Chess books

[Cantabrigian]

Anyone have a recommendation for an accessible but useful book on chess strategy / openings?

 

[Thracozaag]

As an overall book, I would highly recommend "Common Sense in Chess" by Emmanuel Lasker. Just as a side-note, I think too much emphasis is placed on opening theory/memorization, when that time could be used more towards middle-game tactics, and even more importantly, end game technique.

koji

 

[vaclava krishna]

Cantabrigian,

what of those, 2 chess caffes on Macdougal owned, of the Russians ?

 

[Cantabrigian]

Thanks, Koji. I totally agree and would prefer to not get schooled as much without making this too much like homework.

Vaclav, I have a couple of rules I live by - two of the most important: never challenge an Eastern European when it comes to drinking or chess and never challenge a non-American when it comes to soccer.

 

[chronoaug]

Couldn't you find the same information online? There has to be tons of qualified, well done sites on the subject. Probably forums too.

 

[LabelKing]

I used to like playing chess and read a book by the Cuban player, Capablanca.

 

[WSW]

Modern Chess Openings and Nunn's Chess Openings are the bibles of chess openings, although they are geared toward players of at least intermediate level. You'll probably need companion books, since they are rather sparse on commentary.

 

[Willsw]

Reading about strategy and the memorization caused chess to become boring to me, as well as the fact that my main opponent (roommate) did read these things and as the year went on would only lose on his terrible days and my best days.

I did pick up an interesting book on the history of chess pieces, I believe it was called Masterpieces. I actually made a replica of one of the minimalist sets when I was stuck in the countryside with no pieces and a bunch of old corks.

 

[Dewey]

Hi. I know something about chess books. I have read all kinds of them. If you are very new to the game, I recommend Comprehensive Chess Course ... the one advertised as the textbook for Cold War-era chess kids. Great book. If you have played a bunch and want a fun book for general strategy, find Chess for Tigers. There are many good tips in there. For example, when playing a superior opponent, look to complicate the game immediately and hope that you luck out in a terribly complex tactical situation. Once you are beyond the basics, study the great games of the greatest players. Study them in chronological order. You cannot understand the modernist guy, I forget his name, the one who always fianchetto'd his bishops, without understanding the dominant style of play that preceded him. Each decade, period, etc., has a style or two that corresponds, if you know your world cultural history, to that of music, art, theater, etc. Anyway, I suppose the American, Paul Morphy, is the first one I'd recommend. If I were to recommend studying the games of only one great, I would suggest Alexander Alekhine. Tremendous player. You do not need to study much or any opening theory until you are something of a tournament player. Cheers.

 

[Thracozaag]

Originally Posted by Dewey

. You cannot understand the modernist guy, I forget his name, the one who always fianchetto'd his bishops.

Aaron Nimzowitsch (who authored a wonderful book, "Chess Praxis"

koji

 

[sho'nuff]

i found for a general knowledge of all sorts of openings and middlegame info and history and puzzles is Mammoth book of Chess by Graham Burgess. an encyclopedia of knowledge and it is probably a very underrated book. i first learned all my common knowledge from there a few pages a time on the toilet.

then i got several everyman chess books on caro kann, sicilian , queens gambit, etc, but it is hard to read through when most of it is just in notation and not alot of diagrams to cut in between.

usually a section would read..."here he uses efficient prophylaxis and consequently turns the table around after the blunder 35...Nxf4?

36. Qd5+ !! 36....Ne6 37. fxe6 Bd7 38. Kh1 d6 39. Rf3 40. etc............. 62. g6 1-0.

what a game and great instructive ending"



im like.....huh? i mean please give some more diagrams , im not gifted enough to visualize all the moves in my head. sheesh

im about 1550 if rated in USCF.

 

[Thracozaag]

Originally Posted by diorshoe

i found for a general knowledge of all sorts of openings and middlegame info and history and puzzles is Mammoth book of Chess by Graham Burgess. an encyclopedia of knowledge and it is probably a very underrated book. i first learned all my common knowledge from there a few pages a time on the toilet.

then i got several everyman chess books on caro kann, sicilian , queens gambit, etc, but it is hard to read through when most of it is just in notation and not alot of diagrams to cut in between.

usually a section would read..."here he uses efficient prophylaxis and consequently turns the table around after the blunder 35...Nxf4?

36. Qd5+ !! 36....Ne6 37. fxe6 Bd7 38. Kh1 d6 39. Rf3 40. etc............. 62. g6 1-0.

what a game and great instructive ending"



im like.....huh? i mean please give some more diagrams , im not gifted enough to visualize all the moves in my head. sheesh

im about 1550 if rated in USCF.

I STILL refuse to read chess books with algebraic notation, give me P-K4 or give me death.

koji

 

[sho'nuff]

i like that too. but i have gotten used to sight reading a bit of algebraic after some time.
like when you say f6 or b7 i know exactly what that is in my head automatically. i can feel f6 or b7.

kind of like how you (Thracozaag , not me) can automatically know all the notes in a piano composition just looking at it!

 

[Thracozaag]

Originally Posted by diorshoe

i like that too. but i have gotten used to sight reading a bit of algebraic after some time.
like when you say f6 or b7 i know exactly what that is in my head automatically. i can feel f6 or b7.

kind of like how you (Thracozaag , not me) can automatically know all the notes in a piano composition just looking at it!

Yeah, I've just never gotten a feel for a game with algebraic notation, but if you use "P-K4", etc., I can--weird.

koji

 

[eg1]

I found this book helpful: Winning Chess Strategies , by Yasser Seirawan.