Chess books for a beginner - Chess Forums - Page 2

t_taylor

Mar 9, 2013

0

#21

I copied this from another thread "The Stappenmethode ("steps method") is used by the Dutch chess federation to teach kids. An American site for them is here: http://www.chess-steps.com/ They remind me of Yusupov's books in that there is a big emphasis on exercises, and a mix of subjects. Mostly tactics though.

The workbooks are most important, they're only $7 each. I don't think the manuals are that important, it's exercises that count. Step 1 starts at beginner level, the end of step 5 is probably 1900-ish.

I would do workbook 1-5, and if can do step 5 well, switch to Yusupov.

NimzoRoy

Mar 9, 2013

0

#22

heidihightops wrote:

I'm looking for some books that I can learn from. I've known chess for years, but I haven't taken it seriously until now.

Can anyone recommend some good books for me to learn from?

YES (as you've probably noticed already) and I recommend you also start searching right here for articles and blogs written for beginners

Since you asked MCO is a reference book probably irrelevant for players rated under 1600 Fundamental Chess Openings (FCO) explains basic ideas and concepts of openings and would be more appropriate, but unless you've got lot of spare change I wouldn't even suggest that right away.Instead, consider one or more of these books, look for used copies at amazon

Common Sense In Chess by Dr Lasker

Chess Fundamentals, Last Lectures, My Chess Career all by Capablanca

Logical Chess Move By Move and/or The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played both by Irving Chernev

GOOD LUCK!

sapientdust

Mar 9, 2013

0

#23

heidihightops wrote:

sapientdust wrote:

How to Reassess your Chess is much too advanced for you. I would recommend Chernev's Logical Chess: Move by Move: Every Move Explained.

The bulk of your chess "study" time at your level should be tactics training. And be sure to play plenty of slow games (at least 30 minutes per side, preferably something like 45 45 [45 minutes each side, with 45 second increment]), which will help you improve far more than if you play mostly blitz.

Dan Heisman has an excellent page of Recommended Chess Books organized by level.

Thank you so much. I was looking at that book, but I wasn't sure which book to purchase first. When should I go for silman?

Heisman recommends How to Reassess your Chess for players rated 1600+ USCF (at least 1700-1800 chess.com standard rating [not online]).

heidihightops

Mar 9, 2013

0

#24

sapientdust wrote:

heidihightops wrote:

sapientdust wrote:

How to Reassess your Chess is much too advanced for you. I would recommend Chernev's Logical Chess: Move by Move: Every Move Explained.

The bulk of your chess "study" time at your level should be tactics training. And be sure to play plenty of slow games (at least 30 minutes per side, preferably something like 45 45 [45 minutes each side, with 45 second increment]), which will help you improve far more than if you play mostly blitz.

Dan Heisman has an excellent page of Recommended Chess Books organized by level.

Thank you so much. I was looking at that book, but I wasn't sure which book to purchase first. When should I go for silman?

Heisman recommends How to Reassess your Chess for players rated 1600+ USCF (at least 1700-1800 chess.com standard rating [not online]).

If not online rating, then what rating do you mean then?

heidihightops

Mar 9, 2013

0

#25

NimzoRoy wrote:

heidihightops wrote:

I'm looking for some books that I can learn from. I've known chess for years, but I haven't taken it seriously until now.

Can anyone recommend some good books for me to learn from?

YES (as you've probably noticed already) and I recommend you also start searching right here for articles and blogs written for beginners

Since you asked MCO is a reference book probably irrelevant for players rated under 1600 Fundamental Chess Openings (FCO) explains basic ideas and concepts of openings and would be more appropriate, but unless you've got lot of spare change I wouldn't even suggest that right away.Instead, consider one or more of these books, look for used copies at amazon

Common Sense In Chess by Dr Lasker

Chess Fundamentals, Last Lectures, My Chess Career all by Capablanca

Logical Chess Move By Move and/or The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played both by Irving Chernev

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for your help. So, the pattern I'm seeing is Chernev and Yassar for beginners, then move on with silman. Does that sound pretty accurate?

sapientdust

Mar 9, 2013

0

#26

Live chess rating at standard time controls (not blitz). "Online chess" is chess.com's non-standard name for correspondence chess, where players have at least 1 day per move.

NimzoRoy

Mar 9, 2013

0

#27

heidihightops I never read any books by Silman or Yasser Seirawan (not Yassar), but I've read many articles by GM Seirawan and would guess any beginner's book he wrote would be worthwhile.

For more opinions look up any book you're thinking about buying at amazon and check out the reviews written by people who have already read the book (hopefully). The reviews also rate the books from 1-5 stars so if a book has many more 5-star ratings than 1-star ratings (or vice versa) that alone is often a clue as to whether or not you'll like it.

bcoburn2

Mar 10, 2013

0

#28

[COMMENT DELETED]

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#29

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#30

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#31

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#32

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#33

TetsuoShima

Mar 10, 2013

0

#34

NimzoRoy wrote:

heidihightops I never read any books by Silman or Yasser Seirawan (not Yassar), but I've read many articles by GM Seirawan and would guess any beginner's book he wrote would be worthwhile.

For more opinions look up any book you're thinking about buying at amazon and check out the reviews written by people who have already read the book (hopefully). The reviews also rate the books from 1-5 stars so if a book has many more 5-star ratings than 1-star ratings (or vice versa) that alone is often a clue as to whether or not you'll like it.

I think in arabic you can say either e or a.. but i might be wrong

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#35

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#36

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#37

heidihightops

Mar 10, 2013

0

#38

What is wrong with victorpu?

heidihightops

Mar 10, 2013

0

#39

hoynck wrote:

zazen5 wrote:

I suggest Go problems as a welcome variant to the chess players study.

-----

I play Go / Weiqi for many years already and I can recommend it to anyone, not only chess players. It is a beautiful and very 'deep' game, there is lots of fine literature et cetera.

I also play Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) and Shogi (Japanese chess). Very fine games at well, no waste of time to learn and play them.

In my opinion though Shogi is the only one of the three games mentioned that is relevant as training for the playing of our Western chess variant, like we play OTB and here on Chess.com

Shogi learns you a lot about attacking dynamics, counter attacking, switching over the fight to another part of the board, building safe castles en defending the king.

Apart from al that Shogi is of course a very fine game on it self, just as difficult, deep and exciting as the kind of chess we play.

I've looked at Go. I wasn't really interested in it though. I'm more interested in chess.

victorpu

Mar 10, 2013

0

#40

fgj,bdhjjPlease be relevant, helpful & nice!