Dvoretsky book collection: advise please

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Roadridera
ESP-918 wrote:

Shereshevsky 

I agree.

But first I read Yuri Averbakh essential chess endings. 

ulfbert

I’m late to this post but I will say this:

The list you have there is perfect. There is no repetition whatsoever. A simp e comparison between the Table of Contents will show you that the “old” Batsford books by Dvoretsky and Yusupov are exactly the same books as the five Olms volumes titled “Secrets of...” (also coauthored). Thus, although other 4-volume series by Olms, titled “School of Chess Excellence,” were published before “Secrets of...” but come thematically after.

Only after readings these books, then, one could even begin to comprehend the material presented in “Analytical Manual” (2nd ed.) and “Endgame Manual” (4th ed.)... etc... All of Dvoretsky’s books are very high-end and extremely difficult for the everyday improving player. They are aimed at 2000+ ELO players (seriously). I personally think that before reading these books one would be much better served by reading Aagaard’s six books, from the “Grandmaster Preparation” series. 1. Calculation, 2. Positional Play, 3. Strategic Play, 4. Attack and Defence, 5. Endgame Play, and 6. Thinking Outside the Box. Also, after these, I would highly recommend the 2 volumes titled “Attacking Manual.” Aagaard’s books are way more accessible and readable, and still convey the same type of extremely practical information.

Finally, I would suggest you also get a hand on Max Euwe’s two volumes, “The Middlegame in Chess,” as well as a series of game collections... such as Tal’s “Life and Games of Mikhail Tal,” Tal and Damsky’s “Attack with Mikhail Tal,” and David Bronstein’s “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” and “Zürich 1953.” Top books also are Alexander’s book on Alekhine’s bets games, Botvinnik’s three volumes of his bets games, as well as all the books by Garry Kasparov. I mean literally all of his books.

chessroboto
ulfbert wrote:

Thus, although other 4-volume series by Olms, titled “School of Chess Excellence,” were published before “Secrets of...” but come thematically after. Only after readings these books, then, one could even begin to comprehend the material presented in “Analytical Manual” (2nd ed.) and “Endgame Manual” (4th ed.)...

I personally think that before reading these books one would be much better served by reading Aagaard’s six books, from the “Grandmaster Preparation” series. 1. Calculation, 2. Positional Play, 3. Strategic Play, 4. Attack and Defence, 5. Endgame Play, and 6. Thinking Outside the Box. Also, after these, I would highly recommend the 2 volumes titled “Attacking Manual.”

You said exactly what my book-loving coach said about Dvoretsky's books. Are you a trainer yourself?

My question is why do you recommend Aagard's 6+2 volume course over Yusupov's 9+1 volume course?

Thank you for your suggestions on this matter.

ulfbert
chessroboto wrote:
ulfbert wrote:

Thus, although other 4-volume series by Olms, titled “School of Chess Excellence,” were published before “Secrets of...” but come thematically after. Only after readings these books, then, one could even begin to comprehend the material presented in “Analytical Manual” (2nd ed.) and “Endgame Manual” (4th ed.)...

I personally think that before reading these books one would be much better served by reading Aagaard’s six books, from the “Grandmaster Preparation” series. 1. Calculation, 2. Positional Play, 3. Strategic Play, 4. Attack and Defence, 5. Endgame Play, and 6. Thinking Outside the Box. Also, after these, I would highly recommend the 2 volumes titled “Attacking Manual.”

You said exactly what my book-loving coach said about Dvoretsky's books. Are you a trainer yourself?

My question is why do you recommend Aagard's 6+2 volume course over Yusupov's 9+1 volume course?

Thank you for your suggestions on this matter.

Hi. Sorry for the belated reply,

No, I’m not a trainer myself, although I’m giving some classes these days to some players from my university chess club. I am merely a 2100-ish player who has read my fair share of chess book so far.

The reason I said Aagaard 6+2 instead of Yusupov is because I haven’t read the latter ones yet(!!) so I can’t share any opinion or comparison yet. However, I have them and have checked them out quickly and they seem to me more geared towards someone working already with a (Pro) trainer (or a very very dedicated dad...). It’s a whole entrée, main course, and desert!! that will certainly take anyone at least a year and a half of intense everyday work to complete entirely. Whereas Aagaard’s books can be read in any order, different chapters in different days according to your moods and energy, and are very focus and to-the-point instructive. They are more “regular” texts... with puzzles certainly. But they don’t feel like such a programmatic and dry “textbook” as Yusupov’s. If you ever give any of Aagaard’s books a chance, you will immediately get what I mean, particularly the Attacking Manual volumes.

Since I am ranting here about Aagaard, let me say one more thing: a very difficult, but ultimately rewarding book of his, is Practical Chess Defence. This could be seen (once again) as a more approachable version (replacement) for Dvoretsky’s book on minimizing the opponent’s resources (published with Russell).

 

ulfbert

Aagaard’s 4 volumes titled “Excelling...” are also great. I would consider these for a read BEFORE the GM Preparation series.

kindaspongey

Dvoretsky stuff:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085131/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review303.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233203/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review333.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110249/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review578.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085153/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review693.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103913/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review748.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233815/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review399.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234012/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review656.pdf

kindaspongey

Aagaard stuff:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103037/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review324.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708084438/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review402.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233835/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review457.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092514/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review463.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092003/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review738.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Positional-Play-77p3729.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708091636/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review869.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/PositionalPlay-excerpt.pdf

http://reviews.dailychess.org/grandmaster-preperation-strategic-play-by-jacob-aagard-quality-chess-2013/

http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/StrategicPlay-excerpt.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Grandmaster-Preparation-Calculation-77p3705.htm
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/CALCULATION-excerpt.pdf
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Attack&Defence-excerpt.pdf
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/EndgamePlay-excerpt.pdf

kindaspongey

"... This book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge. The reader will receive the necessary basic knowledge in six areas of the game - tactics, positional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame. ... To make the book entertaining and varied, I have mixed up these different areas, ..." - GM Artur Yusupov

The Yusupov series of books seems to be pretty demanding, so I suggest that you look carefully at available samples and reviews before buying. If you do decide to go for it, you should probably know that the correct reading order is Build 1, Boost 1, Evolution 1, Exam 1, Build 2, Boost 2, Evolution 2, Build 3, Boost 3, Evolution 3.

http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-Your-Chess-1-exceprt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103321/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review699.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-your-chess-2-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-Your-Chess-3-exceprt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103659/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review778.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-1-77p3744.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Boost-Your-Chess-1-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-2-77p3745.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/BoostYourChess2-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-3-77p3746.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/BoostYourChess3.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review834.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess-Evolution-1-excerpt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085817/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review843.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-2-77p3643.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess_Evolution_2-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-3-Mastery-77p3753.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess_Evolution_3-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/QandAwithArturYusupovQualityChessAugust2013.pdf
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Revision&Exam1-excerpt.pdf

Perhaps of interest:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupov-and-the-older-lower-rated-player