If there were only 1 chess book you could reccomend what would it be ?

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4 months ago · Quote · #141
mvtjc

AndyClifton wrote:

Lasker had the Chess Manual; Capa had Chess Fundamentals.

THIS!! Especially the great Capa's
4 months ago · Quote · #142
ChesterGood

pfren wrote:

ChesterGood wrote:

I don't necessarily have one book but I would recommend one author... Bruce Pandolfini. He has written numerous books on chess basics that I found quite helpful and it was not too high brow to understand. He was also the chess tutor in the Movie, In search of Bobby Fisher. I DO NOT recommend they give his book to kindergarden students though. Usually they are still learning their alphabet and thus have trouble reading.

True. His books were extensively used in the former USSR. They were given to kindergartens, and kids made nice paper shuttles out of them.
4 months ago · Quote · #143
Kingpatzer

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Nunn's "Understanding Chess Middlegames."

It covers a lot of ground in a way that is completely accessable to the average class player. It's very well written. While it's not comprehensive, what is offered is entirely usable.
4 months ago · Quote · #144
Immoney5252

Kingpatzer wrote:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Nunn's "Understanding Chess Middlegames."

It covers a lot of ground in a way that is completely accessable to the average class player. It's very well written. While it's not comprehensive, what is offered is entirely usable.

Kool avatar...and also thanks for reply....astonished you read through all posts...
4 months ago · Quote · #145
Benedictine

Hey, did you ever decide on what book to order or has this thread only dented your wallet?
4 months ago · Quote · #146
Immoney5252

Benedictine wrote:

Hey, did you ever decide on what book to order or has this thread only dented your wallet?

lol....I have (2) thus far Polga'r page #7...and Max Euwe/Walter Meiden Chess Master vs. Chess Amateur...

the good thing is the thread doesnt go away...so I can always skim through and get book ideas....
4 months ago · Quote · #147
Benedictine

Yes I have the Polgar book beside my bed. I use it as a reachable tactics book, general purpose, as well as letting it double for an offensive weapon in case of burglars (the thing is massive). I have the Chess Master vs Chess Amateur on my 'wish list' in Amazon as it sounds good.

The only thing I have against tactics book such as the Polgar one and any one of that sort, is for example out of the 5 thousand tactics in that book, 5 thousand of them are mates - i.e. attacking chess. So where are the defensive tactics? Still it is a good book because of the sheer numbers, but do these books only develop one side of our tactical game?
4 months ago · Quote · #148
Immoney5252

I agree^...I guess he has one just as big for defensive tactics
4 months ago · Quote · #149
jempty_method

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Checkmate-Dover-Chess/dp/0486201066
4 months ago · Quote · #150
Mandy711

I think you can borrow from the library most of the books mentioned in the thread. No need to hurt your wallet.
4 months ago · Quote · #151
Immoney5252

^ Very true....did you have a book suggestion...???
4 months ago · Quote · #152
Mandy711

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. This may not be the best but it's enjoyable to read.
4 months ago · Quote · #153
Immoney5252

Mandy711 wrote:

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. This may not be the best but it's enjoyable to read.

thank you
4 months ago · Quote · #154
AndyClifton

Vease wrote:

-waller- wrote:

I have Chernevs "Most Instructive Games Ever Played", solely because my dad used to own it (he doesn't play much chess either), but I thought it was a half decent book. Certainly was fun to read through at least.

Yes, you can learn a lot of basic strategy from that book. The problem with Chernev is that he gives the impression that every game reduces to the conversion of a basic positional advantage to a straightforward win. He rarely gives any lines showing how the loser could have played better so you just get a one sided view of the game.

Yeah, that's definitely true. I just read over that book again recently and noticed that time and again. And saying stuff like "Already on the 5th move Black sows the seeds of his strategic defeat"...
4 months ago · Quote · #155
AndyClifton

Mandy711 wrote:

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. This may not be the best but it's enjoyable to read.

Then again, maybe it is the best.
4 months ago · Quote · #156
AndyClifton

pfren wrote:

Any book on Capa is a sure shot. Even Chernev's on his 60 best endings. Factly, it may be the sole good book Chernev ever issued.

He did do at least one other enjoyable one (even though he did go a bit exclam-happy throughout):
4 months ago · Quote · #157
Tacticator

My personal favourite is "Best Lessons of a Chess Coach" by Sunil Weeramantry (I think that he's one of Nakamura's trainers).
4 months ago · Quote · #158
Bruch

AndyClifton wrote:

Mandy711 wrote:

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. This may not be the best but it's enjoyable to read.

Then again, maybe it is the best.

What rating would this book be appropriate for? I like Tal, just worried the book might be too advanced. I've not seen a preview, so it's hard to tell...
4 months ago · Quote · #159
AndyClifton

I think you should probably be a B-player.
4 months ago · Quote · #160
SmyslovFan

I don't think you need a specific chess rating to enjoy Tal's book. If you have a high school reading ability, you should enjoy his stories. One of the greatest aspects of Life and Games is that Tal makes you want to study his games! His book is inspirational, not just educational.

Mikhail Tal's love of the game is infectious, which is why it's a perennial candidate for best chess book ever written. His audience was every chess lover, not players above a certain rating.