20 Best Books About Chess (2023 Update)

Chess is 99% tactics! this well-known maxim may sound strange but is really just an exaggerated basic truth: if you want to win more games, nothing works better than training combinations. solving many tactical puzzles is what makes the difference for beginners and casual players.there are two types of books on tactics, those that introduce the concepts followed by a some examples, and workbooks that contain numerous exercises. chess masters franco masetti and roberto messa have done both: they explain the basic tactical ideas and provide an enormous amount of exercises for each different theme.1001 chess exercises for beginners is a great first tactics book. it helps you in identifying weak spots in the position of your opponent, in recognizing patterns of combinations, and in visualizing tricks.

Improve your chess by studying the greatest games of all time, from adolf anderssen's 'immortal game' to magnus carlsen's world championship victories, and featuring a foreword by five-times world champion vishy anand. this book is written by an all-star team of authors. wesley so is the reigning fischer random world champion, the 2017 us champion and the winner of the 2016 grand chess tour. michael adams has been the top british player for the last quarter of a century and was a finalist in the 2004 fide world championship. graham burgess is the author of thirty books, a former champion of the danish region of funen, and holds the world record for marathon blitz chess playing. john nunn is a three-time winner of both the world solving championship and the british chess federation book of the year award. john emms is an experienced chess coach and writer, who finished equal first in the 1997 british championship and was chess columnist of the young telegraph. the 145 greatest chess games of all time, selected, analysed, re-evaluated and explained by a team of british and american experts and illustrated with over 1,100 chess diagrams. join the authors in studying these games, the cream of two centuries of international chess, and develop your own chess-playing skills – whatever your current standard. instructive points at the end of each game highlight the lessons to be learned. first published in 1998, a second edition of the mammoth book of the world's greatest chess games in 2004 included an additional twelve games. another new edition in 2010 included a further thirteen games as well as some significant revisions to the analysis and information regarding other games in earlier editions of the book, facilitated by the use of a variety of chess software. the authors have made full use of the new generation of chess analysis engines that apply neural-network based ai.

In 2014 the russian chess federation started a wide-ranging programme aimed at the revival of chess in russia. one of the first actions that were taken was commissioning legendary byelorussian chess coach mikhail shereshevsky to recapitulate and condense his famous training methods. in doing so shereshevsky has created a totally reworked compendium of his acclaimed classics endgames strategy and the soviet chess conveyor, with many new examples and exercises. furthermore, he has added a new and highly effective approach on how to calculate variations. club players all over the world who wish to improve their game have now access to shereshevsky's famous training programme in one volume and can learn how to build an opening repertoire, how to work with the chess classics to maximum benefit, how to master the most important endgame principles and how to effectively and efficiently calculate variations. the shereshevsky method offers a unique opportunity to improve your game with one of the supreme examples of russian chess training excellence.

The game of kings is now at your fingertips! join the casual chess revolution today! you want to learn the game of kings, generals, conquerors, and intellectuals but learning chess on your own isn't easy, and starting at the beginning is challenging not just for the learner but for most teachers as well. many chess books for beginners will overload you with information about openings, tactics, forks, history, notation, and lot of other things beginners don't need to know and don't understand. that might work for some people. but in this highly anticipated prequel to the conquer your friends series, i'm going to show you how you can play the game of chess and win in a heinously short amount of time. hi, my name is maxen tarafa, and i'm a skill artist. most teachers struggle to show beginners how to play chess because they forget what it's like to start from the beginning. i specialize in working with beginners, post-beginners, and casual players, and now i've broken down the specific needs of the (absolute) beginner. you see, i believe chess belongs to regular people who enjoy playing chess with their friends or at home, not in the hands of "experts" who use incomprehensible terminology and notation. after working with several beginners, i realized their greatest struggle is not just remembering how the pieces move, but seeing the board beyond where the pieces physically sit. i'm going to show you how to play chess using step-by-step images with arrows and interactive exercises who is this book for? perhaps, you've never played chess but you've always wanted to learn and never had the chance. or maybe, you've already learned how to move the pieces, but you need an easy, straight-forward refresher. or perhaps, it's time to show your son or younger brother how to play chess and you want to review the basics, so you can make sure you nail the questions beginners commonly miss. in this book, you'll learn how to: quickly and confidently move each piece from pawn to king set up the board from memory quickly and correctly every…single…time use my step-by-step method for commanding the puzzling knight harness the power of your own mind to visualize the board and gain an edge over your opponent learn the little-known reason why most beginners lose and how to use it to your advantage employ a three-question checklist to ensure you don't lose your pieces for no good reason blow your opponent's mind! predict your opponent's strategy three moves ahead and stop their plan before they've even tried it i've taught beginner chess players from age 5 to age 35 and beyond, anyone can learn and now's your chance to finally learn the ancient game of kings and conquerors! don't miss your chance! join the casual chess revolution today! scroll up and click the add to cart button.

Are you interested in learning to play chess? learn everything you wanted to know about chess including: the basic rules how to setup the board chess terminology an overview of the 3 stages of chess basic checkmates simple strategies to win at chess and much more. get how to play chess for beginners today!

Twenty years ago new in chess magazine introduced a back page column in which a chess personality is asked to name their favourite items in many areas: food, drink, films, art, music, etc. one of the questions has always been: what is the most exciting game of chess you ever saw? after dozens of such questionnaires, a large body of games was nominated by chess greats such as anand, shirov, short, and ivanchuk and chess aficionados such as jeremy silman, jennifer shahade, and tania sachdev. this anthology presents the 45 most exciting of these most exciting games. naturally, excitement, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. the reader will find some well-known games. included are the classic tactical slugfest kasparov-topalov (wijk aan zee 1999) and the immortal game anderssen – kieseritzky (london 1851), but also a decisive last-round battles between karpov and kasparov (match/24 1985) and a strategic masterpiece by botvinnik versus capablanca. even more inspirational are the lesser-known gems. ding liren revels in an all-out attack. ivan saric juggles a knight and five pawns versus two rooks. and sergei radchenko chases the white king all over the board. every game is a showcase of the richness and resourcefulness of chess. steve giddins edited this book, a job he greatly enjoyed: 'i hope that every reader will find games here which bring a smile to their face and a lift to their heart'.

Chess openings can be simple! because of the sheer volume of variations, possible transpositions, and ever-changing theory, chess openings can be overwhelming – even intimidating. this book is an introduction to understanding and playing chess openings.this book covers: opening principles (page 13)pawn structures (page 17)gambit play (page 24)opening traps (page 26)how do i decide which openings to choose (page 30)how to build an opening repertoire (page 32)introduction to opening theory (page 34)the open games: 1.e4 e5, such as the italian, evans gambit, king's gambit, scotch game (page 39)the semi-open game, such as the sicilian defence, the french defence (page 84)the closed games, such as the queen's gambit (page 141)the semi-closed games, such as the king's indian, nimzo-indian (page 167)flank openings, such as the english opening, 1.b3 (page 207)where do i go from here (page 231)and much, much morethe author, danish master carsten hansen, stresses opening play based on comprehending opening principles as well as useful, fundamental knowledge. with an overview of all the most important opening variations, examples of good and bad opening play, opening traps and problems to solve, chess openings, and its major principles are covered thoroughly.many games are lost as a result of a player's poor grasp of even the most basic principles of opening play.

So you have learned how to play chess, studied tactics and know some basic endgames and openings. what's next? the glue that binds it all together is strategy. by forming a good plan, chess-players seize strong points on the board and target the opponent's weaknesses. experienced player and teacher thomas engqvist shows that it all depends on logic that can be grasped by players of any age. he explains how to identify the right strategy in a wide range of typical situations. with his guidance, you will soon be finding good plans on your own – and then it will be time to demonstrate your tactical mastery! he first teaches the importance of the central squares and the basics of pawn-play, before examining the role of each of the pieces and how they are affected by the pawn-structure. you then get a chance to test your new strategic skills in 54 exercises, all with full solutions. chess strategy for kids provides a complete course that will help readers understand the potential of their pieces and play more purposefully in their games. chess will stop feeling like a series of random events as you take command of your forces and direct them like a general in charge of an army. thomas engqvist is an international master from sweden with more than three decades' experience of international chess. he is a successful chess trainer and has also made notable contributions to chess theory. engqvist is editor of the website schacksnack.se and teaches at a school in the stockholm area.

I have always a slight feeling of pity for the man who has no knowledge of chess, just as i would pity the man who has remained ignorant of love. chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy. the way to this happiness i have tried to show in this book. — author's preface – while there are many chess instruction books available, few have achieved the lofty stature of the present volume. fewer still have been written by a legendary international grandmaster whose pedagogical skills rivaled the chess prowess that enabled him to demolish opponents at the board. an immediate success upon its first publication, the game of chess has become one of the game's enduring classics, considered by some critics the finest book ever written on the game. – part of its success stems from dr. tarrasch's unorthodox approach to teaching chess: i employ quite another method and one analogous to that a mother uses to teach her child to talk. i play with the beginner from the very start in that i put before him simple positions and from them explain the fundamentals of chess. it is the intuitive method of instruction. in this way the pupil learns chess quite easily, of that i am convinced. – to make it easier for the beginning student, dr. tarrasch also reverses the order in which the game is usually taught. instead, he begins with the end-game, since obviously it is easier for the beginner to deal with a few men than the entire thirty-two. then follows the heart of the book, an important and extensive discussion of the middle game. analyzing the most important parts of hundreds of games, tarrasch presents a comprehensive treatment of combination play, an aspect of chess for which he was especially renowned. finally, he deals with the most complex part of the game — the opening — and offers enlightening comments on many historically important variations. – illustrated with over 340 diagrams and including 12 complete games, the game of chess remains one of the standard texts, a careful reading of which will improve the game of any player.

Every chess player hopes to set off brilliant combinations and win games in a blaze of glory. such combinations do not come into being by themselves, however; they appear only as the result of proper chess strategy. it is therefore surprising that so few books deal with this highly important subject, and understandable that pachman's modern classic has been so enthusiastically received by chessplayers at all levels.ludĕk pachman, a czech grandmaster, has long had an international reputation as a chess theorist, but until now his work has not been available in english. this present volume, which condenses his great modern schachstrategie, presents his ideas and theories in a form that the english-speaking world can assimilate easily. beginning with basic concepts and the rules of the minor and major pieces, it covers the use of the queen, the active king, exchanges, various kinds of pawns, the center and its use, superiority on the wings, minority attack, strategical points and weak squares, methods of attack and defense, and similar topics. pachman elaborates the various kinds of strategy that can be employed, and shows how each leads to tactical opportunities. it has been said that his section on the rook alone make his book indispensable to the serious chess player, since the rook is so important in both middle and endgames.pachman presents his method in the form of a thorough, systematic, analytical text, which draws upon scores of great games for exemplification. both classical and very recent masters are included, although stress is on the moderns: capablanca, alekhine, dr. lasker, rubinstein, nimzovich, botvinnik, reshevsky, bronstein, smyslov, and spasski.

Best-in-class guide on chess for beginners: master the ancient art of chess and impress your friends! do you want to quickly understand chess? do you want to beat your friends? do you want to improve your online game? learn how to play chess and the best chess strategies and tactics to dominate every game and become a savvy chess player. magnus templar explains the origins of chess in ancient india and how it evolved in persia and europe. he takes you step-by-step through the basic rules of how to play chess and demonstrates the most important chess openings. you will also learn the strongest strategies and chess tactics of the wold ́s greatest chess masters. if you apply the tricks and traps of this book you will win every play and beat all your unsuspecting foes! chess for beginners – winning strategies and tactics for beginners is an easy-to-understand yet powerful guide to quickly master chess. you will learn the best chess openings, proven chess strategies, and tactics on how to play chess and win each and every game. do not wait longer to get your key to becoming a brilliant chess player. do not wait longer to get chess for beginners – winning strategies and tactics.

Chess is a popular and fascinating game, it’s good for the mind, and satisfying to play with others, in clubs, or alone, in travel, against a computer, or an app. this new book will take you quickly through the movement of the pieces to good opening strategies, middle game techniques, and how to either finish off or defend against your opponent.

Master the ancient art of chess, the game of kings. now, novice players can learn quickly and at a glance the key techniques and classic moves of the chess masters. this edition includes basic and advanced tactics, combinations, sacrifices, pawn structures, and annotated illustrations to help players of every level hold their own against more advanced players. this book also includes: over 300 examples of attacking and defensive strategies for the opening, middle and end phases of the game new: master challenges at the end of each section to reinforce practical knowledge and hone skills new: "how to win" quick-reference summary helps players start winning immediately new: game analysis section that includes a selection of groundbreaking games that can be played again and again–so players learn from the greatest players of all time it's a comprehensive and compact reference that will find a ready place in school and private chess clubs. this book will also be a favorite among individuals who wish to discover chess as a pleasurable way to spend a social evening.

It's the classic revised and reillustrated! with more than 1 million copies sold, the kids' book of chessis the bestselling introduction for kids to the game that's inspired passion and challenge for over 900 years–and, thanks to netflix's monster hit, the queen's gambit, is again surging in popularity. the new yorker said it best: "harvey kidder explains the game with a clarity that is almost absolute." by grounding the fundamentals of how chess works in the game's origins–the medieval battlefield–kidder captures chess's energy and excitement while offering instruction that is direct and concrete. pawns, modeled after common foot soldiers, advance step by step. the knight's leaping "l"-shaped move recalls the warrior on horseback. powerful bishops line up alongside queen and king, just like the middle ages alliance of church and state. illustrations bring all this pomp and pageantry to life while the text covers the beginning, middle, and end game, along with winning strategies for offense and defense–how to castle, how to protect pieces, how to control the center of the board, and more. with its new art throughout, full chess set of sturdy punch-out cardboard pieces, and cardboard chessboard, thekids' book of chessand starter chess set has everything a child needs to step away from the screens and start playing the greatest analog game ever created.

Make your first move with confidence – during a chess match, your opening strategy can determine how the rest of the game will go–but how do you know which strategy to use? stick to the most effective techniques, master the five opening principles, and become a worthy opponent with this beginner-friendly guide to the top 25 openers, from the scotch game to the french defense. – what sets this book apart from other chess strategy books: step-by-step advice–start with a refresher on chess basics, then find clear and thorough explanations of each opening strategy, complete with illustrations. – the most common variants–be ready for anything with tips for executing other popular variations of each opener. – ways to practice what you've learned–try sample chess scenarios that challenge you to come up with the next move and test your new skills. – plan your strategy and take on the competition with chess openings for beginners.

Illustrated chess for children was originally published in 1970. now renamed, updated, newly illustrated, and presented with a custom-designed chess board and full set of chess pieces, the kids' book of chess and chess set introduces kids to the game that's inspired passion and challenge for over 900 years. fantasy art captures the energy and excitement of chess's origins-the medieval battlefield-while a direct, lively text explains the game and its pieces in light of history. readers are led through the fundamentals of beginning, middle, and end game, and shown winning strategies for offense and defense. suitable for ages 8-12. 792,000 copies in print.

This used book is in very good condition. this book came from a library. learn chess: a complete course provides everything you need to know to get started in chess. the first part is devoted to first principles, explaining the rules and basic strategies, whilst the second develops a thorough understanding of the various winning methods, and includes a systematic study of openings, an introduction to attacking techniques, and a guide to fundamental endgame themes.

This used book is in very good condition. this book came from a library. learn chess: a complete course provides everything you need to know to get started in chess. the first part is devoted to first principles, explaining the rules and basic strategies, whilst the second develops a thorough understanding of the various winning methods, and includes a systematic study of openings, an introduction to attacking techniques, and a guide to fundamental endgame themes.

Generations of chess players have grown up on fred reinfeld's books. he has a way of reducing the most intricate, complicated combinations to their basic components. after reinfeld explains a combination, it makes sense. reinfeld not only taught us how to play the game well, but also implanted in us his enthusiastic passion for learning. his books are peppered throughout with words and phrases in italics to emphasize ideas. moves are punctuated with single, double, and even triple exclamation marks and question marks to span the entire spectrum of emotions the moves conjure up. the complete chess course is filled with advice on how to play better chess, regardless of how strong or weak a player you may be. it begins with the most fundamental ideas, reviewing the basic moves of the pieces and pawns, and continues with fantastic examples from the very best players. fred guides us through some master games, revealing the secrets of their struggles to overcome strong resistance. these secrets include how to meet the crisis; how to simplify; and the point of no return. hint: play to control the center and develop your pieces. absorb the material included in this volume and you will play chess at a fairly high level. or read through it all and enjoy fred's masterful explanations. in either case, you will be entranced by his enthusiasm for the intricate relationships the pieces experience in the context of a game or even a standout plan or combination.

Generations of chess players have grown up on fred reinfeld's books. he has a way of reducing the most intricate, complicated combinations to their basic components. after reinfeld explains a combination, it makes sense. reinfeld not only taught us how to play the game well, but also implanted in us his enthusiastic passion for learning. his books are peppered throughout with words and phrases in italics to emphasize ideas. moves are punctuated with single, double, and even triple exclamation marks and question marks to span the entire spectrum of emotions the moves conjure up. the complete chess course is filled with advice on how to play better chess, regardless of how strong or weak a player you may be. it begins with the most fundamental ideas, reviewing the basic moves of the pieces and pawns, and continues with fantastic examples from the very best players. fred guides us through some master games, revealing the secrets of their struggles to overcome strong resistance. these secrets include how to meet the crisis; how to simplify; and the point of no return. hint: play to control the center and develop your pieces. absorb the material included in this volume and you will play chess at a fairly high level. or read through it all and enjoy fred's masterful explanations. in either case, you will be entranced by his enthusiasm for the intricate relationships the pieces experience in the context of a game or even a standout plan or combination.