Hi Spore9503
I recommend "Bobby Fischer teaches chess". Beyond the rules of the game, it covers basic tactical motifs and checkmating patterns which should give you a pretty solid foundation. Another good aspect of it is that it asks several questions along the way to test your understanding. Hope this helps you and all the best for your chess improvement!
I found chess for dummies by James Eade a good book. Don't be put off by the title.
I have also just bought Silman's Complete Endgame Course. I like it and I'm using it in conjunction with endgame puzzles on chess tempo. There may be some debate as whether, given your rating, you will benefit much yet from the purchase (others may have a view)
sorry phone trouble. but worth considering as you approach 1000. Silman's approach is pragmatic which I like. He has divided the book into chapters based on rating and suggestions you study the chapter upto your rating and maybe the one above. Then put the book away and work on other aspects of your chess until you are ready for the next chapter. I think this is a useful approach for learners.
You should start with the book "Play Winning Chess" by Yasser Seirawan, American Chess Champion. After reading that you can move on to more advanced concepts, covered in his other books.
I would also recommend Jeremy Silman's books and "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess". As a beginner I found all these books to be of great help.
Hi all.
I'm a new player and think I could benefit from some good old fashioned reading to help improve my game knowledge and strategy. Any book recommendations that have helped in the you in the past?
Thanks!
I don't know if books are your best option at that level. Honestly, the thing that helped me the most is the chess.com puzzles and lessons. Before you ask, no I am not sponsored, I can just see and appreciate a good thing when I have it. Going through all of the lessons (not the mastery section because that alone is like 4000 lessons) is enough to get you from 1000 to 1300 no problem. Seeing the checkmate patterns helps a lot, you would be surprised how many you miss in any given game.
On Nimzowitsch, I'm reading My System which is considered a classic. Probably recommended for 1000+ish player. But the te
but the prose is hard going. It was written in 1925 I think and translated from German. His style is verbose and dated by today's standards. If I'd known I would have probably spent the money on something more modern that I'm sure would contain similar material. Worth a punt if you can find a cheap second hand copy. Just my opinion.
I know at my level (~450) it might just be more useful to play more games and practice with lessons and puzzles, but I figure reading might still help and it will be useful when (and if) I get to a higher elo. Thanks for everyone’s recommendations!
not a book but I recommend john Bartholomew's chess fundamentals series on you tube. there are 5 in total. I recently rewatched them all and went away with coaching points that I missed or had forgotton from the first time.
Hi all.
I'm a new player and think I could benefit from some good old fashioned reading to help improve my game knowledge and strategy. Any book recommendations that have helped in the you in the past?
Thanks!
Three Hundred Chess Games, by Tarrasch.
Some of Tarrasch's ideas are still valid, some not anymore. But the book is amazingly instructive for the beginner, particularly when assessing how the game may (for Tarrasch it was "has to") evolve without having to calculate many moves. No wonder players such as Alekhine and Fine (who went into the trouble of learning German just to read it) praised the book.
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Hundred-Chess-Games-Schachpartien/dp/1880673185/ref=sr_1_3?crid=232W0VOPA1X0J&dchild=1&keywords=tarrasch&qid=1593017592&sprefix=tarras%2Caps%2C259&sr=8-3
my recomendation is not to buy anybooks, play, enjoy chess and do tactics, a lot
A book I've found very useful is Patrick Wolfe's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess." It's got hundreds of diagrams--so many in fact, that you can probably read it without a board. Though a board is no doubt very useful too.
In addition, make use of the instruction on this site and on Chess Tempo and on chessgames.com. Great sites!
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
Hi all.
I'm a new player and think I could benefit from some good old fashioned reading to help improve my game knowledge and strategy. Any book recommendations that have helped in the you in the past?
Thanks!