A MustHave for Every Chess Player The Amazing Magnetic Chess Board Travel Set

Table of Contents

The number of books written about is tremendous. While that can be great for the world, it poses practical issues for many fans. Most players have their own favorites, but how do you know which books belong on your shelf?

Learning how to play from one of the greatest players of all time proved to be effective for a generation of players. Bobby Fischer’s book remains one of the best-selling books ever. Even if you already know how to play , you should still own this classic. Lend it to family and friends who have always wanted to learn the game. Put a copy in your bag so you can hand it to a stranger in a coffee shop or while you’re playing at your local club. After all, the mass market paperback version is only about the cost of a fast-food meal!

The book covers everything from how the pieces move to basic checkmates and how to attack the opponent. Readers will go from knowing nothing about to being ready to play a game, and getting a game is relatively easy these days.

Chess 101: All The Chess Piece Names And Moves To Know

The ideas of positional and developing plans in the middlegame often elude players.This work covers the thought process behind middlegame plans and how to notice imbalances in positions. IM Jeremy Silman (@Silman), a world-class author, writes with humor and a deep understanding of amateur players’ shortcomings.

You can take a look at Silman’s beloved writing style by reading some of his articles on . This book is known for its accessibility and is designed for a large range of players (1200 to 2000 strength). It's also a valuable tool for anyone returning to the game after taking a break. This classic has something for everyone!

Aron Nimzowitsch'swork is the prime example of a classic book. It has consistently remained in the top five best-selling books of all time, and has been a recommendation of grandmasters and trainers since 1925! This was one of the first works to be considered a handbook for positional , and it does a great job of introducing very important positional ideas (e.g. prophylaxis, pawn chains, blockading passed pawns, utilizing the center, etc.).

The 100 Endgames You Must Know Workbook

Is aimed at a stronger target audience (1500-2200 strength), and some feel that it reads like a textbook (some people prefer this method for learning). Despite not being considered as accessible as other classics, this book is a must-own for any serious player.

A strong candidate for the greatest tournament book of all time, David Bronstein’s classic examines the Candidates' Tournament leading up to the 1954 world championship match with Mikhail Botvinnik. It's not only a snapshot of top-level at the time but also a wonderfully written and well-annotated work. It's this combination that makes it a timeless classic.

Bronstein's writing and annotations are aimed at the average player, and the target audience of this book is 1200-2000+ strength. This fantastic and accessible piece of history checks off all of the boxes for a must-own book. If you're looking for more books that focus on super-tournaments of the past, check out Alexander Alekhine's two books

Abhimanyu Mishra, 12 And Indian American, Is Youngest Chess Grandmaster Ever

This book is one of the most obvious entries to the list. A lot of people put Bobby Fischer in their list of the top three players of all time, along with Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen. A book of Fischer’s greatest games with his annotations is enough for any fan to own it.If you’ve never read the book, it lives up to the hype. Fischer offers clear and deep comments on his spectacular games. This best-selling book is somewhat of a manual for other game collection books (see #8 and #9 in this list!).

Takes a look at the overall thought process in . Kotov discusses many important and practical aspects of , including the overall approach to the game and how to make decisions. He gives us tools for both tactical growth (analysis trees, candidate moves, and calculation exercises.) as well as positional growth (creating and implementing plans, pawn islands, weaknesses, tension, etc.). It's definitely aimed at advanced players (1600-2200+ strength) but is a strong classic nonetheless.

IM Jeremy Silman makes his second appearance in this top 10 list with his work on the endgame. The idea behind Silman’s well-known endgame book is simple: Players should only study endgames that they need to know for their skill level.It's easy to get bogged down studying complex endgames that rarely appear in your own play. If you happen to be a 1300-strength player, looking at heavily theoretical rook-and-pawn endgames probably isn’t the best use of your time.

Computers Still Dominate Human Opponents In Chess

There’s nothing wrong with that if endgames interest you, but to become a better player, you’re better off learning some basic and practical endgames that you will encounter in your own games. Silman's work gives you the guidelines, examples, and principles to learn what you need to know!

Need to add aggression and tactical prowess to your game? That’s only part of why someone should read this book.Mikhail Tal’s character comes through beautifully in this book, as you learn about his life and get a taste of Tal’s humor and passion. His engaging writing style alone has made this a fan favorite. Here's one of Tal's most famous and almost spine-chilling quotes: You must take your opponent to a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.

Don’t overlook this book for insight into Tal’s personality, attacking genius and some of the most vicious games you will ever see! If you are looking for more books on attacking players, take a look at

How Chess Pieces Move: Learn How To Play Chess Fast

A top-10 classic book list cannot be complete without a game collection of a positional player. We have already discussed Fischer's and Tal's game collection books, but if you are seeking to learn the secret of positional play through game examples and clear analysis, then look no further! Karolyi's two-volume work on former world champion Anatoly Karpov is astoundingly deep, but also very accessible. The clear writing style pairs well with Karpov's seemingly simple, yet dangerous, boa constrictor style!

The five-volume set from Garry Kasparov contains analyzed games and background on history, starting from the first world champion (Wilhelm Steinitz). Having a giant like Kasparov discuss every world champion (and their challengers) while simultaneously giving his perspective on classic games is worth the price of admission.

Kasparov’s book doesn’t fail on either end of the spectrum. He delves into details of history in ways that make you want to sit back and simply read. Then, when you get to his deep analysis of the great games, you have top-tier instructional material to dive into. The

Chess For Beginners: Dominate The Board Learning The Basics And The Rules Adopting A Grand Master's Mindset + Essential Openings That You S (paperback)

This list is the product of a great discussion between many staff members recently, and is not meant to be taken as fact! Our own Colin Stapczynski put together our view on this debate, but if you disagree with the order or think we missed something please let us know your opinion in the comments below.Chess is the ultimate mindgame – it requires every single cognitive resource you can muster up. And it most definitely isn’t easy. But books can come to the rescue. Here’s a list of 10 books about chess, for beginners as well as advances players that you should definitely have on your bookshelf.

This chess classic by the ‘Stormy Petrel’ of the chess world combines wit and irrefutable genius to craft a chess theory unlike any other. A major proponent of the positional school of chess, Nimzowitsch describes here his strategies of manoeuvring that made him one of the biggest players of the game.

As this title aptly describes, this book is perfect for players just easing into the game. Using an algebraic number system and an alphabet and number grid, Reinfeld presents with simplicity and coherence tactics to win at chess. Not only does his expertise come through, but also we get a glimpse of his teacher’s skill.

Chess Players Face A Tough Foe: Air Pollution

Now a major Netflix series, this historical fiction delves into the life of Beth Harmon, the chess genius. With a prodigious talent that only comes as a gift from above, she makes it to the top of the US game by honing her craft. This story not only details wonderful chess games but also provides inspiration to anyone and everyone who may need it!

This one is for the advance players – it might be a little difficult to get through. But don’t let that discourage you – it’s one hell of a ride. Through examples and masterful explanations, Hans drives home the ultimate strength that the pawn holds. Long considered virtually purposeless, Hans shows us the power a pawn possesses.

Chess is not for impulsive people. It is a game that the players must invest time and mental efforts in, because it needs to be well thought out. In this book, McDonald takes us from one move to the next, plotting out in detail with meticulous analysis the strategic concepts that underlie it.

The 10 Best Chess Moves Of All Time

The checkmate is the