You just move them to the left lobal front en Potence.
Worst Chess Books!
I find his terminology weird, but for exactly the opposite reason that most people would.
He uses the term "Flank Refused" incorrectly, when he actually means "En Echelon".
(I'll be working, starting September 1st, at the Tactics School, Combat Training Center)
I know this topic is unoriginal, but I have a really stupid book that I want to get off my chest.
The book is Beating the KID and Grunfeld by Timothy Taylor. I checked it out to see what White had up his sleeve to beat my beloved KID.
He claims every line in the Martz line of the FPA is winning for White, and his "Liz" variation as well. He also writes false premises of the Na6, e5 line that features a pawn sac, proven by computers, and OTB play. He seems to think White is just up a pawn, even though the evidence shows against it.
Lets look at his suggestions:
(with his comments and annotations)
Thats why you should look over author analysis with an engine, before you use it in a real game.
P.S, I know some of you will say the book was old, but it was published in 2006, where strong engines somewhat existed, at least they played to grandmaster strength, or more.
Anyone else read this book?
Oh, and post your worst books here as well! This way, we can warn potential chess book buyers of bad books, saving their money, as well as ours if we ever buy a book.
My apologies to anyone that knows him or if he reads this. But anything by Eric Schiller. The guy seems to turn out 300 chess book a year, and if jdging by the one i have, they are full of mistakes.
Another horrible book is From beginner to Expert in 40 lessons
Congratulations to you.
Thanks, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be doing IT support at their computer research lab.
Worst book hands down is Kotov's "Think Like a Grandmaster" and I would follow it with Keres's Endgame book.
Keres's Endgame book? Seriously? It's a classic. Still one of the best one band endgame books. Maybe one of the five best chess books!
I was puzzled to see both "My System" and "Pawn Power" mentioned as bad Chess books. They are both excellent.
I certainly wouldn't put Keres' endgame book in a worst books list, but I also consider it to be one of the weaker endgame books that I own. I don't know anyone who used that book exclusively to get better at endgames.
Some endgame books that I consider to be miles better than Keres' book include:
Basic Chess Endings by Fine. I know, his general rules were too general, and his examples were often full of mistakes. But I know quite a few masters who learned how to play endgames by studying his book. They also learned to think for themselves and catch errors. It really is a classic.
Fundamental Chess Endings by Muller and Lamprecht This is a great endgame encyclopedia. So is Batsford Chess Endgings.
Analysing the Endgame by Jon Speelman This isn't encyclopedic, but it definitely teaches the reader how to analyse.
Rate your Endgame by Mednis. This is a relatively little known book, but just about everyone who reads recognises the brilliance of this book.
Endgame Virtuoso: Anatoly Karpov by Karolyi and Alpin
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual Pretty much the book that every aspiring master should have on his or her shelf.
15 Endgames and their Stories by Botvinnik
Mastering the Endgame (2 volumes) by Shereshevsky
Queen Endings by Averbakh. Actually each of his endgame books is special. But I spent a lot of time devouring this particular volume. Absolutely brilliant.
Ok, you get my point. Keres' book isn't awful; there are just many books that have better analysis, are more useful, and more readable.
I certainly wouldn't put Keres' endgame book in a worst books list, but I also consider it to be one of the weaker endgame books that I own. I don't know anyone who used that book exclusively to get better at endgames.
Some endgame books that I consider to be miles better than Keres' book include:
Basic Chess Endings by Fine. I know, his general rules were too general, and his examples were often full of mistakes. But I know quite a few masters who learned how to play endgames by studying his book. They also learned to think for themselves and catch errors It really is a classic.
Fundamental Chess Endings by Muller and Lamprecht
Analysing the Endgame by Jon Speelman This isn't encyclopedic, but it definitely teaches the reader how to analyse.
Rate your Endgame by Mednis. This is a relatively little known book, but just about everyone who reads recognises the brilliance of this book.
Endgame Virtuoso: Anatoly Karpov by Karolyi and Alpin
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual Pretty much the book that every aspiring master should have on his or her shelf.
15 Endgames and their Stories by Botvinnik
Mastering the Endgame (2 volumes) by Shereshevsky
Queen Endings by Averbakh. Actually each of his endgame books is special. But I spent a lot of time devouring this particular volume. Absolutely brilliant.
Ok, you get my point. Keres' book isn't awful, there are just many books that are better, more useful and more readable.
Endgame Virtuoso: Anatoly Karpov by Karolyi and Alpin. Cant say enough good things about this book!
Pawn Power is pretty awful in my opinion. Kmoch commits a common mistake by burdening chess with unnecessary terminology that nobody uses.
Leukopenia? Give me a break.
Mastering the Endgame (2 volumes) by Shereshevsky
I have both of these, but haven't had a chance to read them yet. Interesting format for studying endings. Shame I had to pay top $$ for them since they're out of print.
Once you grasp his terminology, it`s a fine book. I find much of his terminology to be quite useful.
High-level players tend to think in "chunks" instead of in "I-go-here, he-goes-there" style... and concepts like Duo, Ram, Lever, Chain (and extensions of those concepts such as Head Duo and Liberation Lever) make it easier to "chunk" a position.
YMMV.
I like the Kmoch book as well. I think most of his terminology was unnecessary, but if I understand and apply that's all that matters.
OK, one book that I think is rather bad: "Bobby Fischer teaches chess". This book is too elementary even for those who don't know how the pieces move. In the foreword Fischer said something like this: "I hope you will be a better chess player after having read this book. At least, I was!" Hmmm... wasn't this book released the same year Fischer become the world champion? Me too could have been a world champion back then!
On a related note, Igor Smirnov's site has to be one of the worst out there. Looks like a giant infomercial where you're guaranteed to play like a GM by placing tiny classified ads.
On a related note, Igor Smirnov's site has to be one of the worst out there. Looks like a giant infomercial where you're guaranteed to play like a GM by placing tiny classified ads.
While the site may not look like much, the courses do work. Nothing earth shattering in them, its the way he teaches.
OK, one book that I think is rather bad: "Bobby Fischer teaches chess". This book is too elementary even for those who don't know how the pieces move. In the foreword Fischer said something like this: "I hope you will be a better chess player after having read this book. At least, I was!" Hmmm... wasn't this book released the same year Fischer become the world champion? Me too could have been a world champion back then!
The book is brilliant and covers a wide range of checkmate patterns from back rank mate to... er... back rank mate.
The Grand Tactics Of Chess
That was one of the first Chess books I ever read!
Forty years later, I'm still trying to reassemble my scattered. whimpering brain-cells.