 Jul 07
Originally posted by 88mphI have found that solving chess puzzles is an excellent way to pass the time and improve my chess while riding on a bus or train. You don't need a chess set and you'll be strengthening what I consider to be the most important aspect of chess: tactics.
been thinking of buying one, which comes recommended and why?
try to steer away from heavily notated books, i like to read on the bus, and without a board i find a long string of notes impossible to follow
26 Jul 07
2 edits
Originally posted by 88mphYou might want to search through the site for recommendations. This question has come up MANY times, and there are already dozens of recommendations in earlier threads. Below is a sample search for "chess books". You could probably easily think of other related searches that might be useful as well:
been thinking of buying one, which comes recommended and why?
try to steer away from heavily notated books, i like to read on the bus, and without a board i find a long string of notes impossible to follow
http://www.google.com/custom?q=%22chess+books%22&btnG=Search&sitesearch=www.redhotpawn.com
That said, I can recommend checking out "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess", if you're a relative novice. It has no notation whatsoever (just diagrams and arrows), and gives you a lot of problems gradually increasing in difficulty, which makes it really easy and fun to make progress.
For something a a bit more advanced you could try Chris Ward's "Chess Choice Challenge", and John Walker's "Chess combinations: The Improving Player's Puzzle Book". Both of these do use notation, but there are no long series of moves without diagrams. And there are lots and lots of diagrams.
27 Jul 07
3 edits
Maybe there should be some kind of master thread or FAQ listing chess book recommendations that everyone could add to. Keeping dozens of threads buried in the forum (many of which keep repeating the recommendation of the same popular books) is pretty silly. I mean, how many times has My System been recommended on here? (No offense to anyone who's recommended it, by the way, or to the author. I like the book too.)
27 Jul 07
Search for Chess Perfection by CJS Purdy (OP?). It's a biography and collection of his games, but most important, a collection of his magazine articles so can be read starting anywhere. Purdy was one of the best writers ever. His explanations are some of the most clear I've ever read. Fischer also thought highly of him as an analyst.
27 Jul 07
Originally posted by masscatNot quite out of print yet! The retail part of Chessco has shut down, but Bob Long printed a new edition titled "The Search For Chess Perfection II", and he's selling it through Chess4Less. The first printing had some typos (the most glaring being the numbering of the games was inexplicably missing), but he's made subsequent printings with the typos corrected.
Search for Chess Perfection by CJS Purdy (OP?). It's a biography and collection of his games, but most important, a collection of his magazine articles so can be read starting anywhere. Purdy was one of the best writers ever. His explanations are some of the most clear I've ever read. Fischer also thought highly of him as an analyst.
A couple of caveats: Chess4Less doesn't have the cheapest prices on the internet, and their shipping rates aren't the cheapest, either. And the only order I placed with them had some damage due to substandard packaging, imho. But in their defense, they did quickly make it right with me, so the order turned out well in the end.
I have no idea whether Bob will continue to make reprints of the book, so I'd suggest that if you think you might want a copy, don't delay too long!
http://www.classicalgames.com/
29 Jul 07
Originally posted by gaychessplayerbut where can i get these in paper form regularly?
I have found that solving chess puzzles is an excellent way to pass the time and improve my chess while riding on a bus or train. You don't need a chess set and you'll be strengthening what I consider to be the most important aspect of chess: tactics.
29 Jul 07
Originally posted by 88mphYou're better off with this if you ask me:
but where can i get these in paper form regularly?
http://products.convekta.com/198/2/
I had it before I went on to CT-Art (better for 1400+ players IMO)
Chess tactics for beginners is geared for 0-1600 elo players.
1200 puzzles (with explanations/refutations) going from a simple back rank rook mate in 1, up to sacrificial combinations leading to mate.
29 Jul 07
Originally posted by 88mphYou are looking for Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess by Robert James" Bobby" Fischer.
try to steer away from heavily notated books, i like to read on the bus, and without a board i find a long string of notes impossible to follow
I found it extremely easy (you might too) when I read it long time ago but the book makes you grasp the fundementals of chess.
It's perfect for beginners though.
30 Jul 07
Originally posted by highflier934I find most of Schiller's books that I've seen to be informative and entertaining. "Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom" is one of his better books.
Eric Schiller writes a lot of good material. His "Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom" is really good for grasping and learning to apply the basic-intermediate concepts. About 50/50 with the annotation. Very informative, though.
Warning: The first printing of this book had more typos and other weird errors than any book I've ever seen. The second printing is much improved. If you value your sanity, I would stay away from the first edition.
If you're a chess teacher, the table of contents alone makes for an excellent course outline.