5 old chess books I enjoyed in the 1970s, growing up as a teenager

I have used editorial reviews mixed in with my opinion to take a fond look at these ancient books.

Chess: Win in 20 Moves or Less, Fred Reinfeld

73 outstanding short chess games spread out over a hundred years, instructively annotated. The author, an eminent chess player and writer from the 1940s to the 1960s, thoroughly explains the brilliant moves leading to victory, as well as the bad moves that caused the loss of games. The original version of this book came out in 1948.

I am using the structure and the theme of this book as a template for the chess books which I am writing.

Chess Strategy and Tactics, Fred Reinfeld and Irving Chernev

A superb collection of fifty of the greatest master games played by the leading players of the period 1870 to 1933. The book’s painstaking research, analytical clarity and graceful exposition are to be much admired.

Samuel Reshevsky called it “one of the finest books on chess ever written, as readable as it is useful,” and Reuben Fine said, “I recommend Chess Strategies and Tactics to every player who is earnestly desirous of improving his game.”

This is my second most favorite old chess book, after Win in 20 Moves or Less.

 The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played, Irving Chernev (1972 edition)

Here are 62 masterly demonstrations of the basic strategies of winning at chess, compiled and annotated by one of chess’ most admired and respected writers in the twentieth century. The first edition of this book appeared in 1946.

Fred Reinfeld, Irving Chernev, Reuben Fine, and I.A. Horowitz paved the way and set the example for more recent chess authors, such as Andrew Soltis and Yasser Seirawan, going only to the beginning of the twenty-first century. Irving Chernev’s Logical Chess: Move By Move: Every Move Explained is a best seller on Amazon to this day.

Each game in The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played offers a classic example of a fundamental problem and its best resolution, described and diagrammed in the clearest possible manner.

Chernev’s lively and illuminating notes on each game reveal precisely how Capablanca, Tarrasch, Fischer, Alekhine, Lasker, and Petrosian turned theory into practice as they attacked and maneuvered to control the board.

Readers may find their techniques improving by going through the lessons as they discover winning strategies, explore comments on alternative plans, and marvel at the finesse of winning play.

Profile of a Prodigy: The Life and Games of Bobby Fischer, Frank Brady (1972 edition)

The content in this edition was written during one of the mad genius Fischer’s brief semi-retirement periods before his historic run at the World Championship. This book has been updated and broadened in its scope several times.

Considered by many the most extraordinary phenomenon in the history of chess and perhaps the strongest player who ever played the game, Robert James Fischer was also, undeniably, one of the most controversial. His unusual demands during tournaments, off-the-board antics, and unexplained forfeiture of his world title brought him very strong notoriety.

Frank Brady, who was as familiar with Fischer as anyone on the New York chess scene possibly could have been, has furnished an explanation which neither exonerates nor condemns Fischer.

Both Fischer’s chess brilliance and his uncommon behavior are explored in this comprehensive, carefully researched volume. Brady, noted chess player, teacher, writer, and tournament director, had known Bobby Fischer since the latter was eleven years old. He had been present at various behind-the-scenes episodes in Fischer’s tempestuous career, and discussed Fischer with many grandmasters, including several former world champions. That personal involvement adds a special dimension of intimate knowledge to this work.

Chess the Easy Way, Reuben Fine (1975 edition)

Excellent book for beginners. A seller of out-of-print chess books says that more chess coaches in America have recommended this book for their students than any other book. Written by one of the world’s strongest grandmasters of his time who was a top contender for the World Chess Championship back in the 1930s, Chess the Easy Way advances the player past the beginner level. Long out of print, there have many requests for this book, which was first published in 1942.

To learn more about Fred Reinfeld, go to Bill Wall’s article on chess.com here.

To find out more about Irving Chernev, go to Wikipedia here.