Logical Chess - Move By Move (Chernev)
The Complete Chessplayer (Reinfeld)
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess (Fischer)
Best Chess Books to Read First
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Thanks! I will try those out!
Jul 26, 2015
0
#5
Not a book, but this is very important information for people starting out. You seldom see this material mentioned in books.
EscherehcsE wrote:
Not a book, but this is very important information for people starting out. You seldom see this material mentioned in books.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140615153114/http://www.chess.com/article/view/counting-vs-counting-material
Why is the link not a chess.com article, but a webarchive article.
The only one avalible at the library was Logical Chess - Move by Move, so I got that one, Winning Chess by Chernev and Reinfeld, and Chess Opening Essentials 1.
Jul 26, 2015
0
#8
EchecsRex wrote:
EscherehcsE wrote:
Not a book, but this is very important information for people starting out. You seldom see this material mentioned in books.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140615153114/http://www.chess.com/article/view/counting-vs-counting-material
Why is the link not a chess.com article, but a webarchive article.
The Chess.com article links to a number of Heisman's Novice Nook articles on counting. Sadly, ChessCafe has put these Novice Nooks behind a paywall, so the only way to get to them in a free fashion is to use the Wayback Machine.
Play Winning Chess By Seirawan.
How To Beat Your Dad At Chess (Murray Chandler)
Logical Chess: Move by Move - One of the few chess books that I have read completely, and I believe that it did help me, but there have been conflicting opinions about the degree to which it oversimplifies various chess issues. Chernev wrote in an odd effervescent style that might puzzle some readers. He would declare that 1 e4 is the best move on the board and also declare that 1 d4 is the best move on the board. That brings up another issue - the original was written in descriptive notation (P-K4). GM John Nunn did an algebraic version for Batsford and took advantage of the opportunity to fix some of the problems with the original.
The Art of the Checkmate by Renaud and Kahn - Batsford also did an improved algebraic version of this book. It would probably not be hard to get the Dover edition of the descriptive version.
Michael Stean's Simple Chess - Dover has been selling an algebraic revision.
Chess Fundamentals - - If you have an ipad or some such device you might want to take note of: "The [E+Chess Books] App is free, and it comes with a free copy of Capablanca’s famous book, Chess Fundamentals." (IM Jeremy Silman, July 23, 2013)
Fred Reinfeld "The Complete Chess Course" - I have not read that specific book, but I have read a fair amount of Reinfeld, and my guess is that, if one wants to go this route (large old descriptive notation introductory textbook), one is probably better off with How to Win at Chess by I.A. Horowitz, available in a two-volume edition from USCFSales. I think Reinfeld wrote some worthwhile books, but, in this particular case, I think that Horowitz did a better job.
Perhaps consider:
Improve Your Chess in 7 Days by Gary Lane
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson
In 1999, IM John Watson wrote, "Batsford's new edition of Logical Chess: Move by Move ... is replete with advice, principles, axioms, and tips to guide one's play. ... it is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), ... the games are clearcut and instructive. ... almost all [are] examples of miserable defence by the loser, or of utter lack of understanding (by modern standards). But precisely for that reason, they contain powerful thematic lessons for the beginning player. My only warning would be that the impressionable student should be gently reminded by a friend or mentor that most of the rules and principles Chernev so dogmatically states do not actually have any consistent validity in real-world chess, so that the book should be looked at as a way to get started thinking about positions, not as a reliable guideline to what chess is really about. With that proviso, I would recommend it heartily to anyone just starting to explore the game, ..." http://www.theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
In 2013, Michael McGuerty wrote, "[Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson] is an ideal book for a beginner or causual player who wants to become acquainted with some standard attacking motifs."
In 2013, Steve Goldberg wrote, "[Winning Chess By Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld] is a guide to tactics for beginning and intermediate players. [The new Batsford edition] uses figurine algebraic notation, instead of the original descriptive notation. It is well-written and actually fun to work through. ... All the typical themes are present: pins, forks, skewers, double attack, discovered attack, removing the guard, overworked piece, trapped piece, back rank vulnerabilities and more. ..."
Some reviews of possible interest:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101418/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review564.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708111148/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review607.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233922/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review252.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233230/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review671.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093403/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/tips.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092834/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review872.pdf
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Art-of-Checkmate-The-77p3892.htm
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Batsford-Book-of-Chess-The-81p3881.htm
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/How-to-Be-a-Winner-at-Chess-77p3773.htm
Jul 28, 2015
0
#15
ylblai2 wrote:
The Art of the Checkmate by Renaud and Kahn - Batsford also did an improved algebraic version of this book. It would probably not be hard to get the Dover edition of the descriptive version.
I have the Dover edition. Chandler's How to Beat Your Dad at Chess also concerns checkmate patterns, but is not in the same league. Chandler mixes in a few tactical motifs because he wanted "50 Deadly Checkmates" but couldn't find 50 distinct checkmate patterns. Chandler offers six diagrams for each position or motif. Renaud and Kahn organize checkmate patterns into a few themes and offer good analysis of whole games.
Chandler is better for seven year old beginners. Renaud and Kahn is good for anyone who has not yet read the book. Chandler is little league; Renaud and Kahn is pro ball.
Even so, Renaud and Kahn perpetrate an error concerning Pillsbury's Mate (see http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2008/09/pillsburys-mate.html).
So, is this the right version?:
But by your description I'm not sure if it would be too easy for me?
It is somewhat of a mattter of taste as to which version is right. If you really want to read the original Chernev, you have to go to the original descriptive version. What you have got there is the GM John Nunn version. It is in algebraic and has other alterations. Nunn is a pretty competent fellow, so I would guess that his changes are improvements from an educational point of view.
My guess is that the book would not be too easy. Possibly, a more modern book would be better for you anyway. As a 1500 player myself, I am not sure that I am qualified to make either judgment. Maybe look at the reviews of some of the other available books and make the best guess that you can. For what it is worth, I know (slightly) someone who wrote (in 2013), "I heartily recommend this book to advanced beginners who understand rudimentary tactics, as well as to players up to and including my current strength (strong A Class)." http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/01/logical-chess-book-review.html
By the way, perhaps one could make a good start on learning about openings by reading the 2006 book, Discovering Chess Openings https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf .
Aug 15, 2015
0
#19
ylblai2 wrote:
It is somewhat of a mattter of taste as to which version is right. If you really want to read the original Chernev, you have to go to the original descriptive version. What you have got there is the GM John Nunn version. It is in algebraic and has other alterations. Nunn is a pretty competent fellow, so I would guess that his changes are improvements from an educational point of view.
My guess is that the book would not be too easy. Possibly, a more modern book would be better for you anyway. As a 1500 player myself, I am not sure that I am qualified to make either judgment. Maybe look at the reviews of some of the other available books and make the best guess that you can. For what it is worth, I know (slightly) someone who wrote (in 2013), "I heartily recommend this book to advanced beginners who understand rudimentary tactics, as well as to players up to and including my current strength (strong A Class)." http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/01/logical-chess-book-review.html
By the way, perhaps one could make a good start on learning about openings by reading the 2006 book, Discovering Chess Openings https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf .
Another book by Chernev, Capablanca's Best Chess Endings could prove useful if you ever had to face ylblai2 in OTB play.
Logical Chess: Move by Move is the first one most of us will recommend. Very simple, straightforward and instructive games.
HOWEVER, to break the trend, I'll recommend one I came across recently: How to Win at Chess: A Complete Course by I. A. Horowitz. Old, yes, but it goes over *everything* - openings with some theory behind them, middlegame strategy and tactics, and nice coverage on basic endgames. Of course note that since it's quite old:
1) The 'modern ideas in the chess openings' section is rather dated but since you're just starting out it'll give you a great base.
2) Naturally it's in descriptive notation, but I'm of the belief that all serious players should be comfortable reading both.
After working through either one of these books, I recommend the classic Chess Fundamentals, by the great Capablanca. I suppose either version is alright, but since I'm traditionalist I'll say get a version before de Firmiain's edits...
I want to read some chess books, but I don't know which ones to read first. My blitz rating is 734, my bullet rating is 717, and my standard rating is 1037. Which chess books would you recomend to read first?