Depends on where you're at in terms of progress.
My current top 10 would be:
- Silman's new endgame book.
- Silman's Reassess your chess.
- Pawn Power - Kmoch
- Chess for Tigers - Simon Webb
- Amateur's Mind - Silman
- Simple Chess - Michael Stean
- Complete Chess Strategy (Vols 1,2,3, not the condensed one!) - Pachman
- Mammoth book of World's Greatest Games
- Build up your chess Series - Arthur Yusupov
- Elements of Positional Evaluation - Heisman
1. Art of Attack...Vukovic
2. Modern Chess Strategy...Pachman
3. Pawn structure Chess... Soltis
4. Chess endings for the Practical Player...Pachman
5. Fundamental Chess Openings...Van der Sterren
A good list.
I'd probably replace Pawn Power (read it a few decades ago, still remember stuff from that odd book) with Soltis' Pawn Structure Chess.
I think a worthwile addition would be "My System" by Aaron Nimziwitsch (excuse the spelling)
Top 10 books to own:
1. Karpov's Strategic Wins (2 volumes)
2. My Great Predecessors by Kasparov(Volumes 1-5)
3. My System and Praxis of my System (both by Nimzowitch)
4. My 60 Memorable Games (Fischer)
5. Dvoretsky's endgame Manual
6. Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master (Silman)
7. How to Reassess your Chess (Silman)
8. Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy (Watson)
9. Pawn Structure Chess (Soltis)
10. Chess Fundamentals (J.R. Capablanca)
I think it all depends on one's level. For me, the books listed above are aspirational!
Based on having bought way too many unsuitable books and pieces of software over the years, my recommendations to an adult starting out would be, in order:
The problem with recommending any teaching book (for any discipline) is that everyone prefers a different "voice" and style of presentation, even down to which fonts are used in the printing. The writing style and presentation in the books above works for me.
After these books I'd suggest looking for a book or software to practice tactics and, if you want some variety, an intro on strategy/positional play.
IMHO Chess.com's Tactics Trainer and Chess Mentor really are the best bang for the buck. I've also really enjoyed (and so benefited from) some of the endgame videos.
Logical Chess - Move by Move, Chernov
Silmans Endgame Course, Silman
Vienna 1953, Bronstein
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, Veermantry
Seeing all of these Silman books listed makes me feel obligated to point out that a new edition (2nd?) of Reassess Your Chess is slated to come out in September.
I believe one would have to search under Zurich 1953 to find that Bronstein book.
I believe one would have to search under Zurich 1953 to find that Bronstein book.
Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein
An earlier edition under the David McKay imprint had the (very cool) title:
The chess struggle in practice: candidates tournament, Zurich 1953, by David Bronstein
It's easy to put together 50 books if I choose books I've looked at (and usually bought) and which seemed would be really good if I put the work into them, and I will someday, someday...Sooo much harder if I limit myself to books I've definitely and positively enjoyed after having worked through most of, if not all, of the text.
Middlegame:
How to Reassess Your Chess, Silman
Modern Chess Strategy, Pachman (the condensed one is the one I have)
General Chess
Modern Ideas in Chess, Reti
Fireside Book of Chess, eds Chernev and Reinfeld! (You can pick up a used copy of this very cheap... it's a real old codger's book of chess gems... lots of great games and oddities and corny writing... I think it was written in the 50s I don't even think there are Fischer games in there). This was my first book of chess, the one that got me hooked on the game... (going thru the classic games... the Opera Game, and the Evergreen game, etc. and the anecdotes surrounding them wonderful stuff!)
I have to include -- Imagination in Chess, Gaprindashvili -- despite the fact that I've only made it thru 10% of the problems, and despite the fact that it's really a bit aspirational (which is why I've only made it thru 10% thus far) as it is stupefyingly difficult.
Though this is not a recommendation, I just had to throw this in there:
I recently purchased a used copy of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" because I am, in fact, a Complete Chess Idiot! lol The forward is by Josh Waitzkin and though I've only just begun, I think it may be simple enough that I may actually comprehend the game itself better on this level :)
Here is a four book library. If you learn what is in them, I believe you'll be about 1800 level.
1. Averbakh: Chess Endings-Essential Knowledge
2. Fine: The Middle Game In Chess
3. Kaufman: The Chess Advantage In Black And White
4. Purdy: The Search For Chess Perfection II
Modern Chess Openings
Silman's Complete Endgame Course
Amateur's Mind
How to Reassess Your Chess
My System - Nimzowitsch
i only have one chess book, and its not that good
Some of my favourites recently:
David Bronstein and Tom Furstenburg. The Sorceror's Apprentice.
Bobby Fischer. My 60 Memorable Games.
Garry Kasparov. Garry Kasparov On Modern Chess Part Two Kasparov vs. Karpov 1975-1985.
Garry Kasparov. My Great Predecessors IV Fischer.
Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov. Art of the Middlegame.
Paul Keres. Practical Chess Endings.
Alexei Shirov. Fire On Board: Shirov's Best Games.
Mikhail Tal. Tal Botvinnik 1960.
Mikhail Tal. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal.
Jonathan Tisdall. Improve Your Chess Now.
A good list.
I'd probably replace Pawn Power (read it a few decades ago, still remember stuff from that odd book) with Soltis' Pawn Structure Chess.
Pawn Power was my first book ever. the first purchased. I hardly read it. later on, i got the algebraic edition and still didnt read it. too late by then :)
I think it all depends on one's level. For me, the books listed above are aspirational!
Based on having bought way too many unsuitable books and pieces of software over the years, my recommendations to an adult starting out would be, in order:
Play Winning Chess - Yasser Seirawan Logical Chess Move by Move - Irving Chernev Winning Chess Tactics - Yasser Seirawan Winning Chess Endings - Yasser SeirawanThe problem with recommending any teaching book (for any discipline) is that everyone prefers a different "voice" and style of presentation, even down to which fonts are used in the printing. The writing style and presentation in the books above works for me.
After these books I'd suggest looking for a book or software to practice tactics and, if you want some variety, an intro on strategy/positional play.
IMHO Chess.com's Tactics Trainer and Chess Mentor really are the best bang for the buck. I've also really enjoyed (and so benefited from) some of the endgame videos.
For a beginner I couldnt agree more.
Wow! Lots of great tips.
What are your top 10 chess books that are worth buying?
Thanks
Tactics
1. WETESCHNIK Martin - Understanding Chess Tactics
2. VUKOVIC Vladimir - Art of Attack in Chess
Strategy
3. SILMAN Jeremy - How To Reassess Your Chess
4. KMOCH Hans - Pawn Power in Chess
Endgame
5. DE LA VILLA Jesus - 100 Endgames You Must Know
6. SHERESHEVSKY Mikhail - Endgame Strategy
Game collections
7. CHERNEV Irving - Capablancas Best Chess Endings
8. TAL Mikhail - Tal vs Botvinnik 1960
That should do you for quite some time.
What are your top 10 chess books that are worth buying?
Thanks