The Best Chess Author

I've changed my tune after dusting off Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess Tactics". It's far easier to read after playing two months of blitz here.

BTW- I've seen some of your blitz games. Geez! A very aggressive attacking style of play.

Irving Chernev

Yes, that's an excellent book, and more or less unique I think.

Silman all the way in my opinion. Some poeple dont like his writing style, but I have learned a lot from How To Re-Assess Your Chess and Silman's Complete Endgame Course so far.

You know, the publisher and editor has a lot to do with how a book reads and if it is good for any given player, as they each have a different sense of who they're aiming their books at.  I'm just saying that because when we look at a book and its author, we're often endowing on to that author aspects of the book that come from the publisher and editor.

Wow, now that I've thrown that wet blanket on the fire,

I love Nimzowitch's books.  The language can be tough, but he communicates his love for the game and he burns certain things into your head that never leave. 

His little book Blockade to me was just an amazing read.  My System did more for my chess in just 3 chapters (specifically: on open files, the 7th and 8th rank, the passed pawn) and his chapter on the pawn chain also was a big eye opener.   Besides, how can you not love a guy that during a tournament complains that his opponent is holding a cigar even though there's no smoking and Nimzowitch is irritated my smoke.  When told, 'he hasn't lit it, there's nothing we can do' Nimzowitch says 'yes but every chess player knows the threat is worse than the execution'.

Here is a book that I loved and it really helped me a lot, that might raise some eyebrows: the middle game in chess byZnosko-Borovsky.  Ancient book, antiquated thinking from a lesser known player, but his middle game book definately made me a more complete player in that part of the game regardless of open or closed games regardless of looking to end it in the middle game or going into and ending.  I loved that book so much I allowed myself to be disappointed by his other books-- but his "How Not to Play Chess" is good for people starting out.

A good compliment to that book because it is more modern in its thinking is Dynamic Chess Strategy by Mihai Suba.  I went from not understanding the book and his style of play to getting it and loving it over the course of the book.  He writes in a very personable way so that you end up feeling you you've been on a journey with him a little bit.

More limited in scope, but a great read, is Position and Pawn Tension in Chess by David Levin.  It presents the subject of pawn tension in the center and how to use it to your advantage..

Which book would you advise for tactics?

Winning Chess Tactics

I got it too, and I laughed.

What sort of level would you say it is for??

I would be happy to work hard, my bcf is 115 and my chess.com grade ~1800, would you say it would be above my level?

I still say "Winning Chess Tactics" is good for all levels. It's mostly for beginners and intermediates, but the tests are tough, and are for all levels, they start out simple, but get tougher later on.

All of the books in the Winning Chess series are great. Seriwan is a good author.

David Bronstein!

Micheal Stean wrote a good book entitled "Simple Chess." Among the concepts he covers is his contention that combinations should come about as the result of positional play.

I like Jeremy Silman's end game book. I also like Mr. Silman's suggestion that grandmaster games should be included in your chess study. Find annotated collections of the games of your favorite grandmasters.

"Logical Chess" by Irving Chernev is a masterpiece, I highly recommend it.

you have to work hard with this task, Master , but his teaching,s are one of the best ,

Nimzowitch, Dvorstesky, Silman, and for videos Dzindzi

Robert Snyder stinks with his stupid "memorize the openings", Irving Chernev is a master writing about the endgame, and Yasser Seirawan is a great all-around writer.

Nimzovich was also great, Botvinnik learnedthrough his books.

Me. 

Joe your so greedy for comments