Is reading books about chess strategies/tacticts/openings really necessary to become a good player? - Chess Forums - Page 2

Nero21 · 2018-02-10T10:56:17-08:00

Not being able to buy books over amazon and similar websites (no form of payment, doesn't ship to my place, etc) I thought about how important the books really are to become a good player. Back in the day, people didn't have books and still were good. Of course I understand some were smart

Michael-Holm

Feb 11, 2018

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#21

RussBell wrote:

Consider Chessable.com. This site has been recommended by several here on chess.com. Although I am not a member, I have perused the site and think that it can be helpful for those who are not able to acquire books. Give it a look...

https://www.chessable.com/

https://www.chessable.com/opening-book/my-first-chess-opening-repertoire/7543/

If you are ever in a position to get some chess books, you might want to save the following link....

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond.....

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-bey

I just started using Chessable a few days ago and I like it a lot. There are a lot of books that you can immediately access for free, including some by John Bartholomew.

Nero21

Feb 14, 2018

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#22

Piperose wrote:

Chess Network

was helpful for me (click on YouTube link)

Will try that channel for sure! Thank you!

Nero21

Feb 14, 2018

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#23

Vicariously-I wrote:

I've only ever had 1 book and I've never really used it. I've gotten better by watching youtube and playing correspondence chess. I think correspondence chess it the best way to improve as it gives you as much time as you need to think things through.

Here are some playlists on youtube that will make you a much better player:

Chess Fundamentals - John Bartholomew

Beginner to Chess Master - Chessnetwork

This is fantastic free content that I would recommend to just about anyone. Even advanced players can learn from these playlists.

Thanks alot! Will definitely look try correspondence chess on this site and will look into the channels!

Nero21

Feb 14, 2018

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#24

TuckerTommy wrote:

IMHO, all reading or mostly reading and no playing makes a chess player dull. The practical playing and experience seems to dominate preparation. I’ve seen guys playing chess who do not know a fork is called a fork or a pin. They know the game so well having watched other players. They know the rules of the game and their playing at very high tactical levels. Their experience taught them.

Well, I gotta admit I do prefer rather to play than read but I guess if I forced myself to read and learn a bit after every few games I could become "good". Thanks for your input!

Nero21

Feb 14, 2018

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#25

RussBell wrote:

@Nero21 -

Consider Chessable.com. It is a site devoted to chess education/learning which has been recommended by several here on chess.com. Although I am not a member, I have perused the site and think that it can be helpful for those who are not able to acquire books. Give it a look...

https://www.chessable.com/

https://www.chessable.com/opening-book/my-first-chess-opening-repertoire/7543/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKvw-8_UhQ

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chessable+john+bartholomew

Just in case you are ever in a position to get some chess books, you might want to save the following link....

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond.....

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Thanks for the links! Chessable is really good, I can access some of the books right away! Cheers!

Chessflyfisher

Feb 14, 2018

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#26

Yes.

SeniorPatzer

Feb 14, 2018

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#27

Not "necessary", but I don't know a great player who hasn't read chess books.

rmanthony

Feb 14, 2018

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#28

Thanks again I

MickinMD

Feb 14, 2018

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#29

"Back in the day, people didn't have books and still were good."

Yes they did have books like those by world champions Lasker and Capablanca. Many such books are legally FREE on the Internet!

Links to pdf-file books by those authors and much more are here: http://bishopsbounty.blogspot.com/2009/01/free-online-chess-books.html

Many more resources are here: http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/

Chesserroo2

Feb 23, 2018

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#30

Nero21 wrote:

Chesserroo2 wrote:

Having outside input just gets geniuses there faster but takes normal people further than they would otherwise go. Chess.com has some good study material.

I am new to this forum and can't find my way quite around, would you mind sending me links to those study materials, please? Thanks and I agree with you, that sounds just right.

In your upper left drop down, go learn, then tactics or lessons or drills.

Chassable has some good free lessons, but just no where near as many total. I recommend doing all their lessons in a day or two and then coming back here afterward.

prusswan

Feb 23, 2018

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#31

No, but it is a common way to learn, and you need to apply what you learn. Top players learn by spending their time playing strong opposition, analyzing, and resting.

fewlio

Feb 23, 2018

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#32

Nope, I learned everything just by playing and revising my ideas. Do play longer time controls though, short time controls won't teach you anything.

kindaspongey

Feb 23, 2018

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#33

"... Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development. ..." - Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
"... The books that are most highly thought of are not necessarily the most useful. Go with those that you find to be readable. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2010)
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever

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