Mastering the chess openings by John Watson, full of ideas and plans for the openings and the middlegame that follows them, very helpfull.
What Chess Book are you reading?
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I was looking at that book at Barnes and Noble's. You know I find it quite interesting that even paperback books are currently priced at over $20.00, yet there are more books written on chess than any other game.
What would you say about the book you got, is it worth it? Can you give me a little taste of something you learned from it?
Tony are there any concepts in those books that a low rated player like myself, or some other people here, could really walk away smacking our foreheads in a "wow, it's so obvious!" manner? What things could you pick out from that book that pop out at you automatically?
Well, it didn't cost me a dime, the Swedish library system has a fine selection of chess books.
But I find it to be of great help, I've only worked through some of the openings so far, but the preceding chapters before he goes into each opening where a goldmine.
tonydal wrote:
Modern Chess Strategy--Ludek Pachman
Why Pachman specifically, and not the middlegames books by Stean, Euwe or Keres/Kotov?
Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move.
Busy working through 5334 Problems Combinations and Games by Laszlo Polgar
SuperSneezy wrote:
Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move.
Oh, that's a great book, helped me alot.
Comming from someone at my rating this probably won't make your day though.
I'm not reading any... What is a chess book?
I'm currently reading Chess for Zebras, by the young Scottish GM Jonathan Rowson.
How To Be Lucky in Chess - David Lemoir
Chess For Tigers - Simon Webb
Your Memory - K L Holger ( not strictly a chess book but an important topic for players)
I have not read an Opening book in years, sorted that out long ago, I flick a database now and then and reach my own conclusions.
Best Chess Book I have read last year
Reassess Your Chess - Silman
Currently reading and playing through David Bronsteins about Zurich 1953.
Wow, some excellent books mentioned already for sure.
I'm nearly finished with Soltis' "Pawn Structure Chess" just going back through the supplemental games now, just a a few more days and I'll put it down. Next up is Vukovic's "Art of Attack" -- I flipped to some random pages and am excited about what I might learn. Sometimes I'm fairly awful at defense vs an attack also, so I'm thinking this will also help me defend by seeing what works and what can't.
Zurich 1953 is great. I want to start playing over it in a regular way. Before I've just picked it up now and then for a few games, picking randomly, but I'm thinking now making sure to hit all of them would be a good idea.
I've of course heard of Pachman's strategy book, but don't own it. Guy at my club does and was willing to let me borrow it before. If you guys are also singing it's praises I might want to really consider getting around to it.
I was gifted Watson's "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" some time ago, I haven't read it, but skimming around in it it's not at all what I thought it was. I think a more advanced player, like at least a master, would get more out of Watson's book -- it takes it's reader through the history andevolution of strategy. I'm guessing it would add depth to understanding already in place. For me I just want the facts as I can use them today :) Heard it won some award though, andpeople say it's good.
"Open Gambits" by Botterill
"The King's Gambit" by McDonald
"Colle, London and Blackmar-Diemer Systems" by Harding.
They're always open beside me, I dip in and out.
Mar 14, 2010
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#16
Chess Strategy for Club Players. (The Road to Positional Advantage) by Herman Grooten. I am finding this just right for me. Harder workload than Silman's Amateur's Mind so an advance (IMO) and stretching my capability. Book of the year (2009) at ChessCafe.
Just read a story in a Stanley Ellin anthology called "Fool's Mate". Would have made a great Hitchcock episode. Also reading lite right now, not that much into analysis myself so I've dusted off "The Chess Companion" by Irving Chernev and "Chess To Enjoy" by Andy Soltis. Lots of fun therein and a break from algebraic notation.
There are books that provide entertainment more than instruction. I really liked Tim Taylor's "True Combat Chess."
Armin_Balija wrote:
I was looking at that book at Barnes and Noble's. You know I find it quite interesting that even paperback books are currently priced at over $20.00, yet there are more books written on chess than any other game.
What would you say about the book you got, is it worth it? Can you give me a little taste of something you learned from it?
do you try half.com? they have some great deals on books.
and if youre looking for a dated repertiore book, those are always the lowest. I picked up a great dragon book the other day for 6.. a jumbo book too :)
tonydal wrote:
Another book that meant a lot to me (and unfortunately I can't remember its name now, although I'm pretty sure it was by Znosko-Borovsky) was the first one to show me what a plan really meant. It gave a typical master game. I do at least remember that it involved a bishop being kicked back from g5 to h4 and then g3 (by g5 and h6). Then--after f3--the B found a very nice and useful home on f2. I learned there that plans did not encompass the whole game (as I had believed before) but were only clusters of 4-5 moves, and then at the end you'd have to come up with another one. Again, wish I had the title...as it was a real breakthrough for me. Maybe somebody else here remembers?
How Not to Play Chess, maybe?
Currently along with the AMAZING services that chess.com provides, I've recently added 3 books to my collection which I am currently reading. Each obviously for different reasons. I'm also hoping to buy "Think like a Grandmaster" by Kotov and "My system" by Aron Nimzowitsch.
Opening Repertoire: MCO: (Modern Chess Openings) by Nick de Firmian
Tactics and Attack: Art of Attack in Chess by Vladimir Vukovic
Endgame: Silman's Complete Endgame Course (Awesome book, highly recommended. Very Complete, from beginner to master level. Each section is divided by which rating group you're in.)
So what Books are you guys currently reading, and which ones do you plan to buy if you've already read all of them?