What book to really read?

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Avatar of IamChessNooob

I have seen the other threads and I am sorry for making a similar one but I am a beginner chess player. My rating is under 1000. I understand how the pieces move and understand pins, forks, and skewers. I believe I really have trouble on the strategy part of the game. I guess you can say I am an entry level player. I really would like to grow a strong player in the 1500 range so I can play against my brother and put up a nice fight. What books do you recommend for me?

 

Thank you. 

Avatar of Ghostly14

I would play a lot of blitz games to begin with. Once you have a pretty firm grasp of tactics from those games, I would get the Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games. Play over the games from the books. Most of the ideas will be over your head, but they are the greatest of all time. At the end of every game it gives advice from the game. I would also get a beginner, all encompassing book on strategy, I think Pandolfini and Mammoth books both make them. Read some reviews on amazon.

Avatar of NimzoRoy

Try reading one of these ASAP, along with one Reinfeld book which you can read a little of every day regardless of what else you're reading:

My System by Aron Nimzovitch  (ignore any comments about it being too advanced for you at this point)

Logical Chess Move by Move and The Most Instructve Games of Chess Ever Played, both by Irving Chernev

1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations + 1001 Checkmates both by Fred Reinfeld

Look for used copies at local bookstores and amazon, Reinfeld's books are both there right now for about $6.00 each inc postage.

Avatar of IamChessNooob
NimzoRoy wrote:

Try reading one of these ASAP, along with one Reinfeld book which you can read a little of every day regardless of what else you're reading:

My System by Aron Nimzovitch  (ignore any comments about it being too advanced for you at this point)

Logical Chess Move by Move and The Most Instructve Games of Chess Ever Played, both by Irving Chernev

1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations + 1001 Checkmates both by Fred Reinfeld

Look for used copies at local bookstores and amazon, Reinfeld's books are both there right now for about $6.00 each inc postage.


Thanks these books look promising! They sound like exactly what I need/Want. I will go out today so I can purchase. I am asssuming that My system by Aron is for later on when I become better or will I be using the book right away?

 

Out of the first two what would you say would be the best book for me now? (Aron)

Avatar of PeterHyatt

This Spring, I returned to chess after many years of not playing at all.  

One book that really helped me a great deal was "How to Reassess Your Chess"  

I have just picked up the 4th edition of it (I am rusty) and am also seeking advice on books.  Logical Chess is another I have just purchased but a new one, "Studying Chess Made Easy" is one I have just started for my summer reading.  I recall that Batsford seemed to put out real quality so I thought I would give it a try.  

I am solving tactic puzzles a few minutes each night from Polgar's book, and the rust is slowing coming off.  

Avatar of cabrego

Bro, I have "My System" if you want to borrow it.  Let me know! I have lots of books for you when you come by!

My first book was "The Art of the Checkmate". 

Avatar of PeterHyatt

Thank you for the generous offer.  I did have a copy years ago, (the modern one) but can't locate it.  I will obtain one from Amazon.  My memory of it is a bit strained, but I think the language was unusual. 

I have ordered "My 60 Memorable Games" from Amazon this week.  I will have to find more time for learning! 

 

Peter 

Avatar of IamChessNooob
cabrego wrote:

Bro, I have "My System" if you want to borrow it.  Let me know! I have lots of books for you when you come by!

My first book was "The Art of the Checkmate". 


Oh you have this book thats good because I couldnt find any at barnes and noble. Plus that book is like 30 dollars news. Sounds perfect for when I go down there.

Avatar of alec39

Recommended:

1000 Checkmate Combinations by Victor Henkin

1001 Deadly Checkmates by John Nunn

The Game of Chess by Siegbert Tarrasch 

If you want to become sharp and improve solve lots and lots of puzzles mates& tactics problems every day but ALSO go over games over GM and Masters that are full of tactics and punch by playing them over and over on a chess board you'll absorb the ideas into you're subconcious and make them you're own!

100 Soviet Chess Minatures by P.H Clarke

The life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

Fire on Board Shirov's Best Games by Alexi Shirov

My 50 Memorable Games by Frank Marshall

Nezmetdinov's best games of Chess by Rashid Nzhmetdinov

Spassky's 100 Best Games by Bernard Caferty 

Avatar of IamChessNooob

Thanks for all of the replies I think you might be right Gizmodeus. I have beend doing a ton of puzzles on my own and still have trouble but I am motivated with learning. I feel that I am learning quite fast actually. I really only picked up chess a week ago.

Avatar of milestogo2

I agree Nimzovich my system and logical chess move by move are just too advanced, as well as most of John Nunn, grandmaster game collections etc.  Just go to a bookstore or better yet the library, look in the games section and get something by Pandolfini or Reinfield, Josh Waitzkin if they are still out there, as well as newer books for beginners.  tactic puzzles are available on this website and elsewhere, you have to do hundreds  of them to get good, which is a lot of work but will pay off. There is very little new in chess, the same material is hashed and rehashed by multiple authors. For a oldy but goody, try Capablanca's chess primer and take a step back in time to see just how good he was.  You might start with endgames also, Silman and Pandolfini have good works on that.  Bottom lines is you have to walk before you can run, and you teach yourself- without doing the hard work no book will make you good.

Avatar of Lawdoginator

Wow! A beginner can just come on here and ask a question and get some really good advice. This is a great website. 

Avatar of Chesserroo2

A very good strategy book for 1000 level players is Pandolfini's Weapons of Chess. It assumes you don't know algebraic notation and can't see more than one move ahead. But it covers tons of strategy in very easy to understand lessons. The diagrams are so simple and instructive that I immediately knew what to do and felt like I was reviewing instead of learning, even though I was learning.

Another good book for a beginner is Pandolfini's Endgame Course. Fantastic book. No filler. Easy. Many great endgame skills you won't forget.

As for tactics, stick to something beginner. I bought some tactics puzzle books, and they are all pretty challanging for me. It is hard for me to get motivated when every puzzle takes me at least 4 minutes, and 2/3 I can't solve. Don't write a book off just because it says it will be easy.

As for checkmates, there is Art of the Checkmate, which is very good, but it is aimed at Class D players who are studious. Pandolfini's 300 Chessercises Checkmate improved my attacking and defending skills dramatically. It has all the checkmates in there, but you have to figure them out, starting with 2 movers, and sometimes checking answers in the back.

And all of those books are cheap.

Avatar of Chesserroo2

Oh, and My System is probably better for people rated over 1800. It is not for someone rated 1000. First learn an intermediate strategy book more advanced than Pandolfini's Weapons of Chess, then read My System as the third strategy book.

Avatar of AndyClifton

I am merely an old guy, but The Complete Chessplayer by Fred Reinfeld is what I grew up on.

Avatar of Quasimorphy

I think you'd get a lot out of Logical Chess Move by Move.  For the most part, the games emphasize classical play--staking a claim to the center, quick development,  etc.   Since Chernev comments on every move in every game, opening principles get drummed into your head through sheer repetition.  Variations aren't examined in any great depth, so even a novice should be able to follow along with what is covered in the book.

I agree that studying tactics is your best bang for the buck, but if you do feel ready to play through annotated games, Logical Chess is a good book to begin with.

Avatar of CAulds

I have been planning to buy Ward Farnsworth's "Predator at the Keyboard" (both volumes).

Can anyone say anything, for or against, these books??

Avatar of CAulds
CAulds wrote:

I have been planning to buy Ward Farnsworth's "Predator at the Keyboard" (both volumes).

Can anyone say anything, for or against, these books??

 

It's Predator at the CHESSBOARD!  (I'm a computer system analyst, sorry)

 

 


Avatar of armstrong789

The best book for you is "Logical Chess Move by Move" by Irving Chernev.It explains each move, the reasons behind it, and the plans involved, from beginning to end.This will teach you how to think logically before moving a piece.Blitz games will accomplish nothing and will get you in some very bad habits.Chernev writes in a down to earth easy to understand style.I have seen "D" category players go from "D" to "B" category just from studying this book alone.It is written for all levelss however, and even experts will benefit.

Avatar of madhatter5

The endgame book by Jeremy Silman, I don't remember its name and am too lazy to look.