"Zurich International Tournament" by David Bronstein An author of collection D.I. Bronshtein - was a Soviet grandmaster, known chess analyst. The book contains all the parts of the tournament contenders, which was held in Zurich in 1953. In the creative for this tournament was one of the most meaningful in the postwar years. In the comments, the author focuses on parsing the middle of the game. The book is considered one of the best in chess literature, and interest in it over the years has not diminished. All 210 games from the greatest tournament since World War II. Smyslov, Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, 10 others; perceptive annotations by Bronstein.
"My System" by Nimzowitsch "My system" was required reading of many outstanding players past and present. The blockade and prevention, erosion of pawn chain base and maneuvering, excessive protection and mysterious course - these and many other devices have been placed on shelves and the famous educator Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch. Written by a living, figurative language, it is not just a classic, but really brilliant textbook positional play. Chess seriously study it, learn to deep penetration into the mysteries of the ancient game. The book will be useful as a chess player, only beginning to climb the ladder of classification, as well as their more experienced colleagues.
"My Great Predecessors" series by Garry Kasparov This book contains not only the best party of former giants studied again with the help of a computer, but also "hot spots" of chess history - critical, crucial moments of matches at the World Championship. Champions in chess replaced for various reasons, and yet the main of them was more purely evolutionary: the continuous and rapid development of the game itself.
"School of chess excellence" by Dvoretsky Second, revised and enlarged, edition of the book begins a series of "Higher School of Excellence" Honored coach of the USSR, Russia and Georgia's Mark Dvoretsky. This is the first in the world literature textbook for chess players of the highest quality - up to and including grandmasters.
"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" by Bobby Fischer Here is the fastest, most efficient, most enjoyable book on chess ever compiled. As the student, you start at the beginning and progressively develop your skills as you apply Bobby Fischer's principles and learn how to play Chess the Bobby Fischer way. When you finish this book, you will not be able to beat the greatest Chess player the world has every known, but you will be a much better chess player than you were. Bobby Fischer was born in Chicago Illinois, in 1943. He was introduced to Chess and learned the moves when he was six years old. In his teens he achieved international prominence by winning every United States Chess competition for four years running without the loss of a game. He was the youngest International Grandmaster in Chess history.
"Tal-Botvinnik, 1960" by Tal One of the greatest books ever written about a world championship match. Take a trip with the Magician from Riga as he invites you to share his thoughts and feelings as he does battle for the world title.
"Endgame Manual (2nd edition)" by Dvoretsky A modern classic. The first edition of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. This second edition is revised and enlarged, now over 400 pages, covering all the most important concepts required for endgame mastery.
"My Best Games" byAlexander Alekhine Alekhine comments his best games (1909-1937, including his best games of 2nd match vs Euwe). The foreword of Kasparov (who is a most famous "pupil" of Alekhine, he studied Alekhine's books and games very much in his youth). Books of Alekhine teach very successfully, they has a great clarity of explanations. Alekhine is one of few real chess philosophers in the history, he is able (using brilliant abstract ideas) to explain very complicated situations on board. Probably, one of the best ways to improve your chess understanding if you are a qualified amateur (especially of active style), pay attention also to "107 Great Chess Battles". 118 games at all. Useful notes of elite GM John Nunn.
"New York International Chess Tournament 1924" A. Alekhine Many experts consider that it's the best book about tournaments. 110 games. Took part in the competition: Capapablanca, Em. Lasker, Alekhine, Marshall, Bogoljubov, Janowsky, Reti, Maroczy, Tartakower, Ed. Lasker, Yates.
"My Best Games" by Anatoly Karpov In 1975, Anatoly Karpov was declared chess champion of the world when the eccentric Bobby Fischer declined to defend his title against his Russian challenger. "Tolya" went on to prove that he was no paper tiger over the next three decades, during which he held the FIDE world championship for 17 years and won more than 160 major chess tournaments, an all-time record. The unique career of the Russian grandmaster can be appreciated from these 100 games, each of which is annotated by Karpov. All chess enthusiasts can profit and learn from these incredibly matches.
Of course I likely missed a great deal of other books but these are a few to consider.
Top 10 chess books of all time
"Zurich International Tournament" by David Bronstein
An author of collection D.I. Bronshtein - was a Soviet grandmaster, known chess analyst. The book contains all the parts of the tournament contenders, which was held in Zurich in 1953. In the creative for this tournament was one of the most meaningful in the postwar years. In the comments, the author focuses on parsing the middle of the game. The book is considered one of the best in chess literature, and interest in it over the years has not diminished.
All 210 games from the greatest tournament since World War II. Smyslov, Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, 10 others; perceptive annotations by Bronstein.
"My System" by Nimzowitsch
"My system" was required reading of many outstanding players past and present. The blockade and prevention, erosion of pawn chain base and maneuvering, excessive protection and mysterious course - these and many other devices have been placed on shelves and the famous educator Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch. Written by a living, figurative language, it is not just a classic, but really brilliant textbook positional play. Chess seriously study it, learn to deep penetration into the mysteries of the ancient game. The book will be useful as a chess player, only beginning to climb the ladder of classification, as well as their more experienced colleagues.
"My Great Predecessors" series by Garry Kasparov
This book contains not only the best party of former giants studied again with the help of a computer, but also "hot spots" of chess history - critical, crucial moments of matches at the World Championship. Champions in chess replaced for various reasons, and yet the main of them was more purely evolutionary: the continuous and rapid development of the game itself.
"School of chess excellence" by Dvoretsky
Second, revised and enlarged, edition of the book begins a series of "Higher School of Excellence" Honored coach of the USSR, Russia and Georgia's Mark Dvoretsky. This is the first in the world literature textbook for chess players of the highest quality - up to and including grandmasters.
"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" by Bobby Fischer
Here is the fastest, most efficient, most enjoyable book on chess ever compiled. As the student, you start at the beginning and progressively develop your skills as you apply Bobby Fischer's principles and learn how to play Chess the Bobby Fischer way.
When you finish this book, you will not be able to beat the greatest Chess player the world has every known, but you will be a much better chess player than you were.
Bobby Fischer was born in Chicago Illinois, in 1943. He was introduced to Chess and learned the moves when he was six years old. In his teens he achieved international prominence by winning every United States Chess competition for four years running without the loss of a game. He was the youngest International Grandmaster in Chess history.
"Tal-Botvinnik, 1960" by Tal
One of the greatest books ever written about a world championship match. Take a trip with the Magician from Riga as he invites you to share his thoughts and feelings as he does battle for the world title.
"Endgame Manual (2nd edition)" by Dvoretsky
A modern classic. The first edition of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. This second edition is revised and enlarged, now over 400 pages, covering all the most important concepts required for endgame mastery.
"My Best Games" byAlexander Alekhine
Alekhine comments his best games (1909-1937, including his best games of 2nd match vs Euwe). The foreword of Kasparov (who is a most famous "pupil" of Alekhine, he studied Alekhine's books and games very much in his youth). Books of Alekhine teach very successfully, they has a great clarity of explanations. Alekhine is one of few real chess philosophers in the history, he is able (using brilliant abstract ideas) to explain very complicated situations on board. Probably, one of the best ways to improve your chess understanding if you are a qualified amateur (especially of active style), pay attention also to "107 Great Chess Battles". 118 games at all. Useful notes of elite GM John Nunn.
"New York International Chess Tournament 1924" A. Alekhine
Many experts consider that it's the best book about tournaments. 110 games. Took part in the competition: Capapablanca, Em. Lasker, Alekhine, Marshall, Bogoljubov, Janowsky, Reti, Maroczy, Tartakower, Ed. Lasker, Yates.
"My Best Games" by Anatoly Karpov
In 1975, Anatoly Karpov was declared chess champion of the world when the eccentric Bobby Fischer declined to defend his title against his Russian challenger. "Tolya" went on to prove that he was no paper tiger over the next three decades, during which he held the FIDE world championship for 17 years and won more than 160 major chess tournaments, an all-time record. The unique career of the Russian grandmaster can be appreciated from these 100 games, each of which is annotated by Karpov. All chess enthusiasts can profit and learn from these incredibly matches.
Of course I likely missed a great deal of other books but these are a few to consider.