Chess Books

[Shockprowl]

Ok, so far, the best Chess books I've read....

'The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal'. It's got a ton of his games, but lots of stories too, written by Tal. He's a brilliant witty writer, and possibly the greatest intuitively attacking player of all time. This book really gives you an insight into how Tal thought. And I was amazed how he would constantly play-down the health problems that plagued him and indubitably interfered with his play.

Paul Keres, 'Power Chess, Grandmaster games from Russia'. I can't seem to find the Keres book I really want, 'Road to the Top', but this book, where Paul Keres (the best player never to have been World Champion) goes through a haul of grandmaster games, gives you a clear indication of what a great chess writer he was. Crisp, clear, instructive. Keres has such a pleasant gentlemanly style of writing, you feel like the book's a discussion, like Keres is giving you a personal lesson.

But... working through Grandmaster games... hurts the head... even when annotated by the likes of Tal and Keres. Which is why 'Logical Chess, Move by Move' by Irving Chernev is the best Chess book I've read so far. Chernev was never half as strong a player as the likes of Tal, Keres etc, but he was a brilliant trainer, and one of the best Chess writers of all time. In this book he really does take you through each game, move by move. It's exactly what someone like me -who's enthusiasm far outways his ability- needs. Why is 1.e4 good? Why shouldn't I move pawns in the opening unless it releases a piece? This book is so easy to read, and easy to learn from.

Next, I need some more history related Chess books, perhaps something by the famous Edward Winter.

[Shockprowl]

My search for books on chess history, specifically the history of the chess world championship, has revealed a couple of successes.

I did get an Edward Winter book, 'The Chess Omnibus', which is a hard book to explain. It's a collection of stories, facts and figures from right across the chess world (from right across the chess board... see what I did there?), gathered together by a man who in the chess world is regarded as the foremost font of knowledge on the history of chess. It is, however, a book only for real hard-core chess nerds. Winter is simply a genius. He can be stern, witty, or imaginative in his writing. This unrestrained enthusiasm for chess shines through in his writing. I suspect what he doesn't know about the story of chess isn't worth knowing. I may try to get some of his other books, but they're fairly expensive.

History-wise, I've found two gems. The first is 'The kings of Chess' by the British Master William Hartston. Do you remember him? He used to be on TV. In this book he describes the stories behind each world chess champion, and includes all of the other top players who could, perhaps, have been world champion. Hartston has a wonderful, friendly, writing style. It makes reading the book seem almost effortless, each players personality really comes through. But, sadly, the book is an older book, and only goes up to Karpov, with just a hint of Kasparov. I would LOVE Hartston to do an updated edition. But considering he'd have 30 years worth to get through that's probably asking too much.

To fill that gap, there is the brilliant 'The Big Book of World Chess Championships' by the German chess journalist, Andre Schulz. Shultz's writing style I found to be not as readable as Hartston's, it just seems a bit flat, but he makes up for it with a book that is bursting with information. He gives the facts, straight up. Every world championship match is covered, in detail. The events surrounding them, the shocks, the controversies... who knew the chess world championship could be so full of drama! (no, honestly, it really is!). There's also biographies of each participant. This book is an indispensable resource. ISBN: 978-90-5691-635-0



So, awesome. There's some great stories, drama, and personalities in chess history.

[Shockprowl]

My brave fellow Hubbite chess players, please forgive my lack of postingness in this thread. I am a worm.


I now have a lot of chess books, and over the coming weeks months I will briefly talk at you about my favorites....

[Shockprowl]

BOBBY FISCHER- MY 60 MEMORABLE GAMES


This book has legendary status, with good reason. The masterpiece from arguably the greatest intuitive chess player of all time. Fischer said some pretty terrible things later in life, but he did clearly suffer from severe mental health problems. Despite his disturbing faults, we cannot forget the enourmus influence Fischer had on the path of chess evolution.

'My 60 Memorable Games' is Fischer's greatest gift to the world of chess. 60 amazing games, all annoted by him. It sadly stops short of his match with Spassky for the world championship in 1972 (prior to the match, Fischer said he would write a book on the championship, but he never did...), but the book is a marvel of chess genius, all games described beautifully by a very deep thinking man. A chess player of any level can get something out of this book- happy amatuer, seasoned club player, or powerful master. Fischer's annotations are that good. You can hear his words and you play through the games. And what really strikes you is how self-critical he is, and there is a sense of the personality of the man during his commentaries of each game.

There are many older copies out there, but Batsford produced a beautiful new binding with modern algebratic notation a few years ago. If you only ever buy one chess games collection book, it has to be this one.

IBSN 978-1-906388-30-0

[Jim]

I have a book on my shelf that was recommended to me years ago but that I haven't got round to reading - How Not to Play Chess by Eugene A. Znosko-Borovsky. Are you familiar with it?

[Shockprowl]

No, I'm not familiar with that one! Sounds like a fascinating twist on chess learning!

[Jim]

I will read it and get back to you!

[Jim]

I finished it the other day! I enjoyed it a lot, but it is my first chess book so I have no frame of reference. It did make me realise I haven't played a proper game of chess against another human being in about 6/7 years (probably not a coincidence my daughter is about to turn 7).

I usually find most time to read on my commute, but that didn't quite work here with having to follow all these sequences of moves, so I got out the chessboard and followed along at home instead, and it was quite entertaining. There was one game in particular where white seems to be randomly sacrificing everything then mates seemingly out of nowhere which was quite fun:

www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1233404

There was a quiz at the end of the book set by a different writer which I enjoyed, and I managed to get a few of them right which was satisfying. I think I could read more of this kind of thing, and I definitely need more practice!

[Shockprowl]

Ahh the famous 'Opera House Game'! By the legendary Paul Morphy. It's well known and although Morphy was up against far weaker opponents, it really shows off his brilliant attacking style.

[Jim]

Yes! I think the book mentioned it wasn't certain which opera was happening at the time? Very nice anyway.

[Shockprowl]

Sept 26, 2017 20:24:03 GMT Jim said:

Yes! I think the book mentioned it wasn't certain which opera was happening at the time? Very nice anyway.

Search for 'Morphy, Opera house game' on Youtube. There's a ton of instructive videos on it. I've enjoyed the videos by 'Mato Jelic' or 'Adgadmator' on this game. Kingcrusher may have done a vid on it too. I don't think my other two favorite chess channels, Daniel King's 'Powerplay Chess' or 'Chess to Impress', have done a vid on it.



But have a care, Chess-Buddy, once you start down the 'Youtube Chess Video' path, forever will it dominate your destiny....

[Shockprowl]

And I've no idea what opera it was either....

[Shockprowl]

PLAY WINNING CHESS By Yasser Seirawan

Seirawan is my FAVORITE chess writer (and on-line commentator!). He is, if memory serves, half English, half Syrian, but grew up in America. He's one of the strongest American chess GMs of the 80s/90s.

PLAY WINNING CHESS is his 'Basics learn chess' book. If you can play already, then a lot of it will be teaching you to suck eggs(?), eg 'how a knight moves' etc. But, being self-taught, I found I had significant holes in my chess education, and this book fills those gaps. I got SO MUCH out of this book. 'Little' things, like space, tempo, pawn structure... things you know about, but... well, when the brilliant Yasser explains it... It just makes more sense!

Mr Seirawan is a great writer. Witty and instructive. Stories about his own chess career are interwoven throughout. He's done a whole series of learn chess books, the 'Winning Chess' series, amoungst other works that I'll be reviewing later. AND I should say this book was written with the assistance of Jeremy Silman, another GREAT chess writer who I will discuss later as well...

'Play Winning Chess' is the BEST basics chess book out there, as can only be taught by a Grandmaster. START HERE. I have an older version by 'Microsoft Press'. There is a newer printing by 'Everyman Chess' out there.

ISBN: 9781857443318

[Shockprowl]

CHESS DUELS, MY GAMES WITH THE WORLD CHAMPIONS by Yasser Seirawan


Part games collection, part chess history book, part autobiography. This is an outstanding book by my favorite chess writer. Seirawan interweaves stories from his life with his encounters with not only the world champions, but also many other historical chess figures. His account of watching Paul Keres playing, his friendship with Bent Larsen, being a second to Victor Korchnoi no less- packed it is, packed! Packed with interesting stories from a great player who really was right in the thick of chess history. And the games... the games are compelling. Seirawan is one of but a handfull of players who have beaten the great 'Two Ks', Karpov and Kasparov. Chess Duels is a great book by a great chess writer. I'd say it's a must have for any chess enthusiast, or actually anyone who just wants 'a good read'. Seriously, even if you don't play chess much, or don't go through the games, this book is such a fascinating story you wont regret reading it.

IBSN: 978 1 85744 587 9

[Shockprowl]

1001 DEADLY CHECKMATES by John Nunn


What's Chess about?

CHECKMATE OF COURSE!!!


Here, the English Chess legend, GM John Nunn, has expertly complied a puzzle book of, frankly, thrilling checkmates, increasing in difficulty. These are checkmates that have actually occured in real games mostly from year 2000 onwards. And there is a grading system based on difficulty, so you can score your progress. Chess at amateur level is mainy pattern recognition and tactics. Training like this, going over checkmates and tactics, gets your 'eye in', and you start to spot stuff during play.

And who is John Nunn? He's a fascinating English Grandmaster, who in his day was right in the thick of chess history and the world chess elite. Now he spends his time writing pretty freakin' awesome chess books ('Secrets of Practical Chess' is another good one). Nunn is a 'forcing' player, aggressive and tactically minded. Training in tactics is the primary way amateurs can improve, and books by players like this are just what you need.

IBSN-13: 978-1-906454-25-8
IBSN-10: 1-906454-25-6