I think I'll go for The Immortal Games of Capablanca.

Now ordered. Admins please delete this thread as it is offensive to my wallet!

I am very excited about Capablanca though. I have been loving playing through his games recently and can't wait for the Amazon fairies to come.

I have Chernevs "Most Instructive Games Ever Played", solely because my dad used to own it (he doesn't play much chess either), but I thought it was a half decent book. Certainly was fun to read through at least.

Yes, you can learn a lot of basic strategy from that book. The problem with Chernev is that he gives the impression that every game reduces to the conversion of a basic positional advantage to a straightforward win. He rarely gives any lines showing how the loser could have played better so you just get a one sided view of the game.

Hi! This is my first post to chess.com!

I have been reading "Every Great Chess Player Was Once a Beginner" by Brian Byfield, Alan Orpin, and Alan Cracknell. My son and I have been reading this book together a little bit a time and he has really been enjoying it! He's 6 and the large text and clear pictures help. We got our copy from the library.

-=- Boris

Good to know ....something to purchase my little one when she gets a bit older

The book is out of print and it is very expensive to purchase. I have read somewhere on a blog that the book has been reissued with a new illustrator under the title of "Learn Chess Quick". Used copies are plentiful and cheap but I don't know if any of the text has been changed. -- Boris

If I there were only one chess book I could recommend, it would be David Bronstein's Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953. Whenever I read this book, I always feel like I was there (in the tournament Zurich 1953 I mean). A strange feeling, but a real one!

You may also like to try Golombek's Capablancas 100 best games. I have the immortal games too but Golombeks book i think is better but just the same all capa books are best (for me)

if only one, get Polgar's "Chess" with like 6,000 puzzles and games in it. If you can only have one. 

Oh, I'm blown away by your expertise. 

Don't know what planet you are on now, but on Earth Chernev was a brilliant and prolific author who produced many many books, some of the best out there. I can list the ones I own but don't want to waste time justifying myself against such a ridiculous claim. 

Of the 27 chess books on my shelves (have read less then .27 of them) this is still the most invaluable .

Maybe if actually started reading more of the books in my library this would change, who can say.  Will always be one my favs tho. 

Kasparian was a true genius, games you never would have thought could be drawn he showed the draw!  

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The last book I'd recommend is a tactics book, regardless of how good it is. My favorite tactics book is the Encyclopedia of Chess Middlegames: Combinations by Informant. The problem with this and any tactics book is two-fold:

• there will always be mistakes in books printed before the computer age
• More importantly, you can get better tactics training online for free!

Get a book you will use that is better than anything you can get online. For chess instruction, that's My System. For chess culture, get a great games collection such as Life and Games of Tal, Zurich 1953, Fire on Board, or Instructive Chess Masterpieces. Or, save money and get the Mammoth Book of the Worlds Greatest Chess Games. If you want to spend a some money on a great set that will last you a lifetime, get On My Great Predecessors.

All responses are welcome by me and others im certain ....thanks to all in advance.......

almost over the 1700....hump

#355

I started reading "Modern Ideas in Chess" and i am enjoying it.  It goes through some chess history and style of chess of different historical masters, which i enjoyed.Thanks pfren

THIS!! Especially the great Capa's