Simple Chess by Stean

I don't know, if you have an official FIDE rating over 1200 in standard chess you are right.

Wait! I read Wrong. Im a post

It is the phase when you already know a few things, you can win against weaker opponents but you can't go further because you are missing some essential skills like tactical ability and strategical decision making.

In this review (http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2014/6/8/a-short-review-of-chess-training-for-post-beginners.html), it mentions that the author states his book is for players of 1400 - 1700 elo. If you're still dropping pieces and leaving pieces en prise on a regular basis, then you're nowhere near a 1400 elo. So I'd say concentrate on the Bain tactics book for now.

Of course if your rating is low for a long time because you don't play enough to increase it, but you have improved in the meantime, then you should try to estimate your current strength. You should also find your weaknesses and work on them. After every standard game you can see what went wrong and make useful conclusions, I think rapid and blitz games are not reliable for this. For instance the analysis in my games shoes that I have to work on basic checkmates and tactics for now.

I hope the link for improvement according to elo can help you a bit.

OMG I did not know I was still dropping pieces (see tourney games- current) reading several tactics books but not Bain.

Winning Chess Strategy (green book) for Kids by Coakley is a great book.  It contains lots of tactics (some rather difficult), essential endgame knowledge and is a good primer on positional ideas.  If you're looking for an all in one book, look no further.

You don't have any recent games on chess.com to assess how you're doing.  The one I looked at was about 6 months old and you dropped a rook for nothing by move 16.

No. I am playing in a tourney for five people. Have lost one. Everyone Is rated higher than I am.

silentKnight e5. I just got that Coakley book- the green one called Winning CHess Strategy for Kids. I like it a lot, but have not dug very deep yet. Just started.

It's good. I'm going through it now.

I suggest you try Winning Chess Strategy by Seirawan. It's more easier to understand for your level.

I have thought of that. WOuld it prepare me for Simple Chess and some positional play?

Definetly. All the positional concepts that Simple Chess teaches are also in that Seirawan book.Winning Chess Strategy has more materials (but easier to digest)compare to Simple chess.

I made some videos using Micheal Steans book as a basis, its a wonderful book.

http://youtu.be/hNYGOy8nxwo?list=UUobzLirPDBrauXhtJxI3dCw (light squared strategy, Botvinnik v Szylagyi)

http://youtu.be/p0QuJzfr404?list=UUobzLirPDBrauXhtJxI3dCw (outposts - Tal v Bronstein)

http://youtu.be/OCh7yjH4LlA?list=UUobzLirPDBrauXhtJxI3dCw (weak pawns - Fischer v Petrosian)

http://youtu.be/TJoR6f3AWYU?list=UUobzLirPDBrauXhtJxI3dCw (space - Fischer v Gheorghiu)

dont expect too much though, sometimes they are good and sometimes they suck.

One of the worst things you can do to yourself is constantly flip back and forth trying to find the "best" one and constantly asking for advice about which one to read.  You'll be two months down the road and still haven't finished one of them.  You've been given some good recommendations.  2 weeks is a good amount of time to research the topic, now it's time to execute.  Pick one and read it all the way through.  Don't flip back and forth.  Don't stalk Amazon reviews trying to find the holy grail book.  Stay the course.

I've read the Coakley book so I can highly recommend it as a beginning strategy book.  Seirawan is an excellent writer although it's been a while since I picked up his Strategy book.  I just thumbed through it and it seems like it might fit the bill also.  I just think the Coakley book is more complete because it contains lots of tactical exercises, strategic principles and endgames.

I look forward to your report on the Seirawan book in a few months. :)

Ok

Amazing book!