Book Recommendations!
Hey everyone!
I have been collaborating with Forward Chess for the past couple of months and doing streams using their app. Forward Chess is an interactive Chess e-book reader for mobile (iOS and Android) and desktop (Windows and Mac). You can purchase your favorite ebooks from leading publishers, play through the moves in the book, try out your own lines and even analyze with the powerful Stockfish engine.
Give me a follow on twitch.tv/forwardchess to catch my streams using the app. The streams have given me the opportunity to explore various books, many of which have quickly become my favorites.
Check out my book recommendations below. You can use the coupon WELCOME2FC for $10 off.
For beginners to 1400:
For players around 600 rated who can do mate in two:
1500 Forced Mates by Jakov Geller.
Includes many tactical patterns followed by exercises combining them.
https://forwardchess.com/product/1500-forced-mates
For players rated 1000+:
A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns by Vladimir Barsky
850 exercises of checkmating patterns broken down into 10 chapters. Each chapter focuses on cooperation between certain pieces to deliver checkmate.
https://forwardchess.com/product/a-modern-guide-to-checkmating-patterns
Yasser Seirawan’s Books:
I don’t think a living legend like Yasser needs an introduction. The 4-time US Champion has a series of books that are excellent for beginners looking to familiarize themselves with common chess themes. The books start with basic examples of a concept then move on to more complicated examples derived from games.
Check them all out here: https://forwardchess.com/products?search=yasser+seirawan
Is Your Move Safe? By Dan Heisman
A fundamental question every chess player must ask herself. Dan Heisman compiled examples from games of club players, presenting common mistakes that derive from carelessness.
https://forwardchess.com/product/is-your-move-safe
Chess Calculation Training For Kids And Club Players, Level 1 – Checkmating by Romain Edouard
Fun checkmating patterns from a leading French Grandmaster. Starts with mate in two and goes up to mate in 7!
https://forwardchess.com/product/chess-calculation-training-for-kids-and-club-players,-level1%E2%80%93-checkmating
For players 1400+
100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesus de La Villa Beginner level to master
I think this is a great book for players of all levels. It starts off with basic king and pawn endgames but moves on to much tough must know endgames. If it starts to get too difficult, you can always come back to it as you get stronger.
https://forwardchess.com/product/100-endgames-you-must-know%284th-edition%29
https://forwardchess.com/product/the100-endgames-you-must-know-workbook
1500-1800 level.
Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics
This is a tougher book, I would say for players 1400-1500 and above. I really enjoyed the cool tactical ideas presented in the book. It’s a great way to study endgames and practice your tactics. The book is also a winner of numerous awards.
https://forwardchess.com/product/van-perlo%27s-endgame-tactics
1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players by Frank Erwich
More advanced puzzles for players rated 1200+. Includes 10 chapters of different tactical themes and a final chapter of mixed tactics.
https://forwardchess.com/product/1001-chess-exercises-for-club-players
Improve Your Chess Tactics: 700 Practical Lessons & Exercises by Yakov Neishtadt
Instruction + exercises according to the old Soviet chess school. Experienced Russian Grandmaster Yakov Neishtadt reveals the training material that was used in Soviet times to build up young masters
https://forwardchess.com/product/improve-your-chess-tactics-700-practical-lessons-exercises
For players 1800+
The Complete Manual of Positional Chess Volumes I and II by Konstantin Sakaev and Konstantin Landa
If you want to improve your positional chess but aren’t sure where to start, I would recommend these books. They’re quite accessible to players starting at around 1500+. Each chapter ends with a suggestion of additional games for you to explore the concept on your own.
https://forwardchess.com/products?search=The+Complete+Manual+of+Positional+Chess
Invisible Chess Moves: Discover Your Blind Spots And Stop Overlooking Simple Wins
by Emmanuel Neiman and Yochanan Afek
This book is excellent but is quite challenging, so I would recommend it to players 1800+. If you want to improve your blindspots and become more flexible in your thinking, I highly recommend this book.
https://forwardchess.com/product/invisible-chess-moves-discover-your-blind-spots-and-stop-overlooking-simple-wins
Chess Calculation Training: Volume 3 by Romain Edouard
An enjoyable tactics book with examples taken from the greatest players in chess history. This book will definitely either be a nice reminder of old classics or will pique your interest to look them up! I think this one is suitable for players rated 1800+
https://forwardchess.com/product/chess-calculation-training:-volume3
Sherlock's Method: The Working Tool for the Club Player by Sabina Foisor and Elshan Moradiabadi
The book is intended for players rated 1700-2300. It is quite challenging and is meant to be used to prepare for tournaments. The authors recommend working on it a month before a tournament then coming back to it and reassess your thinking.
https://forwardchess.com/product/sherlock%27s-method:-the-working-tool-for-the-club-player
Chess Calculation Training: Volume 1-Middlegames by Romain Edouard
GM Edouard has compiled examples from recent high level events and has broken them down into 11 chapters. I am currently working on the “Play the Right Move under Pressure” chapter, which has excellent examples and is quite challenging. I would recommend this for players 2200+.
https://forwardchess.com/product/chess-calculation-training:-volume1--middlegames
Chess Calculation Training: Volume 2 - Endgames by Romain Edouard
The examples vary from straight forward wins to knowing theoretical wins to finding the only defense. It’s a great way to work some more on your endgames. For levels 2200+.
My other favorites which should come as no surprise. All of these are for a higher level:
All of Dvoretsky books. I am currently working on Chess Tests:
https://forwardchess.com/products?search=dvoretsky
Jacob Aagaard, of course. I really like the Grandmaster Preparation Series:
https://forwardchess.com/products?search=aagaard
Gelfand’s books. I have read the Positinal Decision Making and some of Dynamic Decision Making. These are tough books for 2300+
https://forwardchess.com/products?search=gelfand
And of course, Judit Polgar’s books:
https://forwardchess.com/products?search=judit+polgar
Let me know if you purchase any of them and how much you like using Forward Chess!
