Chess Training Pocket Book: 300 Most Important Positions and Ideas. Highly recommended as well is Jacob Aagaard's award-winning "Attacking Manual"(Vols 1 & 2). A classic. Emms also includes a chapter treating the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Bc4) move order for entering the Italian Game, which avoids the Petroff Defense by Black. Each of these books is targeted primarily to the experienced, intermediate chess player and above.
"'My System' is of course one of the great masterpieces of chess literature" - IM John Watson. Forfirst annotated games collections, start with"A First Book of Morphy" by Frisco Del Rosario followed by"Logical Chess Move By Move" by Irving Chernev.
************************************************************************************************. For Lev Alburt's White repertoire (Book 2), the main line in the open game (1.e4 e5) features either of the Scotch Gambit, Italian Game/Giuoco Piano, or Two Knights Defense,depending on how Black responds; Against the Sicilian Defense, White plays the Grand Prix Attack (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - with f2-f4 soon to follow); against the Caro-Kann Defense, White plays the Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5); against the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5) White responds with 3.Nc3. This because the follow-on or later book(s) may assume a familiarity or knowledge of principles or ideas introduced in the previous book(s), which in that sense could be considered as containing prerequisite information. Weapons of Chess: An Omnibus of Chess Strategies. For many instructive articles by Heisman treating all aspects of the game of chess, see his "Novice Nook" articles in the ChessCafe.com archives. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052220/http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm, Discovering Chess Openings: Building Opening Skills from Basic Principles.
Italian" by Muller & Souleidis; "Beating Unusual Defenses 1 e4" by Andrew Greet. While there are several editions available, this 21st Century Edition edited by Lou Hays may be the easiest English translation to read. Chess Openings for Black, Explained: A Complete Repertoire.
For a deeper introduction, or supplement, see "Learn Chess" by John Nunn. Also presented is a response to The Two Knights Defense (3Nf6), when White will respond with 4.Ng5. By Peter Romanovsky.
A to Z Chess Tactics: Every Chess Move Explained. The author also does a better than average job of explaining not only WHAT you should be trying to do in each line (the themes and plans), but also takes time to clarify WHY you are making the recommended moves, and in many cases lays out the procedure for HOW you should go about playing the lines. For additional instructively annotated grandmaster games which are also targeted primarily to experienced players see 50 Essential Chess Lessons by Steve Giddins and Understanding Chess Move By Move by John Nunn. This would also be an excellent supplement or follow-on to Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess"(above). Targeted to the novice thru intermediate player, this very instructive book illustrates and teaches the art of combinations - complex tactical scenarios typically involving a sacrifice - where, here, the goal is to attack and checkmate the opponent's King. Features tutorial overview chapters on the following openings: Giuoco Piano, Sicilian Dragon, Queen's Gambit, Nimzo-Indian Defence, and Morra Gambit. Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master. For additional practice in a variety of diverse tacticssupplement these with"Chess Tactics for Students" by John A. Bain. For your first books on chess tactics - Start with "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"by Fischer and Margulies. Elements of Positional Evaluation: How the Pieces Get Their Power. A classic. For additional perspective on the book see my book reviewblog article. For additional introductory coverage of the three primary categories of the endgame see "Starting Out: Pawn Endgames" by Glenn Flear; "Starting Out: Rook Endgames" by Chris Ward; "Starting Out: Minor Piece Endgames" by John Emms. By Martin Weteschnik. Absorbing these mini-lessons WILL improve your game! edition, ISBN 0486283054, in Descriptive notation), which further elaborates on the four primary elements (in fact, Evans' book was the first to formally introduce and focus on them). If you are looking for an "advanced" chess course, this would be a good choice.
Consider following this with"Soviet Middlegame Technique" by Peter Romanovsky (below). The list is divided roughly into the following groups: general chess coverage, tactics, attacking/checkmating technique, the opening, the middlegame - including positional-strategic concepts and techniques, the endgame, and instructive game collections. Studying these will provide an essential foundation for understanding and playing chess at a higher level, and serve as preparation for more advanced chess books.
By John Emms. By Jesus de la Villa. I highly recommend both of these very instructive books. Against the Sicilian Defense, White will play the Grand Prix Attack - 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - following up with a quick f2-f4. While the games may not be recent, the instructional content is enduring. My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White. See also the instructive classic, "Chess Master vs Chess Amateur" by former World Chess Champion Max Euwe & Walter Meiden (in descriptive notation). For White, repertoires based on 1.e4 (featuring the Ruy Lopez) and also on 1.d4 are offered (you have a choice!). by Mike (Michael) Basman. A tour de force, 5-volume series by the brilliant former World Chess Champion. Similarly, see also "Chess Strategy for Club Players"by Herman Grooten andthe classic "Modern Chess Strategy"by Ludek Pachman (in descriptive notation). It is, however, accessible to more mature players (say, age 13 and beyond), from post-beginner through intermediate level. For the beginner-novice, those who don't mind dealing with the older "Descriptive" chess notation. by Neil McDonald.
You are awarded points based on your answers, allowing you to rate your level of play. For online chess book reading and/or downloading, check out -https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/scribd-com-for-online-chess-book-reading, Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players. While the treatment of each opening is brief, it is helpful in gauging what the opening is about, providing perspective and sufficient exposure to be helpful in deciding which openings you might be interested in pursuing in more depth. For online chess book reading and/or downloading, check out, For an "advanced" treatment of the Italian Game I recommend the excellent, Last, but not least, is another very good introductory repertoire book on the Italian Game by John Emms -, positional-strategic concepts and techniques, positional chess principles and technique, Having absorbed the fundamental elements of positional-strategic chess from the books recommended immediately above, you will be well prepared to proceed with the practical implementation of these ideas as presented in the, more advanced books on the topic immediately, positional concepts, techniques, strategy and tactics, https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/scribd-com-for-online-chess-book-reading, "Chess Success: Planning After the Opening", "Winning With The Slow But Venomous Italian", "My First Chess Opening Repertoire for Black", Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond, Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond, http://www.glennwilson.com/chess/books/pec_errata.html#end37, "The Art of Planning In Chess: Move By Move", "Chess Success: Planning After The Opening", Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953, White's main line in the open game will be the Italian Game - Giuoco Piano - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5. Many chess teachers advise against spending excessive time on the study of openings variations for the beginner, but they do agree it is important to acquire a solid understanding of opening PRINCIPLES right from the start. A classic, MUST-READ,suitable for post-novice players and beyond. Either (or even better, both!) "Tactics flow from a superior position" -former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. By Paul van der Sterren.
Other classic games collections:"Capablanca's Best Chess Endings: 60 Complete Games" by Irving Chernev - an essential collection of games of former World Chess Champion Jose Raul Capablanca, a true chess genius, and endgame virtuoso;"My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937", 21st Century Edition, by Alexander Alekhine - the legendary games collection annotated by the legendary former World Champion; "Tal-Botvinnik 1960" the superbly annotated games collection by Mikhail Tal, one of the game's greatest attacking players, detailing not only the match games, but also revealing his personal thoughts and insights during his 1960 World Chess Championship triumph against the three-time and reigning world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. Explains the fundamental concepts of good chess play. The intent of both of Moret's opening repertoires, for White and for Black, is to promote interesting, dynamic and aggressive play where the focus is on understanding themes and plans, as opposed to memorization of myriad variations (i.e., "theory"). Finally, the 1931 classic instructional manual "The Game of Chess" by Siegbert Tarrasch (in descriptive notation) continues to stand the test of time. Advanced players may want to follow up with"300 Most Important Chess Positions" by Thomas Engqvist, which examines fundamental tactical, positional and strategic themes, from the opening to the endgame, presented in a short-lesson format.
By Yasser Seirawan. Targeted to the intermediate player, Heisman provides detailed instruction in fundamental positional chess principles and technique. If you are uncertain about what you should be thinking and doing during the opening, this book does an exceptional job of addressing these issues. From the defender's perspective, see "How to Defend in Chess" by ColinCrouch and"New Art of Defence In Chess" by Andrew Soltis. While many of the books in the list are targeted primarily to the beginner-intermediate audience, there are also selections for more advanced players, up to and including Master level. chess opening moves gambit strategies expert queens jaenisch
How to Reassess Your Chess: Chess Mastery Through Chess Imbalances. I have included these older books because of their enduring instructive value. See also my blog articles - Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond and Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond. By Bruce Pandolfini. The title says it all. If you are new to chess I recommend to begin your study of chess tactics here! So there should be something of interest here for every amateur chess player - especially those who haven't yet added "Master" to their chess title! The emphasis here is onfundamentals and instructional value- for the improving amateur chess player. By Andrew Soltis. Several other excellent introductory chess courses are: "Comprehensive Chess Course"(2 Vols. See also:"Bobby Fischer: Complete Games of the American World Chess Champion"by Lou Hays (contains essentially the game scores only - very little analysis). The uniqueness of the book is that the author attempts to systematize the process of examining any position in order to determine if certain conditions exist which would make the position amenable to a given type of tactic. By Ilya Maizelis. by George Huczek. Whether you are new to chess, or an experienced chess amateur looking for some books to help you improve, this list is for you. Therefore I recommend it for experienced players who have achieved a playing level of at least 1600 ELO. By Jeremy Silman. By Hans Kmoch. By Yasser Seirawan.
Exceptionally instructive examples of positional-strategic play taken from the games of Kramnik, Karpov, Petrosian, Capablanca and Nimzowitsch. For a detailed introduction to fundamentalendgame concepts andprinciples see "Endgame Workshop", also by Bruce Pandolfini. Targeted to the beginner-intermediate player, this is an instructive collection of grandmaster games, with the reasoning behind virtually every move analyzed and explained. What I sometimes refer to as"advanced" books, those likely to be appropriate for more experienced players, mostly appear further down the list -for example books which feature or emphasize positional-strategic ideas. Covers all the major openings. By Jeremy Silman. I highly recommend both books in addition to the books above, to complete your introductory chess curriculum. Very instructive lessons, excerpted from games of the masters,in the fundamental themes and techniques of positional chess. In fact, this would be a great very first chess book for those just starting out in chess. For a follow-on, in-depth introduction to these openings, see "Starting Out: Open Games" by Glenn Flear. By Dan Heisman. For those new to chess or who have not previously studied chess, I suggest the following as good FIRST BOOKS to read on their respective topics (each of these books is also commented on in the main article body): For the absolute beginner who knows next to nothing about the game and simply wants thequickest and easiest possible initial exposure to chess and how the game is played at its most basic level - "Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players"By Bruce Pandolfini. One would be hard pressed to find a more instructive introductory games collection illustrating the fundamental principles of good chess.
See also "Judit Polgar: The Princess of Chess"by Tibor Karolyi; "Breaking Through: How the Polgar Sisters Changed the Game of Chess"by Susan Polgar. Supplement or follow with"Winning Chess Tactics" by Yasser Seirawan.
For the beginner, this is simply the best and easiest first introduction to basic chess tactics primer. Another excellent introduction to chess is"Learn Chess"by John Nunn.
In fact, you will learn a lot about how to just play good chess from this book. The Amazon Kindle eBook edition has the title "Learning The Chess Openings" by the same author. chess opening moves strategies expert scotch
I highly recommend these three books for every beginner-novice player. The other two books comprising Judit's trilogy are "From GM to Top Ten" and "A Game of Queens". Also very good are:"Attacking Chess for Club Players" by Herman Grooten;How to Play Dynamic Chess by Valeri Beim;"Secrets of Attacking Chess" by Mihail Marin. Keep It Simple 1.e4 & Keep It Simple 1.d4.
This is another fine effort by one of the better chess authors.
See the also advanced classic"The Art of the Middle Game" by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov (in Descriptive notation) and "Understanding Chess Middlegames" by John Nunn. Theclassic text on the fundamental elements of pawn play. For details on the specific openings employed in these repertoires I suggest checking the books' previews on Google Books. Similar in concept to Stean's book, and which I recommend as supplements, are"Simple Chess" and "More Simple Chess", both by John Emms (also available in a single volume). Click on the book titles for additional information, perspective, reader reviews, etc., on, provides preview book excerpts for many titles. Here are highly instructive tactical scenarios and motifs, presented in puzzle format, which every chess player would benefit by working through. checkmate templar magnus Analysis of complete grandmaster games where you participate by being asked to guess the next move (choose from a list of candidate moves). For a first chess course- more comprehensive than the books above, providing basic coverage of all aspects of chess -"Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini, followed by "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" By Patrick Wolff.
I recommend that you do so as well; you will occasionally encounter aspects of the Descriptive nomenclature continuing to be employed in discussions of chess moves and positions, including in current books. Each of these books is relatively advanced, and suitable primarily for the experienced, intermediate level and above player. Also from the White perspective, see "Beating 1 e4 e5: A Repertoire for White in the Open Games" and"Attacking With 1 e4", both by John Emms; "Winning With the Slow (but Venomous!) By Carsten Hansen. For chess tactics from the defender's perspective, see "Looking for Trouble" (2nd Ed.) *For an "advanced" treatment of the Italian Game I recommend the excellent "Winning With The Slow But Venomous Italian" by Karsten Muller & Georgios Souleidis. This provides a complete opening repertoire for both White and Black, accessible to the beginner-intermediate player and beyond. This book explains the basics of opening FUNDAMENTALS better than any other book! Against 1.d4, 1Nf6 (Queen's Gambit - QGD/QGA and Indian Defenses - Nimzo/Bogo) are featured. An instructive introduction to chess for players up through intermediate level. Introduces the fundamental concepts and techniques - the building blocks - essential to evaluating and exploiting chess positions for the purpose of conceiving and implementing plans and strategies. The author's stated intention is to present an aggressive, yet sound set of openings which can be learned with "minimal" study. By Richard Reti. By Yasser Seirawan.
Games of one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and former World Champion, selected and annotated by the phenomenon himself. By Bobby Fischer. For book errata seehttp://www.glennwilson.com/chess/books/pec_errata.html#end37. Tarrasch's classic is also available in an algebraic edition edited by Lou Hays. By Lev Alburt et al.
A 4-volume openings reference covering most of the major openings. This book will get you started on the path to playing good chess.
By Jeremy Silman. Finally, you might browse the archived collection of chessbook reviews published from 1999-2014 by the now essentially defunct ChessCafe.com (note: the web page may be slow to load). Many authors don't go to the same lengths to explain things as thoroughly. Hereis an excerpt-preview of the book. See also the free online endgame course on Chessable. The approach is somewhat different from most repertoire books. Supplement or follow-up with Coakley's excellent tactics workbook "Winning Chess Exercises for Kids" (again, not just for kids!).
I recommend the new algebraic notation editions, published by either Russell Enterprises, or by Batsford (my preference, due to its better binding), of the classic originally published by Dover (in "Descriptive" notation). Chess tactics and combinations puzzles thematically arranged by chapter. By Bruce Pandolfini.
Also explains "algebraic" chess notation. In a few instances I have recommended that books be read in a certain order. For perhaps the easiest, quick-start introduction to chess for those brand-new to the game.
According to the author (or his publisher), this book "was designed for players in the 1400 to 2100 range[to]imbue the serious student with a rock solid positional chess foundationplus an understanding of how to make logical plans based on the needs of the position." Silman analyzes chess games, positions and concepts as though he is discussing them with an amateur player for the purpose of clarifying proper chess thinking, pointing out typical amateur mistakes and making suggestions for correct play. See also "The Power of Pawns" by Jorg Hickl. For a wide selection of chess books in e-book format I recommend to check out Everyman Chess, Gambit Publications and Forward Chess. By Renaud & Kahn. A classic. While Fischer's comments may be considered hyperbolic (and must be considered within the context of the time it was made), there are many *legends of chesswho would agree that Morphy deserves a place in the pantheon of great chess players in history https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/the-masters-on-morphy.
The chess course focuses on the practical application of positional concepts, techniques, strategy and tacticsthrough the use of games and game fragments of the world's greatest players from the late 19th through the mid-20th centuries. See also the similar, slightly more advanced, and equally instructive"Techniques of Positional Play" by Valeri Bronznik & Anatoli Terekhin. For more articles on other chess topics, including helpful chess resources and more book recommendations, be sure to check out my Chess.com blog. This edition is the most recent english translation (thanks to the publisher, Quality Chess) of the 1960 edition of Romanovsky's work. Moret, in the book's introduction, explains his choice of repertoire as follows: "I have deliberately chosen aggressive variations. It focuses specifically on FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES of opening play. This is simply the best (IMO) and most comprehensive exposition of openings themes, plans and theory available. I also recommend to check out Chessablefor their excellent online interactive chess courses, many of which are derived from popular chess books. Written in a succinct, easy to read format, it explains the rules, fundamental chess principles and lots of practical advice on how to think and plan correctly when playing the game. A book to guide you in the considerations involved in choosing your openings - the title says it all. Last, but not least, is another very good introductory repertoire book on the Italian Game by John Emms - "Beating 1 e4 e5". In fact, I consider both of these books to be a MUST-READ for those who aspire to play chess at a higher level.
For an introduction to chess opening concepts - "Discovering Chess Openings" by John Emms. A 2-volume series. The second volume features Black Gambits against 1.d4 and 1.c4 - the Benko G., Blumenfeld G. Vaganian G. and The English Defense G. The third volume continues with Black Gambits against 1.e4 and 1.f4 - The Marshall Attack, Hector G., Traxler Counterattack, Frankenstein-Dracula G., Falkbeer Counter G., and From's G. A site devoted to gambits -http://www.ianchessgambits.com/, HowtoBuildYourChessOpeningRepertoire. See also another Chernev classic "The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played". For relevant supplements or follow-on's see two more instructive works by GM McDonald: "The Art of Planning In Chess: Move By Move"and "Chess Success: Planning After The Opening".
Aclassic by Fred Reinfeld. Playing aggressive openings allows the development of one's tactical vision in open positions, which can only benefit progression." by Mihail Marin; "Opening Repertoire: The Open Games with Black"by Martin Lokander; "How to Beat the Open Games" by Sverre Johnsen;"Play 1 e4 e5: A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Open Games" by Nigel Davies. Identical in format but featuring more recent games, is "Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking From the First Move to the Last"by Neil McDonald (get both!). It's like having a chess coach by your side.
See also "Winning Chess Openings" by Yasser Seirawan. Also very instructive is"Back To Basics: Strategy" by Valeri Beim. of these books would be excellentfollow-on's to the books recommended under"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"(above). For Black, against 1.e4 the repertoire recommends 1e5 for beginner-novice and 1e6 (French Defense) for intermediate players. (Pages 70-103 are devoted to an instructive tutorial on opening play using the London System opening).
The book is targeted to the beginner-intermediate player. For online, interactive learning be sure to check out the Chessable course based on the book. The book is an 'oldie-but-goodie' treasure trove of pearls of essential chess wisdom and, like all of Z-N's books, a delight to read. The title says it all.
Having been exposed to the lessons from the books above, you will be ready to continue with the following books By Bruce Pandolfini. Also instructive is "Chess Success: Planning After the Opening"by Neil McDonald. Supplement or follow this with "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" By Patrick Wolff (below). Perhaps the best book ever written on fundamental checkmating patterns and technique.
"'My System' is of course one of the great masterpieces of chess literature" - IM John Watson. Forfirst annotated games collections, start with"A First Book of Morphy" by Frisco Del Rosario followed by"Logical Chess Move By Move" by Irving Chernev.
************************************************************************************************. For Lev Alburt's White repertoire (Book 2), the main line in the open game (1.e4 e5) features either of the Scotch Gambit, Italian Game/Giuoco Piano, or Two Knights Defense,depending on how Black responds; Against the Sicilian Defense, White plays the Grand Prix Attack (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - with f2-f4 soon to follow); against the Caro-Kann Defense, White plays the Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5); against the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5) White responds with 3.Nc3. This because the follow-on or later book(s) may assume a familiarity or knowledge of principles or ideas introduced in the previous book(s), which in that sense could be considered as containing prerequisite information. Weapons of Chess: An Omnibus of Chess Strategies. For many instructive articles by Heisman treating all aspects of the game of chess, see his "Novice Nook" articles in the ChessCafe.com archives. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052220/http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm, Discovering Chess Openings: Building Opening Skills from Basic Principles.
Italian" by Muller & Souleidis; "Beating Unusual Defenses 1 e4" by Andrew Greet. While there are several editions available, this 21st Century Edition edited by Lou Hays may be the easiest English translation to read. Chess Openings for Black, Explained: A Complete Repertoire.
For a deeper introduction, or supplement, see "Learn Chess" by John Nunn. Also presented is a response to The Two Knights Defense (3Nf6), when White will respond with 4.Ng5. By Peter Romanovsky.
A to Z Chess Tactics: Every Chess Move Explained. The author also does a better than average job of explaining not only WHAT you should be trying to do in each line (the themes and plans), but also takes time to clarify WHY you are making the recommended moves, and in many cases lays out the procedure for HOW you should go about playing the lines. For additional instructively annotated grandmaster games which are also targeted primarily to experienced players see 50 Essential Chess Lessons by Steve Giddins and Understanding Chess Move By Move by John Nunn. This would also be an excellent supplement or follow-on to Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess"(above). Targeted to the novice thru intermediate player, this very instructive book illustrates and teaches the art of combinations - complex tactical scenarios typically involving a sacrifice - where, here, the goal is to attack and checkmate the opponent's King. Features tutorial overview chapters on the following openings: Giuoco Piano, Sicilian Dragon, Queen's Gambit, Nimzo-Indian Defence, and Morra Gambit. Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master. For additional practice in a variety of diverse tacticssupplement these with"Chess Tactics for Students" by John A. Bain. For your first books on chess tactics - Start with "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"by Fischer and Margulies. Elements of Positional Evaluation: How the Pieces Get Their Power. A classic. For additional perspective on the book see my book reviewblog article. For additional introductory coverage of the three primary categories of the endgame see "Starting Out: Pawn Endgames" by Glenn Flear; "Starting Out: Rook Endgames" by Chris Ward; "Starting Out: Minor Piece Endgames" by John Emms. By Martin Weteschnik. Absorbing these mini-lessons WILL improve your game! edition, ISBN 0486283054, in Descriptive notation), which further elaborates on the four primary elements (in fact, Evans' book was the first to formally introduce and focus on them). If you are looking for an "advanced" chess course, this would be a good choice. Consider following this with"Soviet Middlegame Technique" by Peter Romanovsky (below). The list is divided roughly into the following groups: general chess coverage, tactics, attacking/checkmating technique, the opening, the middlegame - including positional-strategic concepts and techniques, the endgame, and instructive game collections. Studying these will provide an essential foundation for understanding and playing chess at a higher level, and serve as preparation for more advanced chess books.
By John Emms. By Jesus de la Villa. I highly recommend both of these very instructive books. Against the Sicilian Defense, White will play the Grand Prix Attack - 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - following up with a quick f2-f4. While the games may not be recent, the instructional content is enduring. My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White. See also the instructive classic, "Chess Master vs Chess Amateur" by former World Chess Champion Max Euwe & Walter Meiden (in descriptive notation). For White, repertoires based on 1.e4 (featuring the Ruy Lopez) and also on 1.d4 are offered (you have a choice!). by Mike (Michael) Basman. A tour de force, 5-volume series by the brilliant former World Chess Champion. Similarly, see also "Chess Strategy for Club Players"by Herman Grooten andthe classic "Modern Chess Strategy"by Ludek Pachman (in descriptive notation). It is, however, accessible to more mature players (say, age 13 and beyond), from post-beginner through intermediate level. For the beginner-novice, those who don't mind dealing with the older "Descriptive" chess notation. by Neil McDonald.
You are awarded points based on your answers, allowing you to rate your level of play. For online chess book reading and/or downloading, check out -https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/scribd-com-for-online-chess-book-reading, Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players. While the treatment of each opening is brief, it is helpful in gauging what the opening is about, providing perspective and sufficient exposure to be helpful in deciding which openings you might be interested in pursuing in more depth. For online chess book reading and/or downloading, check out, For an "advanced" treatment of the Italian Game I recommend the excellent, Last, but not least, is another very good introductory repertoire book on the Italian Game by John Emms -, positional-strategic concepts and techniques, positional chess principles and technique, Having absorbed the fundamental elements of positional-strategic chess from the books recommended immediately above, you will be well prepared to proceed with the practical implementation of these ideas as presented in the, more advanced books on the topic immediately, positional concepts, techniques, strategy and tactics, https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/scribd-com-for-online-chess-book-reading, "Chess Success: Planning After the Opening", "Winning With The Slow But Venomous Italian", "My First Chess Opening Repertoire for Black", Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond, Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond, http://www.glennwilson.com/chess/books/pec_errata.html#end37, "The Art of Planning In Chess: Move By Move", "Chess Success: Planning After The Opening", Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953, White's main line in the open game will be the Italian Game - Giuoco Piano - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5. Many chess teachers advise against spending excessive time on the study of openings variations for the beginner, but they do agree it is important to acquire a solid understanding of opening PRINCIPLES right from the start. A classic, MUST-READ,suitable for post-novice players and beyond. Either (or even better, both!) "Tactics flow from a superior position" -former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. By Paul van der Sterren.
Other classic games collections:"Capablanca's Best Chess Endings: 60 Complete Games" by Irving Chernev - an essential collection of games of former World Chess Champion Jose Raul Capablanca, a true chess genius, and endgame virtuoso;"My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937", 21st Century Edition, by Alexander Alekhine - the legendary games collection annotated by the legendary former World Champion; "Tal-Botvinnik 1960" the superbly annotated games collection by Mikhail Tal, one of the game's greatest attacking players, detailing not only the match games, but also revealing his personal thoughts and insights during his 1960 World Chess Championship triumph against the three-time and reigning world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. Explains the fundamental concepts of good chess play. The intent of both of Moret's opening repertoires, for White and for Black, is to promote interesting, dynamic and aggressive play where the focus is on understanding themes and plans, as opposed to memorization of myriad variations (i.e., "theory"). Finally, the 1931 classic instructional manual "The Game of Chess" by Siegbert Tarrasch (in descriptive notation) continues to stand the test of time. Advanced players may want to follow up with"300 Most Important Chess Positions" by Thomas Engqvist, which examines fundamental tactical, positional and strategic themes, from the opening to the endgame, presented in a short-lesson format.
By Yasser Seirawan. Targeted to the intermediate player, Heisman provides detailed instruction in fundamental positional chess principles and technique. If you are uncertain about what you should be thinking and doing during the opening, this book does an exceptional job of addressing these issues. From the defender's perspective, see "How to Defend in Chess" by ColinCrouch and"New Art of Defence In Chess" by Andrew Soltis. While many of the books in the list are targeted primarily to the beginner-intermediate audience, there are also selections for more advanced players, up to and including Master level. chess opening moves gambit strategies expert queens jaenisch
How to Reassess Your Chess: Chess Mastery Through Chess Imbalances. I have included these older books because of their enduring instructive value. See also my blog articles - Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond and Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond. By Bruce Pandolfini. The title says it all. If you are new to chess I recommend to begin your study of chess tactics here! So there should be something of interest here for every amateur chess player - especially those who haven't yet added "Master" to their chess title! The emphasis here is onfundamentals and instructional value- for the improving amateur chess player. By Andrew Soltis. Several other excellent introductory chess courses are: "Comprehensive Chess Course"(2 Vols. See also:"Bobby Fischer: Complete Games of the American World Chess Champion"by Lou Hays (contains essentially the game scores only - very little analysis). The uniqueness of the book is that the author attempts to systematize the process of examining any position in order to determine if certain conditions exist which would make the position amenable to a given type of tactic. By Ilya Maizelis. by George Huczek. Whether you are new to chess, or an experienced chess amateur looking for some books to help you improve, this list is for you. Therefore I recommend it for experienced players who have achieved a playing level of at least 1600 ELO. By Jeremy Silman. By Hans Kmoch. By Yasser Seirawan.
Exceptionally instructive examples of positional-strategic play taken from the games of Kramnik, Karpov, Petrosian, Capablanca and Nimzowitsch. For a detailed introduction to fundamentalendgame concepts andprinciples see "Endgame Workshop", also by Bruce Pandolfini. Targeted to the beginner-intermediate player, this is an instructive collection of grandmaster games, with the reasoning behind virtually every move analyzed and explained. What I sometimes refer to as"advanced" books, those likely to be appropriate for more experienced players, mostly appear further down the list -for example books which feature or emphasize positional-strategic ideas. Covers all the major openings. By Jeremy Silman. I highly recommend both books in addition to the books above, to complete your introductory chess curriculum. Very instructive lessons, excerpted from games of the masters,in the fundamental themes and techniques of positional chess. In fact, this would be a great very first chess book for those just starting out in chess. For a follow-on, in-depth introduction to these openings, see "Starting Out: Open Games" by Glenn Flear. By Dan Heisman. For those new to chess or who have not previously studied chess, I suggest the following as good FIRST BOOKS to read on their respective topics (each of these books is also commented on in the main article body): For the absolute beginner who knows next to nothing about the game and simply wants thequickest and easiest possible initial exposure to chess and how the game is played at its most basic level - "Let's Play Chess: A Step by Step Guide for New Players"By Bruce Pandolfini. One would be hard pressed to find a more instructive introductory games collection illustrating the fundamental principles of good chess.
See also "Judit Polgar: The Princess of Chess"by Tibor Karolyi; "Breaking Through: How the Polgar Sisters Changed the Game of Chess"by Susan Polgar. Supplement or follow with"Winning Chess Tactics" by Yasser Seirawan.
For the beginner, this is simply the best and easiest first introduction to basic chess tactics primer. Another excellent introduction to chess is"Learn Chess"by John Nunn.
In fact, you will learn a lot about how to just play good chess from this book. The Amazon Kindle eBook edition has the title "Learning The Chess Openings" by the same author. chess opening moves strategies expert scotch
I highly recommend these three books for every beginner-novice player. The other two books comprising Judit's trilogy are "From GM to Top Ten" and "A Game of Queens". Also very good are:"Attacking Chess for Club Players" by Herman Grooten;How to Play Dynamic Chess by Valeri Beim;"Secrets of Attacking Chess" by Mihail Marin. Keep It Simple 1.e4 & Keep It Simple 1.d4.
This is another fine effort by one of the better chess authors.
See the also advanced classic"The Art of the Middle Game" by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov (in Descriptive notation) and "Understanding Chess Middlegames" by John Nunn. Theclassic text on the fundamental elements of pawn play. For details on the specific openings employed in these repertoires I suggest checking the books' previews on Google Books. Similar in concept to Stean's book, and which I recommend as supplements, are"Simple Chess" and "More Simple Chess", both by John Emms (also available in a single volume). Click on the book titles for additional information, perspective, reader reviews, etc., on, provides preview book excerpts for many titles. Here are highly instructive tactical scenarios and motifs, presented in puzzle format, which every chess player would benefit by working through. checkmate templar magnus Analysis of complete grandmaster games where you participate by being asked to guess the next move (choose from a list of candidate moves). For a first chess course- more comprehensive than the books above, providing basic coverage of all aspects of chess -"Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini, followed by "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" By Patrick Wolff.
I recommend that you do so as well; you will occasionally encounter aspects of the Descriptive nomenclature continuing to be employed in discussions of chess moves and positions, including in current books. Each of these books is relatively advanced, and suitable primarily for the experienced, intermediate level and above player. Also from the White perspective, see "Beating 1 e4 e5: A Repertoire for White in the Open Games" and"Attacking With 1 e4", both by John Emms; "Winning With the Slow (but Venomous!) By Carsten Hansen. For chess tactics from the defender's perspective, see "Looking for Trouble" (2nd Ed.) *For an "advanced" treatment of the Italian Game I recommend the excellent "Winning With The Slow But Venomous Italian" by Karsten Muller & Georgios Souleidis. This provides a complete opening repertoire for both White and Black, accessible to the beginner-intermediate player and beyond. This book explains the basics of opening FUNDAMENTALS better than any other book! Against 1.d4, 1Nf6 (Queen's Gambit - QGD/QGA and Indian Defenses - Nimzo/Bogo) are featured. An instructive introduction to chess for players up through intermediate level. Introduces the fundamental concepts and techniques - the building blocks - essential to evaluating and exploiting chess positions for the purpose of conceiving and implementing plans and strategies. The author's stated intention is to present an aggressive, yet sound set of openings which can be learned with "minimal" study. By Richard Reti. By Yasser Seirawan.
Games of one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and former World Champion, selected and annotated by the phenomenon himself. By Bobby Fischer. For book errata seehttp://www.glennwilson.com/chess/books/pec_errata.html#end37. Tarrasch's classic is also available in an algebraic edition edited by Lou Hays. By Lev Alburt et al.
A 4-volume openings reference covering most of the major openings. This book will get you started on the path to playing good chess.
By Jeremy Silman. Finally, you might browse the archived collection of chessbook reviews published from 1999-2014 by the now essentially defunct ChessCafe.com (note: the web page may be slow to load). Many authors don't go to the same lengths to explain things as thoroughly. Hereis an excerpt-preview of the book. See also the free online endgame course on Chessable. The approach is somewhat different from most repertoire books. Supplement or follow-up with Coakley's excellent tactics workbook "Winning Chess Exercises for Kids" (again, not just for kids!).
I recommend the new algebraic notation editions, published by either Russell Enterprises, or by Batsford (my preference, due to its better binding), of the classic originally published by Dover (in "Descriptive" notation). Chess tactics and combinations puzzles thematically arranged by chapter. By Bruce Pandolfini.
Also explains "algebraic" chess notation. In a few instances I have recommended that books be read in a certain order. For perhaps the easiest, quick-start introduction to chess for those brand-new to the game.
According to the author (or his publisher), this book "was designed for players in the 1400 to 2100 range[to]imbue the serious student with a rock solid positional chess foundationplus an understanding of how to make logical plans based on the needs of the position." Silman analyzes chess games, positions and concepts as though he is discussing them with an amateur player for the purpose of clarifying proper chess thinking, pointing out typical amateur mistakes and making suggestions for correct play. See also "The Power of Pawns" by Jorg Hickl. For a wide selection of chess books in e-book format I recommend to check out Everyman Chess, Gambit Publications and Forward Chess. By Renaud & Kahn. A classic. While Fischer's comments may be considered hyperbolic (and must be considered within the context of the time it was made), there are many *legends of chesswho would agree that Morphy deserves a place in the pantheon of great chess players in history https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/the-masters-on-morphy.
The chess course focuses on the practical application of positional concepts, techniques, strategy and tacticsthrough the use of games and game fragments of the world's greatest players from the late 19th through the mid-20th centuries. See also the similar, slightly more advanced, and equally instructive"Techniques of Positional Play" by Valeri Bronznik & Anatoli Terekhin. For more articles on other chess topics, including helpful chess resources and more book recommendations, be sure to check out my Chess.com blog. This edition is the most recent english translation (thanks to the publisher, Quality Chess) of the 1960 edition of Romanovsky's work. Moret, in the book's introduction, explains his choice of repertoire as follows: "I have deliberately chosen aggressive variations. It focuses specifically on FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES of opening play. This is simply the best (IMO) and most comprehensive exposition of openings themes, plans and theory available. I also recommend to check out Chessablefor their excellent online interactive chess courses, many of which are derived from popular chess books. Written in a succinct, easy to read format, it explains the rules, fundamental chess principles and lots of practical advice on how to think and plan correctly when playing the game. A book to guide you in the considerations involved in choosing your openings - the title says it all. Last, but not least, is another very good introductory repertoire book on the Italian Game by John Emms - "Beating 1 e4 e5". In fact, I consider both of these books to be a MUST-READ for those who aspire to play chess at a higher level.
For an introduction to chess opening concepts - "Discovering Chess Openings" by John Emms. A 2-volume series. The second volume features Black Gambits against 1.d4 and 1.c4 - the Benko G., Blumenfeld G. Vaganian G. and The English Defense G. The third volume continues with Black Gambits against 1.e4 and 1.f4 - The Marshall Attack, Hector G., Traxler Counterattack, Frankenstein-Dracula G., Falkbeer Counter G., and From's G. A site devoted to gambits -http://www.ianchessgambits.com/, HowtoBuildYourChessOpeningRepertoire. See also another Chernev classic "The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played". For relevant supplements or follow-on's see two more instructive works by GM McDonald: "The Art of Planning In Chess: Move By Move"and "Chess Success: Planning After The Opening".
Aclassic by Fred Reinfeld. Playing aggressive openings allows the development of one's tactical vision in open positions, which can only benefit progression." by Mihail Marin; "Opening Repertoire: The Open Games with Black"by Martin Lokander; "How to Beat the Open Games" by Sverre Johnsen;"Play 1 e4 e5: A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Open Games" by Nigel Davies. Identical in format but featuring more recent games, is "Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking From the First Move to the Last"by Neil McDonald (get both!). It's like having a chess coach by your side.
See also "Winning Chess Openings" by Yasser Seirawan. Also very instructive is"Back To Basics: Strategy" by Valeri Beim. of these books would be excellentfollow-on's to the books recommended under"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess"(above). For Black, against 1.e4 the repertoire recommends 1e5 for beginner-novice and 1e6 (French Defense) for intermediate players. (Pages 70-103 are devoted to an instructive tutorial on opening play using the London System opening).
The book is targeted to the beginner-intermediate player. For online, interactive learning be sure to check out the Chessable course based on the book. The book is an 'oldie-but-goodie' treasure trove of pearls of essential chess wisdom and, like all of Z-N's books, a delight to read. The title says it all.
Having been exposed to the lessons from the books above, you will be ready to continue with the following books By Bruce Pandolfini. Also instructive is "Chess Success: Planning After the Opening"by Neil McDonald. Supplement or follow this with "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess" By Patrick Wolff (below). Perhaps the best book ever written on fundamental checkmating patterns and technique.