Maybe Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
Recommend a Chess Book
Sort:
If interested in Pump up Your Rating, I think it is possible to see a sample at the Quality Chess site.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085005/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review918.pdf
Jul 9, 2016
0
#8
If you're still around 1400 this one "winning chess tactics" by yasser seirawan... He gives a very very easy to understand outline of basic tactics and how the basic ones get more complicated... here's a link... trust me it's well worth the money...
Jul 10, 2016
0
#9
Thank you very much for the kind responses. I will investigate your suggestions!
Jul 10, 2016
0
#11
What the hell are you talking about? That's like the worst book on the planet... it has one tactic- back rank checkmate patterns over and over... it's a terrible book!
Books by(or for)David Bronstain-original player and very interesting ideas in broader View-psychology,Life..Affordable understanding,but profound thoughts comments without excessive variations,but concrete(original) positional considerations..! Zurich Tournament1953,David vs. Goliath(Bronstain vs computers),Student Sorcerer, For match with Botvinnik and Biography,(Improvisations in chess art)....!
Jul 11, 2016
0
#14
How To Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman was easily the most useful book I found to improve. It's written in a easy going style too. This book taught me how to play much more objectively during a game, and for me turned chess from a fun but confusing boardgame to a real battle of wits.
My System by Nimzowitsch is another great book, but it's not so easy to get into, and if you don't like the "solid" style of play in chess then you may not like it much.
Jul 11, 2016
0
#15
YuriSenkevich wrote:
I said, for beginners
It's especially bad for beginners!! There's not a bit of textual explanation!! Are you on crack??
Strategy: My System (Nimsowitch)
Tactics: Art of Attack in Chess (Vukovic)
Endgame: Secrets of Pawn Endings (Muller), Chess Endgame Training (Rosen)
The other postings are correct... avoid the "Fischer Teaches Chess" trainwreck... it's OK if you're rated... well... 500 or something. Completely useless if you've played much real chess at all. Worse than that, though, is the book can lead to chess "tunnel vision" where the only strategic things you consider are back rank mates... it gives very little instruction on other tactics and positions.
Nicholas_Shannon80 wrote:
"... It's especially bad for beginners!! There's not a bit of textual explanation!! ..."
I read Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess as a beginner, and I was not troubled by the scarcity of textual explanation. It is true that the book does not cover a lot of ideas, but I think it does get one started on visualizing moves and their consequences. I don't think that the book caused me to believe that back rank mates were the only strategic thing to consider. It seemed obvious that the book was just trying to get one started. Also, it felt cool to be reading a book with Fischer's name on it, although I think that, even then, I suspected that Fischer's actual involvement was small. Not very likely that the book would be worthwhile for a 1400 player.
Jul 11, 2016
0
#18
The Inner Game of Chess by Andrew Soltis. Read it when I was 1400 (over the board, not online) and instantly shot up to 1750 in no time after reading that book.
Klauer wrote:
curious why you say no to Chernev...
On your level don't use Axel Smith and never ever take Chernev.
The beginner books of Yasser Seirawan are really a hit!
The tactic books of Nunn (1001 deadly checkmates!) are good stuff from beginner till 1800.
Maxim Blokh has written a good exercise book to look at both sides of the position. There are tasks of 10 levels iirc mixed in strength, sorted by theme. This is something if you can torture yourself to learning. Maybe you manage to have a look at it before buying.
Zenon Franco has written the Giant Chess Puzzle Book.
One can see some discussion of the pros and cons of Chernev's Logical Chess at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132019/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman118.pdf
http://exeterchessclub.org.uk/content/logical-chernev
http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/01/logical-chess-book-review.html
http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2013/02/chernevs-errors.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708091057/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review465.pdf
Dear Friends,
I'm interested in continuing to improve my game, having recently achieved my long-term goal of reaching a 1400 rating.
I feel like I'm perhaps an advanced beginner now, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! I am keen to find a book to read that will allow me to generally progress my strategies and thinking to the next level, if possible. I don't do well with anything too dry, so something written in an engaging and not-too-formal way would suit me. I'm not sure if I should focus on any particular area of my game or whether studying a particular opening or a certain player would be helpful. I tend to simply learn by playing, but I definitely need a bit more focus. Could anyone help me out with some ideas?