Which Book should I get?

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EscherehcsE

I think all four books are too advanced for you right now. Your first goal should be to learn to keep your pieces safe and learn basic tactics. Maybe Patrick Wolff's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" would be a good start. (Ignore the insulting title - It's a good book.)

TurmundTraum

Nunn's Learn Chess and then his Understanding Chess Move by Move. Tactics are great, but don't really need a book on tactics because of all the high quality tactic trainers available on-line.

Bronco

Look at Bobby Fischer teaches chess and Starting Out:Tactics by Ward. Check out NM Dan Heisman's suggested book reading by rating levels here.

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm

He gives a breakdown of what each book is about.

Don't take offense but you have to learn to crawl before you walk. Trust me there is nothing more depressing when you buy a book that you think will be the answer to all your chess prayers and find out its over your head and you get frustrated cuz you just don't get it . Good luck

205thsq

I asked the same question last year and some one suggested this book, http://www.amazon.com/How-Beat-Your-Chess-Gambit/dp/1901983056 and i love it, ignore the title its not a beginer book or for kids it just a great book, it teaches you to recognize the 50 most common checkmates, i highly recomend it, i bought my copy at barnes and noble, i still crack it open and remind myself and see some games i lost i could have won when i study my losses... great book

Roma60

Logical chess move by move by Irving Chernev.and the winning chess series. good luck.

Immryr

yeah the books you listed are great but a little advanced for first books. get something like back to basics: tactics or logical chess move by move. the yasser seirawan books Winning chess... get a lot of praise as excellent beginner books, i haven't read them myself but they sound like a good place to start.

 

my first book was bobby fischer teaches chess which was a great introduction to learning more about chess. however the subject matter is very limited, it only goes over back rank mates and certain defences to them.

jambyvedar

You have great books there, but as others told might be advance for you. Start reading first the winning chess series of GM Seirawan..

Bruch
Immryr wrote:

yeah the books you listed are great but a little advanced for first books. get something like back to basics: tactics or logical chess move by move. the yasser seirawan books Winning chess... get a lot of praise as excellent beginner books, i haven't read them myself but they sound like a good place to start.

 

my first book was bobby fischer teaches chess which was a great introduction to learning more about chess. however the subject matter is very limited, it only goes over back rank mates and certain defences to them.


Wow!  These are exactly the books I started with when I started with Chess.  Here's my $0.02 -

  • Try the first Seirawan book "Play Winning Chess".  I found it to be a good introduction to chess strategy without going too deep.  His other books in the series were pretty good.  Make sure you have a board out for this one.
  • Then go for Chernev's "Logical Chess".  This took me a while to get into, but stick with it.  It is probably my favorite chess book.  You'll amaze yourself at how much of this begins to stick once you've played through half the book.  Board required for this one.  Playing through the moves is vital.
  • Heisman's "Back to Basics: Tactics" has loads of puzzles and explains each tactic in detail.  I like doing puzzles from a book better than my laptop, since the book is more portable.  Plus, Heisman does a nice job of teaching you what to look for to understand when a tactic might be present.  You don't need a board for this one or my next suggestion...
  • "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" will drill back rank mates into your head.  That's about all this book has to offer, but it does a nice job of cementing this concept.  Quick read.

Good luck.

Nevek

Wow thanks for all the reccomendations everyone! Smile

Well after doing some new research on these reccomended books (reading other reviews and checking the price) I decided on these three.

1. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess (Looks good, plus price is great)

2. How to Beat your Dad at Chess (Great reviews, once again it's not going over my budget)

3. Play Winning Chess (I'll start with the first book and if I like it then I'll purchase his "Tactics" or "Strategies" book)

Once again thanks to everyone for the reccomendations, if you would still like to reccomend books I'm fine with that.

EscherehcsE

You've picked some good books to start with, but I'll add one comment. When you're ready to start studying tactics, do yourself a favor and make sure you look at the tactics of counting. Not many tactics books discuss this. Heisman's Back to Basics: Tactics book does cover the topic. If you don't want to buy Heisman's book, you could instead read several of his free Novice Nook articles on the subject. Heisman's Novice Nook page is here:

http://home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm

The counting articles are:

A Counting Primer  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman15.pdf

The Most Important Tactic  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman35.pdf

Is it Safe?  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman65.pdf

And if you want to delve deeper into the subject, there's one more:

The two Types of Counting Problems  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman75.pdf

chessfansupporter

Silman endgame course would be great start also. Fundemental Chess by Capablanca..sure must have books for beginner!

Nevek
EscherehcsE wrote:

You've picked some good books to start with, but I'll add one comment. When you're ready to start studying tactics, do yourself a favor and make sure you look at the tactics of counting. Not many tactics books discuss this. Heisman's Back to Basics: Tactics book does cover the topic. If you don't want to buy Heisman's book, you could instead read several of his free Novice Nook articles on the subject. Heisman's Novice Nook page is here:

http://home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm

The counting articles are:

A Counting Primer  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman15.pdf

The Most Important Tactic  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman35.pdf

Is it Safe?  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman65.pdf

And if you want to delve deeper into the subject, there's one more:

The two Types of Counting Problems  http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman75.pdf

Thanks for the extra resources! I'll eventually check out his book, looks great!