Silaman's books VS chess master school

Yeah I know maybe not a realistic question but I'm just wondering if there are some good opinions.

I'm thinking of doing one of them. The first year of chess master school, 39 a month or get three of silaman's books: amateurs mind, reassess your chess and his end game book.

Either way I would play everything out on a real board.

I'm leaning towards the books tho.

I'm around a 1200 player at the moment.

Any advice as which way would be better to go?

Merci

Anyone?

I am going through Silman's. The exact 3 books you said. Go first for Amateurs mind, and then Reases your chess. You can do Endgame course meanwhile you study the others. I think they are really good. Good luck!

Why not buy a membership to Chess.com. For 99$US per year(14US a month) you get unlimited access to Chess Mentor courses, unlimited Tactics Trainer, as well as many other benefits.

By the way, I'm in no way connected to this site other than being a member. I just think I get my money's worth here and have learned quite a bit from the Mentor courses and Tactics Trainer.

Hell, for the price of that Chess Master School you could get a diamond membership here AND buy the Sillman books(which I like a lot).

Good luck.

What is the Chess master school ?

I'm interested in hearing about this too :)

Buy the books. I've signed up for the master school in the past. It's literally like taking a college course. It's a lot of material and unless you have hours upon hours to dedicate to it you're just gonna be wasting your money. Its not cheap either. But by all means if you have no other responsibilities other than improving your chess then go with the master school. The material is great.

One other note to mention about the chess master school. It is not a course for beginners. If you are rated under 1400 then this is not the course for you. You would benefit more from chess.com or some books.

Here's how simple this is:  for 7 dollars, unlimited tactics trainer; which will move your further along than anything you will ever read in those books.  I know, I've spent, going back to 1996, hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on those books.  A known fact is that folks learn by doing not by reading.

I have the endgame book and reassess your chess book, they are good when you evaluate them on the basis of generalized instruction. If I were in your shoes I'd probably buy a diamond membership here and hire a coach that you took an hour lesson from biweekly. Personalized coaching can save you hours of study time.

Silman is informative and entertaining, but improving isn't as simple as reading a single set of books (or just doing Tactics Trainer).

I recommend playing, analyzing, and even studying games.  Visit your local library and read all the books.  Join a local club.  Play in tournaments.  Read Heisman's The Improving Chess Thinker or similar books so you can learn from others' mistakes and experiences.

Silman is fantastic.  He, like other teachers before him, explains how to think and analyze during the game.  The system he promotes is absoultely consistent throughout all his books and articles.    Silman is my first recomendation to everyone.  

1st:  Read "How to Reassess Your Chess"

Then simultaneously dip into Amateur's Mind, the Workbook, and his Endgame book.  I reread all these books and I know it helps me as a player.

Of course, tactics and reviewing Master games should be a constant thing.

Good Luck!

I have Silmans books.  Never really sat down and really studied them' but from what i have used they all seem like very good books.  Now if youre talking about the international chess school?  I enrolled in there programs and really enjoyed them.  

you guys are just itching to get jengaias going again aren't you?

someone said you either love him (silman) or you hate him.

I'm the exception to the rule,then.  I'm lukewarm. 

I dont care who or what you study, as long as it works for you.  It also shouldnt matter to someone else who you study.  I enjoy Silmans methods, and how he approches things, others dont.  The one thing that does bother me is how some that dont care for him base there reasons on him "just" being an IM.  

I know it sounds "sexier" to say you study Devoretsky's endgame book and not Silmans.  But if youre not at least 1800 (just my opinion) youre better off with Silmans book.  

Base your studies on what works for you, not what sounds impressive.