Chess Books

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10th February 2009, 04:08pm
#1
by Arv123
New York City United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 452

I am currently looking for a good chess book to buy. I would greatly appriciate it if you would recomend a book.

Thank you,

Arv123

10th February 2009, 04:29pm
#2
by jswilkmd
Colorado United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 125

You'll need to let us know a bit more about what you're looking for.  Openings? Tactics? End game? Traps and pitfalls?

10th February 2009, 04:29pm
#3
by Mm40
Essex County, New Jersey United States
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 2157

If you really want to improve, I honestly suggest you get a chess.com membership. The tactics trainer has helped my tactics, the most important part of our game at our level, amazingly.

11th February 2009, 07:51am
#4
by Arv123
New York City United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 452

I am searching for an opening book.

11th February 2009, 08:02am
#5
by Scarblac
Arnhem Netherlands
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 1834

There are very very many of them. There are several types: encyclopedias (Modern Chess Openings, Nunn's Chess Openings, the Encyclopedia, etc), books on one specific opening, or one repertoire, and general "ideas" books.

I think that because of your level, the encyclopedias are worthless for you (only moves, no explanation), and the repertoire / specific opening books are generally too full of analysis.

So I'd go for an "ideas" book. Chess Openings Essentials: The Complete 1.e4 gets good reviews on Amazon, but there may be others. Watson's books get rave reviews but are probably too high level (although that may be a mistake on my part).

Two good links for reviews of chess books (besides Amazon):

http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews/index_universal.html

http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/reviews.htm

Hmm, appears Chess Openings Essentials has some bad points as well, but don't know which: http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1225525327.shtml

11th February 2009, 08:14am
#6
by aansel
Long Island United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 682

Serbiac's post s again on the mark. Depending on your level a good opening repertoire book makes sense. Everyman has a series called Starting Out... (lots of opening choices) which are are excellent for learning many of the ideas and getting you up to speed on that specific opening. Chess Openings the Essentials is going to be a three  part series and it really just covers the basic names and early opening moves but can not be used by itself. Andy Soltis (one of my favorite authors) wrote a neat little book for Thinkers Press (though it was an odd shaped size book) that I thought was very good. I am sure it can be found on e-bay for about $5 I do not remember the exact title. 

12th February 2009, 03:26pm
#7
by Arv123
New York City United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 452

thanks for posting

I'll probably get a book in the starting out series

 

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