... From what seems to be available at my store ... John Nunn: ... The Middlegames ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627012322/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen154.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Understanding_Chess_Middlegames.pdf
Thanks for de feedback. I'll check it out. Still worried that Pachman's book a difficult read are. What do you guys think?
From what seems to be available at my store, there are the three Volume of Pachman's strategy series
Soltis: Pawn Structure or How to choose a move
John Nunn: Move by move or The Middlegames
If you'd to choose between them, a (relatively) easy or accessible book that'l complete my book of Amateur's mind what would it be. Would be nice if it doesn't completely left out the opening phases :)
For the Nunn book, if you will pick up between the two, I sugget Understanding Chess Middle Games. This book covers more variety of topic.
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Re-thinking the Chess Pieces by Andrew Soltis ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233856/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review468.pdf
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Power Play with Pieces by Jan Timman ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103041/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review458.pdf
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Last but not least: a collection of high quality annotated game collections by the greats: the 2 vol. Smyslov ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093235/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review388.pdf
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Last but not least: a collection of high quality annotated game collections by the greats: ... the 3. vol. Botvinnik ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094541/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review284.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085717/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review297.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090353/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review329.pdf
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Last but not least: a collection of high quality annotated game collections by the greats: ... Korchnoi's 2 vol. ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233812/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review292.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708091053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review319.pdf
Some books not mentioned but also worthwhile:
... Last but not least: a collection of high quality annotated game collections by the greats: ... My Great Predecessors by Kasparov ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110300/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review385.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104513/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review413.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708112445/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review459.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090915/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review523.pdf
If you are worried about splashing out for three volumes of the Pachman, you might invest to begin with in the one volume abridged version that is still in the descriptive notation but is amazingly still in print and is published by the good people at Dover (who specialize in budget reprints of old classics of all sorts, not just chess). Dover editions are generally very cheap and buying one of the Pachman might be a good way to see if both his style of teaching and the descriptive notation agree with you or not.
I have both the Batsford three volume set (entitled Complete Chess Strategy) and the Dover edition ('entitled Modern Chess Strategy) and the principle difference seems to be that a number (though not all) of the games given in full in the three volume set are reduced to the parts where the analysis is most germane to the points that Pachman wishes to make. I confess that I haven't read the single volume Dover edition (that I bought when I temporarily couldn't find my three volume set which I do periodically devour from cover to cover) and I generally like to look over complete games, even to understand particular points at particular moments of games, but the Dover volume does look an excellent exploratory buy for a knock down price, and if you get into it (and the descriptive notation) you could consider investing in the three volume set as well later on.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Chess-Strategy-Dover/dp/0486202909
Whereas there are other chess books that I have read and thought, "I think that that might have improved my chess", with Pachman I've read it (a few times) and thought, "I KNOW that that has improved my chess".
I think that it's time to blow the dust off my copy of Simple Chess and read the thing.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
Look at the book on the table. This photo was taken last spring.
In case anyone is thinking of buying, it is perhaps worth noting that that is (I believe) the old descriptive version of the book. The algebraic Dover version can be seen at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
I'm bilingual--able to read descriptive and algebraic notation equally well.
Chess Strategy Work Book: A Blue Print for Developing The Best Plan
In case anyone is thinking of buying, it is perhaps worth noting that that is (I believe) the old descriptive version of the book. The algebraic Dover version can be seen at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
I bought the algebraic version in Kindle ebook format today. $8
The 3 volume Pachman series is exceptional. I was rated about ELO 1350,read the series and a year later was ELO 1756 in my teens. I found book 2 the most insructive.
My method was to play through the games carefully and play through the variations in my head. If they were long variations I went over them again and again and until it was clear.
I think that helped me to become a strong blindfold player. As a chess coach I could take on high school teams of 5 players simultaneously and beat them all in 45min.
Simple Chess by Michael Stean
Simple Chess by Michael Stean
i love this book.
How about Winning Chess Strategy by Yasser Seirawan?
How about Winning Chess Strategy by Yasser Seirawan?
I also love this book. This book is enjoyable, cover many topics and easy to digest. This is a good first strategy book. But there is IM that claimed that this book alone(combined with tactics end endgame books) is instrumental in making him an IM.
... From what seems to be available at my store ... John Nunn: Move by move ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092945/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review269.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Understanding_Chess_Move_by_Move.pdf