1 edit
I guess I'm addicted to chess books. As such I'm the answer to a Madison Avenue executives dream: if the advertising copy for a book raves about it, I'll probably buy it. Even a good title, such as 'From beginner to expert in 40 lessons' will cause me to endure weeks of waiting only to find I've purchased something that, while interesting, doesn't seem to help much. Still the snake oil pitches call to me, sirens from the tormented used book rocks. Today I further depleted my checking account with an offering for the 'Greatest Chess Book of All Time', the out of print book LOGICAL CHESS MOVE-BY-MOVE (every move explained) by Irving Chernev is '254 pages of chess dynamite for every chess student' and 'illustrative diagrams are aplenty' which caused to reviewer to 'suddenly understand'. You know the style.
'Bobby Fischer teaches Chess', mostly about endgame, benefited my game the most. A long series of chess problems from real games selected by Fischer. Each new topic is introduced with a general discussion of principles, then the student solves problems that illustrate the concept. This programmed learning approach has a lasting effect.
Still, life would be stale without the hope for that next magic book that will somehow dramatically improve my game. Perhaps one with a wooden mallet and spring, which would whack my fingers if I tried, once again, to move without really looking.
What books have helped you? And what books do you wish you never paid for?
Originally posted by paperLet's shake hands, mate! I don't drink (but smoke) and I'm an addict, also of chess-books.
I guess I'm addicted to chess books. As such I'm the answer to a Madison Avenue executives dream: if the advertising copy for a book raves about it, I'll probably buy it. Even a good title, such as 'From beginner to expert in 40 lessons' will cause me to endure weeks of waiting only to find I've purchased something that, while interesting, doesn't seem ...[text shortened]... ut really looking.
What books have helped you? And what books do you wish you never paid for?
Before I forget to tell you: Chernev's book is NOT out of print! I ordered it last Saturday from my regular Brussels' chess-bookshop and it's bound to be delivered tomorrow.
I've gone (partly!) through John Nunn's 'Understanding chess move by move' and couldn't resist ordering Chernev's.
Books NOT over my head I will be repeating myself ad infinitum...
* Fischer teaches Chess (Dutch version)
* The wellknown Silman 'trilogy': How to reassess you chess - The amateur's mind & How to reassess your chess - Workbook
* The Schiller trilogy on openings: Complete Defense agains 1.d4 (Tarrasch) - Complete Defense against 1.e4 & A hypermodern repertoire for White
* The King's Indian Attack (CD-ROM - Don Maddox)
* Botvinnik's 100 best games (Euwe, Müller)
* Zürich 1953 Candidates (adorable! Thank you David Bronstein)
Books OVER my head (that list would be much too long and some are in Dutch, many in German)...
* My System (don't ask me why - just not my cup of tea, though I TRIED)
* Erfolgreich im Endspiele (Awerbach - Succesful in the endgame)
* Rook Endings I & II (Awerbakh)
* Schachstrategie für Fortgeschrittene 1 & 2 (Suetin - Chess Strategy for the Experienced)
* Several specific opening books in German)
* Beating the Indian Defences (Burgess & Pedersen)
* Winning against 1.e4 (the Sicilian)
* The Ultimate Pirc (Nunn & McNab)
* Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings A >>E (I profit much more from Fritz Powerbook 2002)
Etcetera. Etcetera...
Cheerio!
Jan
5 edits
Originally posted by Jan Pot, Antwerpe (Belgiu
Let's shake hands, mate! I don't drink (but smoke) and I'm an addict, also of chess-books.
Before I forget to tell you: Chernev's book is NOT out of print! I ordered it last Saturday from my regular Brussels' chess-b ...[text shortened]... tz Powerbook 2002)
Etcetera. Etcetera...
Cheerio!
Jan
I noticed John Nunn's 'Understanding chess move by move' in the bookstore today. If you think it's good I'll buy it.
I own the reassess books. I'll look into the rest. Thanks,
Chuck
- Joined
- 09 Aug 01
- Moves
- 54191
Originally posted by paperi'll second the recommendation. nunn's book has the right mix of descriptive explainations and chess variations. for me, going overboard with too many chess variations might be good for the expert player, but has diminished value to the average player.
I noticed John Nunn's 'Understanding chess move by move' in the bookstore today. If you think it's good I'll buy it.
I own the reassess books. I'll look into the rest. Thanks,
Chuck
Originally posted by paperYou saw it? Then buy your copy before it's sold! Randy Bauer (but not just him!) gave it a 10/10 in his quality reviews at <chessopolis>. Jeremy Silman also has a to be trusted review section at his web site.
I noticed John Nunn's 'Understanding chess move by move' in the bookstore today. If you think it's good I'll buy it.
I own the reassess books. I'll look into the rest. Thanks,
Chuck
Buy the Nunn-book! Asap!
This week I also got Nunn's predecessor, so to speak, Irvin Chernev's 'Logical Chess: Move by Move'. Great buy too. Honest.
Nice weekend for all.
Jan
Originally posted by Jan Pot, Antwerpe (BelgiuHi! I hope I won't bore you with a perhaps too long post...
You saw it? Then buy your copy before it's sold! Randy Bauer (but not just him!) gave it a 10/10 in his quality reviews at <chessopolis>. Jeremy Silman also has a to be trusted review section at his web site.
Buy the Nunn-book! Asap!
This week I also got Nunn's predecessor, so to speak, Irvin Chernev's 'Logical Chess: Move by Move'. Great buy too. Honest.
Nice weekend for all.
Jan
This I posted to Jeremy Silman:
Can&#8217;t see the wood anymore through the trees&#8230;
Dear Mr Silman
I&#8217;m a regular visitor of your web site and enjoy being there every minute. Turning on 63 next October and now retired, I started taking up chess more or less &#8216;seriously&#8217; (?) late 2001. I&#8217;ve always been a chess lover and thus acquired quite a chess library over the years.
However, I never found the time to study and play chess (work, family, social life, you know) as I should have done. I own appr. 250 chess books and some 40 CD-ROMs. Some of the stuff is either outdated or, worse, over my head.
What I&#8217;d love to know from you, a chess teacher and writer of fine legible books, is how I&#8217;d best study (some of!) the material summed up hereunder. I tried to write a week planner but I got lost; my signals got crossed (Bob Dylan). Most likely what follows is too much to stomach. Let&#8217;s have a look&#8230;
Openings
-A Complete Defence against 1.e4 (Schiller, based on the Caro-Kann)
-A complete Defence against 1.d4 (Schiller, based on the Tarrasch)
-A Hypermodern Repertoire for White (Schiller &#8211; based on the English & the Réti)
-Ideas behind Modern Chess Openings (Lane)
-ABC of Chess Openings (CD from ChessBase &#8211; Gary Gauthier)
-The Small ECO
-The Eco (A >>> E)
-Modern Chess Openings 14th Edition (de Firmian)
-Various specific Opening Books & CD-ROMs
-How to build your Chess Opening Repertoire (Giddins &#8211; On your review advice)
Middle game
-ABC of the Chess Middle Game (CD ChessBase - Gary Gauthier)
-Planning and Judgement (Euwe &#8211; old Dutch original)
-Euwe&#8217;s earlier 4 volumes (Dutch)
-Het Middenspel # 1 & 2 (Fine &#8211; Dutch)
Endgame
-Chess Endings &#8211; Essential Knowledge (Averbakh)
-Endgame Strategy (Shereshevski &#8211; but in&#8230; German!)
-ABC of Chess Endgames (ChessBase CD)
-Euwe&#8217;s earlier 4 volumes (Dutch)
Various
-Chess pawn Structures (Soltis)
-How to Reassess your Chess (guess?!)
-The Amateur&#8217;s Mind
-How to Reassess your Chess &#8211; Workbook
-Logical Chess: Move by Move (Chernev)
-Understanding Chess, Move by Move (Nunn)
-My System 21st Century Edition
-40 Lessons for the Club Player (Kostyev)
Strategy
-Chess Strategy I, II & III (Bartashnikov &#8211; ChessBase CD)
-Does &#8216;Planning & Judgement belong here?)
Tactics
-School of elementary Tactics (ChessBase CD &#8211; Weteschnik)
-Intensive Course Tactics (ChessBase CD &#8211; Renko)
-Fischer teaches Chess (the programmed course)
Tournament & WCh Match Books
-New York 1924 (Alekhine &#8211; descriptive)
-Groningen 1946 (Euwe & Kmoch)
-Zürich 1953 Candidates Tournament (Bronstein &#8211; A real treasure!)
-Second Piatigorski Cup (descriptive)
-All WCh Match Books since 1966 Petrosian-Spasski, except the preposterous Brain Games Championship Kramnik-Kasparov 2000 London)
Collections individual players
-Botvinnik&#8217;s best 100
-Euwe: The Biography
-Kasparov (early years)
-Tal
-Karpov
-Keres
-Capablanca
-Reshevski
-Denker
-Short (just his early prodigal years
-Fischer (My 60&#8230; but in German)
Magazines
-Ten of New in Chess
-Hundreds of the French &#8216;Europe Echec&#8217;
-ChessBase Magazine #70 through 92
As you can see for yourself, Mr Silman, this is far too much for me to digest. I realise that only too well. Apart from all this I also play at my local club on Wednesday afternoons, on the web (email chess at ChessWorld.net and online at WorldChessNet.com, the KCC clone).
Incidentally&#8230; I was a member of the KCC and lost $ 102.00 on its going down&#8230;
I&#8217;m wondering whether you could tell me how and what to study within the frame of a week planner? As a chess coach, I&#8217;m sure you can advise me what books to skip (perhaps most of them, I assume) and give me a sort of quintessential selection to study, not overlooking my age. I would be grateful ad infinitum if you would be so kind sort this out for me at your earliest convenience. So many thanks in advance!
Kindest regards
Jan Pot
Antwerp
Belgium
Can&#8217;t see the wood anymore through the trees&#8230;
Dear Mr Silman
I&#8217;m a regular visitor of your web site and enjoy being there every minute. Turning on 63 next October and now retired, I started taking up chess more or less &#8216;seriously&#8217; (?) late 2001. I&#8217;ve always been a chess lover and thus acquired quite a chess library over the years.
However, I never found the time to study and play chess (work, family, social life, you know) as I should have done. I own appr. 250 chess books and some 40 CD-ROMs. Some of the stuff is either outdated or, worse, over my head.
What I&#8217;d love to know from you, a chess teacher and writer of fine legible books, is how I&#8217;d best study (some of!) the material summed up hereunder. I tried to write a week planner but I got lost; my signals got crossed (Bob Dylan). Most likely what follows is too much to stomach. Let&#8217;s have a look&#8230;
Openings
-A Complete Defence against 1.e4 (Schiller, based on the Caro-Kann)
-A complete Defence against 1.d4 (Schiller, based on the Tarrasch)
-A Hypermodern Repertoire for White (Schiller &#8211; based on the English & the Réti)
-Ideas behind Modern Chess Openings (Lane)
-ABC of Chess Openings (CD from ChessBase &#8211; Gary Gauthier)
-The Small ECO
-The Eco (A >>> E)
-Modern Chess Openings 14th Edition (de Firmian)
-Various specific Opening Books & CD-ROMs
-How to build your Chess Opening Repertoire (Giddins &#8211; On your review advice)
Middle game
-ABC of the Chess Middle Game (CD ChessBase - Gary Gauthier)
-Planning and Judgement (Euwe &#8211; old Dutch original)
-Euwe&#8217;s earlier 4 volumes (Dutch)
-Het Middenspel # 1 & 2 (Fine &#8211; Dutch)
Endgame
-Chess Endings &#8211; Essential Knowledge (Averbakh)
-Endgame Strategy (Shereshevski &#8211; but in&#8230; German!)
-ABC of Chess Endgames (ChessBase CD)
-Euwe&#8217;s earlier 4 volumes (Dutch)
Various
-Chess pawn Structures (Soltis)
-How to Reassess your Chess (guess?!)
-The Amateur&#8217;s Mind
-How to Reassess your Chess &#8211; Workbook
-Logical Chess: Move by Move (Chernev)
-Understanding Chess, Move by Move (Nunn)
-My System 21st Century Edition
-40 Lessons for the Club Player (Kostyev)
Strategy
-Chess Strategy I, II & III (Bartashnikov &#8211; ChessBase CD)
-Does &#8216;Planning & Judgement belong here?)
Tactics
-School of elementary Tactics (ChessBase CD &#8211; Weteschnik)
-Intensive Course Tactics (ChessBase CD &#8211; Renko)
-Fischer teaches Chess (the programmed course)
Tournament & WCh Match Books
-New York 1924 (Alekhine &#8211; descriptive)
-Groningen 1946 (Euwe & Kmoch)
-Zürich 1953 Candidates Tournament (Bronstein &#8211; A real treasure!)
-Second Piatigorski Cup (descriptive)
-All WCh Match Books since 1966 Petrosian-Spasski, except the preposterous Brain Games Championship Kramnik-Kasparov 2000 London)
Collections individual players
-Botvinnik&#8217;s best 100
-Euwe: The Biography
-Kasparov (early years)
-Tal
-Karpov
-Keres
-Capablanca
-Reshevski
-Denker
-Short (just his early prodigal years
-Fischer (My 60&#8230; but in German)
Magazines
-Ten of New in Chess
-Hundreds of the French &#8216;Europe Echec&#8217;
-ChessBase Magazine #70 through 92
As you can see for yourself, Mr Silman, this is far too much for me to digest. I realise that only too well. Apart from all this I also play at my local club on Wednesday afternoons, on the web (email chess at ChessWorld.net and online at WorldChessNet.com, the KCC clone).
Incidentally&#8230; I was a member of the KCC and lost $ 102.00 on its going down&#8230;
I&#8217;m wondering whether you could tell me how and what to study within the frame of a week planner? As a chess coach, I&#8217;m sure you can advise me what books to skip (perhaps most of them, I assume) and give me a sort of quintessential selection to study, not overlooking my age. I would be grateful ad infinitum if you would be so kind sort this out for me at your earliest convenience. So many thanks in advance!
Kindest regards
Jan Pot
Antwerp
Belgium
Jeremy's brief reply...
Here's a simple study course:
1) Look at tactical puzzles whenever you have a spare minute or two. Keep such books (tactical CD-Roms are also great) around the house so they are easy to pick up -- a glance at a tactic and you trying to quickly solve them will be fun and will train your mind.
2) Read HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS through page 28.
Put it aside and Read all of THE AMATEUR'S MIND.
Next: Go back to HOW TO REASSESS YOUR CHESS and read it all.
Next: Read all of THE REASSESS YOUR CHESS WORKBOOK.
ALSO: if you're in the mood, never hesitate to look over an annotated game from one of your chess heroes.
That's all you need to do. It's easy (but take your time...never rush!) and you will come out of it as a MUCH stronger player.
Good luck,
Jeremy Silman
What is one to do at my age?
Cheerio!
Jan
- Joined
- 26 May 02
- Moves
- 72546
1 edit
Jan, perhaps you pressed more than once on the paste command keys [CRTL + V].
Whatever the cause, just go into edit message and delete the superfluous text.
You must do this fairly promptly though, as I don't think you can edit your post after an hour. So if it happens again...
I hope that helps a little,
Dave
Originally posted by David TebbThanks Dave! I hope that will solve the prob. It's silly of me, really & certainly when it happens with such a long message. Apologies to all!
Jan, perhaps you pressed more than once on the paste command keys [CRTL + V].
Whatever the cause, just go into edit message and delete the superfluous text.
You must do this fairly promptly though, as I don't think you can edit your post after an hour. So if it happens again...
I hope that helps a little,
Dave
Cheerio!
Jan
3 edits
Thanks everyone. Here are my selections for this month:
From the bookstore:
John Nunn's 'Understanding chess move by move' based on recommendations by Jan Pot and tonytiger41
On order:
LOGICAL CHESS MOVE-BY-MOVE (every move explained) by Irving Chernev
Used and sent Us Postal Service "Media Class". I'll be lucky if it arrives in three weeks.
Ordered with UPS shipping, so here soon:
The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery by Jeremy Silman. Ordered after reading Jan Pot's response from Jeremy Silman.
Hypermodern Opening Repertoire for White by Eric Schiller
AND
An Explosive Chess Opening Repertoire for Black
by Jouni Yrjola, Jussi Tella
Practical Middlegame techniques by Dr Danny Kopec. Recommended by Hangin on Chess.fm last night.
Also a video: Pawn Structures and How to Play Them by Danny Kopec ordered UPS Air from The Chess House. Kopec says this is his best video. He teaches a chess camp near here so I thought I'd see how good a teacher he is.
Paper
1 edit
Mamouth book of greatest Chess games.
100 great games + interesting commentary on some of the worlds greatest ever players. Very enjoyable.
PS Ebay sometimes good for out of print books - I got a copy of Fishers 60 Memorable games on it (although it did have to come from USA to UK).
Originally posted by LazarausThanks, I'll look for it.
Mamouth book of greatest Chess games.
100 great games + interesting commentary on some of the worlds greatest ever players. Very enjoyable.
PS Ebay sometimes good for out of print books - I got a copy of Fishers 60 Memorable games on it (although it did have to come from USA to UK).
Amazon.com often has used books. Be sure to specify some other shipping method than US Post Office standard. You will get Media Mail (i.e. 'book rate'😉 and will wait for weeks.