Check out "My Sytem" by Aaron Nimzovich. It will take your game to the next level, give reason as to why you make certain moves, and it is extremely entertaining!
Chess Books for Beginners?
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Jun 6, 2012
0
#3
My System is too much for you right now. Start with a beginner tactics book like Predator at the Chessboard. It's online here:
Respected chess teacher Dan Heisman has a list of recomended books based on ratings with a short description on each one here:
http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm
Jun 6, 2012
0
#4
Do yourself a favor and get The Game of Chess by Tarrasch. Read that book forwards and backwards.
I'm sure there are tons of good suggestions, but from personal experience I would reccomend you pick up Sunlil Weeramantry's "Best Lessons of a Chess Coach."
I must say, it opened my eyes to the real game of chess (back when I was a beginner), and was a joy to read through.
I'd follow that up with Euwe and then Silman.
For a beginner Chess Fundamentals by Capablanca.
World Champion Botvinnik praised it highly.
Predator at the Chessboard is great, so is Silman's endgame course.
MrMnM wrote:
Do yourself a favor and get The Game of Chess by Tarrasch. Read that book forwards and backwards.
Pity the algebraic version isn't in print.
Simple Chess by Michael Stean.
Yusupov's 3-volume elementary course.
And, of course, any book with annotated games of JR Capablanca.
SirCuddles wrote:
What are some recommendations for chess books for the beginner rated around 1200?
Also something not too complex to understand or grasp.
"How To Think Ahead In Chess", by I.A. Horowitz
The book is geared for beginners and players rated 600 - 1400
It explains in words 3 openings that you can use. One as White and 2 as Black (one if White plays 1.e4, and one if White plays 1.d4)
Yasser Seirawan, a Grandmaster and many-time US Chess Champion, wrote a 7 book series on chess. They are highly instructional and easy-to-understand. I recommend you read these three in this order: 1. "Play winning Chess," 2. "Winning Chess Tactics," and 3. "Winning Chess Strategies."
Another recommendation I have is that please take the time to learn to read descriptive notation. It only takes a few minutes to learn, and without it, you won't be able to read the majority of classic chess books.
This list on another website breaks down some of the best chess books by skill level: http://weaksquare.blogspot.com/2010/01/chess-books-that-will-make-you-badass.html
I'll happily second the Yasser Seirawan recommendation. Also, US NM and chess coach Dan Heisman has a list of recommended books according to skill level at his web page: http://home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm
FWIW the best advice I had was to learn and practise tactics.
Jun 8, 2012
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#13
For a Beginners "Bobby Ficher's Teaches Chess" book is always the best. It covers all the necessary basics in a simple understanding form and it's truly a great review. A great gift to give to a beginner. I carry several to give my beginning student.
It is quite reasonable at $10.00 USA.
A great review for those that are higher rated.
Lev Alburt was a trained Russian Master. He moved to the USA. Became USA Champion several times. Now he plays for the USA and Teaches.
Each of Lev's Book have a good concept and that is the focus.
The strategy and tacist books is each one are in esacy to understand form and not al lot of written variation that most player do not like or can't follow. These aren't for master.
They are reasonably priced or try getting them at a Library.
The Chess traps is a fun book and you will enjoy setting a trap or winning a game because of them. I got that book many years ago and it never seizes to be a fun book to read. After a while you will find that many of those traps are hard to apply except to a true begginer. Get that book.
Try Amzon for a used one.
IMHO
The cover art on the last four books is really freaky-looking. Bizzare enough to trigger flashbacks and nightmares in most people, I'm sure.
I found a lot of pretty good books on this site, just click the parts that say stuff like tactics for beginners or something
http://www.squidoo.com/chess-reference
Jun 14, 2012
0
#16
johnmusacha wrote:
The cover art on the last four books is really freaky-looking. Bizzare enough to trigger flashbacks and nightmares in most people, I'm sure.
I don't think you know what you are talking about, if you have no knowlege of the books.
IMHO
P.S.
Getting a book and reading is the the best way to learn something. You should have chess board and actually PLAY the book. That will reinforce the concepts.
I have about 10 books and I must admit I have not completetly finished PLAYING one whole book.
Athoulgh I have read most of them. Even then when I reread them I find things I haven't applied into my games.
heismans a good writer for some people but his stuff is a bit ... well heady at times. He is a mathmatican so you need that sort of mentality.
Seraiwan books I really like
Stean's book Simple chess is great too Emms wrote one by the same name that is pretty good too and probably a bit cleaner to read but not as fun :)
If your dealing with kids Coakleys books are great. Chess strategy for kids etc (and adults too!) his tactics books can be a bit tricky though
Yusupov's books are mentioned but need a decent reading skill (middleschool up) to get them
I also like chernev's logical chess move by move since it just hammers basic principles over and over. You also dont lose your mind in variations that can just make you feel lost in many advanced books.
Tactics books are great Bain has a good one chess tactics for students
Jun 14, 2012
0
#18
I'm sure there are tons of good suggestions, but from personal experience I would reccomend you pick up Sunlil Weeramantry's "Best Lessons of a Chess Coach."
I wouldn't recommend this book to a beginner. You need to already have good board vision to make somthing out of it.
Bain's chess tactics for students and Seïrawans's books are good for beginners.
I am new, I found some YouTube Chess Channels like jrobichess, Kingscrusher on Opening tutorials are pretty helpful. It is easier to grasp and less time consuming since you don't have to read the notations and setup the position everytime. I'm trying to learn five or six types of openings which are popular in tournaments. I am new my self and I find myself playing with e4 more often then not so I'm trying to master Scotch game, Sicillian Defense w/ popular variations like (Open Sicillian/Najdorf/English Attack/Dragon var). After that I will try Ruy Lopez and Kings Indian.
You might want to check out a list of chess books for beginners I posted on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Chess-Books-for-Beginners/lm/R3T0KSLGYJ5LL2
What are some recommendations for chess books for the beginner rated around 1200?
Also something not too complex to understand or grasp.