"My System" by Nimzowitsch (1 and 2) is an excellent one!
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Feb 7, 2011
0
#3
What ever happened to Tartakower's 500 Master Games of Chess? Is it fading into obscurity, because it's in English Descriptive?
Feb 8, 2011
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#4
"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" looks a little out of place on that list.
I confess I haven't read more than a few pages in a book store - but I was not impressed. As I recall reading elsewhere - Fischer himself wasn't involved in it much at all and certainly didn't write it himself. Take away the Fischer name, and I doubt it would be remembered at all.
Otherwise I like the list - many of these are on my list to eventually read. My favorite chess book so far is Silman's "Complete Book of Chess Strategy".
What about Emmanuel Lasker,The greatest Chess player in his time for years.He was my mentor.
Feb 8, 2011
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#6
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess is a great beginners book, but you do not have a beginners rating in turn-based chess! It would make a great gift for anyone who wants to learn the game. Ignore any hogwash about "he didn't write it" big deal it was written by Stuart Margulies a chess master and also a recognized authority on programmed learning. He is a widely published author of more than 40 books, all in the field of programmed learning. I don't know for sure, but I doubt if Bobby would've permitted his name to go on something he considered to be crap!
I have NY 1924 & am underwhelmed with it and most other tnmt books, if you own no chess books at all don't waste time & money on tnmt books unless you plan on becoming a dedicated chess book collector! The comments about opening theory are 100% obsolete, although it is a well-produced book and has lots of great games but I prefer playing them over from other (much more modern) sources.
I don't have Zurich 1953 but have read many glowing reviews, so it's probably worth owning although in your case I'd recommend middlegame and endgame books first.
My System is great even though again all opening analysis is obsolete, although it may not be a must-read book for you I recommend it anyway.
Tal-Botvinnik 1960 by Tal is awesome!
I haven't read the others here, but personally would recommend Bobby Fischer's My 60 Memorable Games which I've read cover-to-cover it's great!
Since you own no chess books I'd recommend MCO-XV for general ideas & very recent praxis, even though it only skims the surface of opening theory compared to ECO and chess DBs (Data Bases), Fine's Basic Chess Endings - the original edition not the "new & totally unimproved" edition, even though it's in algebraic instead of english notation. And remember this is a reference not a learning book.
For middlegame books there's a lot of good ones out there by Fine, Kotov, Euwe and Romanovsky.
Be sure to look in used bookstores and at amazon for used books whenever possible, unless you're independently wealthy!
Feb 8, 2011
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#7
The books that have made the most impression on me would probably be:
David Bronstein. The Sorceror's Apprentice.
Bobby Fischer. My 60 Memorable Games.
Efim Geller. The Application of Chess Theory.
Paul Keres. Practical Chess Endings.
Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov. The Art of the Middlegame.
Alexander Kotov. Play Like a Grandmaster.
Mihail Marin. Secrets of Attacking Chess.
Aron Nimzowitsch. My System.
Mikhail Tal. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal.
Jonathan Tisdall. Improve Your Chess Now.
The My Great Predecessors series and Tal-Botvinnik 1960 are fun reads as well.
I have Zurich 1953 and My system. I would also recommend a classic Vukovic - "art of attack in chess".
Good day
I found this article and have posted it among a few groups but now post this publicly. I personally own no chess books but am planning to buy 1 or 2. So here is a list that I found and welcome any comments you may have, positive or negative comments.
Top 10 chess books of all time
"Zurich International Tournament" by David Bronstein
An author of collection D.I. Bronshtein - was a Soviet grandmaster, known chess analyst. The book contains all the parts of the tournament contenders, which was held in Zurich in 1953. In the creative for this tournament was one of the most meaningful in the postwar years. In the comments, the author focuses on parsing the middle of the game. The book is considered one of the best in chess literature, and interest in it over the years has not diminished.
All 210 games from the greatest tournament since World War II. Smyslov, Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, 10 others; perceptive annotations by Bronstein.
"My System" by Nimzowitsch
"My system" was required reading of many outstanding players past and present. The blockade and prevention, erosion of pawn chain base and maneuvering, excessive protection and mysterious course - these and many other devices have been placed on shelves and the famous educator Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch. Written by a living, figurative language, it is not just a classic, but really brilliant textbook positional play. Chess seriously study it, learn to deep penetration into the mysteries of the ancient game. The book will be useful as a chess player, only beginning to climb the ladder of classification, as well as their more experienced colleagues.
"My Great Predecessors" series by Garry Kasparov
This book contains not only the best party of former giants studied again with the help of a computer, but also "hot spots" of chess history - critical, crucial moments of matches at the World Championship. Champions in chess replaced for various reasons, and yet the main of them was more purely evolutionary: the continuous and rapid development of the game itself.
"School of chess excellence" by Dvoretsky
Second, revised and enlarged, edition of the book begins a series of "Higher School of Excellence" Honored coach of the USSR, Russia and Georgia's Mark Dvoretsky. This is the first in the world literature textbook for chess players of the highest quality - up to and including grandmasters.
"Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" by Bobby Fischer
Here is the fastest, most efficient, most enjoyable book on chess ever compiled. As the student, you start at the beginning and progressively develop your skills as you apply Bobby Fischer's principles and learn how to play Chess the Bobby Fischer way.
When you finish this book, you will not be able to beat the greatest Chess player the world has every known, but you will be a much better chess player than you were.
Bobby Fischer was born in Chicago Illinois, in 1943. He was introduced to Chess and learned the moves when he was six years old. In his teens he achieved international prominence by winning every United States Chess competition for four years running without the loss of a game. He was the youngest International Grandmaster in Chess history.
"Tal-Botvinnik, 1960" by Tal
One of the greatest books ever written about a world championship match. Take a trip with the Magician from Riga as he invites you to share his thoughts and feelings as he does battle for the world title.
"Endgame Manual (2nd edition)" by Dvoretsky
A modern classic. The first edition of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. This second edition is revised and enlarged, now over 400 pages, covering all the most important concepts required for endgame mastery.
"My Best Games" byAlexander Alekhine
Alekhine comments his best games (1909-1937, including his best games of 2nd match vs Euwe). The foreword of Kasparov (who is a most famous "pupil" of Alekhine, he studied Alekhine's books and games very much in his youth). Books of Alekhine teach very successfully, they has a great clarity of explanations. Alekhine is one of few real chess philosophers in the history, he is able (using brilliant abstract ideas) to explain very complicated situations on board. Probably, one of the best ways to improve your chess understanding if you are a qualified amateur (especially of active style), pay attention also to "107 Great Chess Battles". 118 games at all. Useful notes of elite GM John Nunn.
"New York International Chess Tournament 1924" A. Alekhine
Many experts consider that it's the best book about tournaments. 110 games. Took part in the competition: Capapablanca, Em. Lasker, Alekhine, Marshall, Bogoljubov, Janowsky, Reti, Maroczy, Tartakower, Ed. Lasker, Yates.
"My Best Games" by Anatoly Karpov
In 1975, Anatoly Karpov was declared chess champion of the world when the eccentric Bobby Fischer declined to defend his title against his Russian challenger. "Tolya" went on to prove that he was no paper tiger over the next three decades, during which he held the FIDE world championship for 17 years and won more than 160 major chess tournaments, an all-time record. The unique career of the Russian grandmaster can be appreciated from these 100 games, each of which is annotated by Karpov. All chess enthusiasts can profit and learn from these incredibly matches.