I very much appreciate your help.
J
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Thank you for the recommendations! I bought 500 Master Games, but unfortunately the other wasn't on Kindle. I recommended it (every book without a Kindle version has a link to recommend the version to the publisher). As another would you recommend Pawn Power by Kmoch, Simple Chess: New Algebraic Edition by Michael Stean or Chess Fundamentals in Algebraic by Capablanca?
I very much appreciate your help.
J
I very much appreciate your help.
J
I think I'm in roughly the same category as you @jcm6877. Nearly all my books are on Kindle too (by choice), but I bought Logical Chess as a paper copy and haven't regretted it. It really is as good as everyone says. I've been reading samples of many, many beginners' books, and saw "The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book" by Dan Heisman. It has a similar style to Logical Chess, with a collection of richly annotated games, aimed at novices, and it's available for Kindle. I'm thinking of getting it in addition to Chernev's book so I can study complete games when I don't want to carry a physical book. I too have my eye on Kmoch's "Pawn Power in Chess". It's too advanced for my level, but there's a certain allure of the arcane knowlege it contains!
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
several of the books already mentioned are on the list...
Idiot's Guide To Chess by GM Wolf.
Possibly of interest:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7192.pdf
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/excerpts/OpeningsForAmateurs%20sample.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Seirawan stuff
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
Simple Chess by Michael Stean
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book by Dan Heisman
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092834/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review872.pdf
I'm in same category as OP in terms of novice. I am really enjoying Capablancas Primer (algabraeic edition). Simple Chess is actually quite advanced. I am also really enjoying the Soviet Primer.
jcm6877 wrote:
... would you recommend Pawn Power by Kmoch, ...
There is some commentary on the Kmoch book near the end of the review at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110136/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review249.pdf
Panzercat wrote:
... Road To Chess Mastery by Euwe and Meiden ...
Is that available in algebraic notation?
May 13, 2017
0
#11
The Game of Chess (Algebraic Edition) by Siegbert Tarrasch (Kindle and Paperback)
https://www.amazon.com/Game-Chess-Algebraic-Siegbert-Tarrasch/dp/1880673940/
Have a look at this one. It covers everything (for beginner and far above) ...endings, middle game,
opening play...
jcm6877 wrote:
...would you recommend Pawn Power by Kmoch, Simple Chess: New Algebraic Edition by Michael Stean....
Hans Kmoch's "Pawn Power In Chess" while a great (IMO) book, it is not a first chess book. It is more appropriate for the experienced, intermediate and above chess player. In any case, for additional perspective, here is some chess.com forum discussion about the book...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/a-most-unfortunate-chess-book?page=1
"Simple Chess" by Michael Stean is one of the best introductions to positional chess concepts and technique, which every serious chess player should understand in order to progress beyond novice level. For an initial introduction to the basic elements of positional chess, I recommend to first read Bruce Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" which is targeted to the novice-intermediate player, as good preparation, a prerequisite if you will, for Michael Stean's book.
Is "Simple Chess" by Michael Stean different than "Simple Chess" by John Emms? Sorry but I have the one by Emms and thought it was pretty challenging as a novice.
zm55 wrote:
Is "Simple Chess" by Michael Stean different than "Simple Chess" by John Emms? Sorry but I have the one by Emms and thought it was pretty challenging as a novice.
Yes. They are different books. Same title, similar subject matter (chess instruction from the perspective of positional concepts), but different books. Read Michael Stean's book before reading Emms. Emms' books (in 2 volumes) are also worthwhile. In fact any chess book by John Emms is generally worthwhile - he is one of the better chess authors. And of course, Michael Stean's book is an instructional classic. Finally, I believe that "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini is a must-read for any chess novice aspiring to improve their game - for an introduction to positional concepts, read it first, before any of the others, as it is accessible to the chess beginner-novice and beyond...
"Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini....read this one first..then follow up with Michael Stean's "Simple Chess"...
https://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Chess-Omnibus-Strategies-Fireside/dp/0671659723/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494747105&sr=1-1&keywords=weapons+of+chess+an+omnibus+of+chess+strategies
"Simple Chess" by Michael Stean...read this after absorbing the material in "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini...
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Chess-New-Algebraic-Dover/dp/0486424200/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494747023&sr=1-1&keywords=michael+stean+simple+chess
"Simple Chess" and "More Simple Chess" by John Emms...read these only after studying Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" and Michael Stean's "Simple Chess" first...
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+emms+simple+chess
A chess book list for anyone who has not yet added "Master" to their chess title...
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
May 14, 2017
0
#17
I would suggest the following books:
- Aron Nimzowitsch's "My System"
- Bobby Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games"
- All four of Yasser Seriwan's "Winning Chess" Series
I hope this provides some guidance and ideas.
May 14, 2017
0
#18
The Art of the Middle Game.
By Keres and Kotov
The first chess book I ever read, found it in a dusty second hand book store when I was a teenager.
The only chess book I will ever recommend, from beginner to grandmaster.
The world was lost to me, cover to cover, then back again.
"... I found [Nimzowitsch's] own books very difficult to read or understand. ... [Nimzowitsch: A Reappraisal by Raymond Keene] explain's Nimzowitsch's thinking and influence on the modern game in a far more lucid and accessible way. ... The books that are most highly thought of are not necessarily the most useful. Go with those that you find to be readable. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2010)
About 12 months ago, IM pfren wrote:
"My System is an iconoclastic book. A lot of things in there is sheer provocation, and it does need an expereienced player to know what exactly must be taken at its face value.
I love 'My System', and I have read it cover to cover one dozen times, but suggesting it to a class player is an entirely different matter."
"[Some things] ARE wrong, and it's not easy for a non-advanced player to discover those wrong claims.
Nigel Short has claimed that 'My System' should be banned. Stratos Grivas says that the book is very bad. I don't share their opinion, but I am pretty sure that there are more useful reads for class players out there."
Sample pages of My System can be seen at the Quality Chess site.
www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/MySystem-excerpt.pdf
"... I asked a few chess friends to chime in about their favorite chess books, ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
My System was listed by: ANTHONY SAIDY, DANIEL RENSCH, JOHN WATSON
It was not listed by: YASSER SEIRAWAN, JACK PETERS, CYRUS LAKDAWALA, DAVID PRUESS, JEREMY SILMAN
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
May 14, 2017
0
#20
I agree to go with what you're comfortable reading. However, it's impossible to know what someone here is, or is not comfortable with. In order to give an accurate answer as to what books someone should read I would like to talk with them personally once or twice in order to provide them with the best assistance possible. Great comment though.
I've been learning chess for a while - here, chess apps, and the chess academy website - and I'd like to buy a book or two. Three, depending on the cost of the others. I know there are other lists here, but I'm wondering if one is a better first book than another. I consider myself a beginner, though not totally. I'm getting better at tactics and I'm learning openings and other strategies, but when it comes to games I'm not good yet. I've won one game versus a computer, but other than that nothing. I'm getting closer to winning. One thing I need to work on is my strategy regarding pawns.
Thank you!
J