A logical follow up of 'Amateur's Mind: Strategy - Tactics

Thanks mate,

It isn't simple to chose a final pick amoung the dozen beginners book that are adviced. Pandolfini's book is going to be on my list, but now that i bought Seirawan's, Emms's (about the opening) and Polgar's tactical book would it still be necessary? I could have gotten it, don't think i didn't take your advice in consideration but since there were so many choiced and that Seirawan's was the most praised of the list...

You're absolutely right about Endgames. I recently played a game that frustrated me so hard. I didn't loose, i draw. But i had a rook and a bishop more than him. I couldn't finish him (i didn't know that the computer would just announce DRAW). And felt very disappointed since played a decent game. For that, it'll be the 4th book i'll read.
But i don't have to buy one this time, since I have Silman's Complete Endgame book in my shelft for about a year (i was a little interested at the time, but far not as much as today). 

I didn't quite get your last comment. Wich fact do I appreciate :)? I like to read deep thought books but, i realise that it isn't the most instructive for my current level. I even feel light Amateur's mind should have been read at last (from all the books I juste bought). I'll probably have the read it again after. But that'll take time.

i'll post you a feedback about my thoughts on the books and what they brought me. But it'll take a good month. Maybe more (since i have to play some games to apply my knowledge) 

You have good materials at your hand that will help you improve.Study them well. In the Seirawan book, I suggest you play all the games in that book on a chess board. On the Susan Polgar book, solve atleast 5 puzzles a day. You can increase the puzzles if you want.

Think of it this way.

There are three PHASES of a chess game - 1) Opening 2) Middlegame 3) Endgame.

There are essentially two TOOLS the player employs when executing moves throughout the game, in all three phases - 1) Tactical concepts and techniques 2) Positional concepts and techniques.

As a chess player one must develop the facility to understand principles to apply during the three phases, i.e., the plan, the strategy.  And one must learn the basics concepts and techniques for employing the tools.

The point that I have tried to make several times to you is that you should study the fundamental principles applicable to the phases and the tools.  That is, avoid advanced treatments of these subjects until you have learned the basics.  So even though there are many excellent books dealing with all of these subjects, it would generally be more beneficial to focus on those books written primarily for those at your level (novice).  Simply put, books that deal with these subjects at the introductory level will focus on the basics, which you need to focus on, and present them in a way that is more easily assimilated by you.  Studying books which are appropriate to your current skill level - this is the fact that I believe you "appreciate".

Also, while Seirawan's "Winning Chess Strategies" book is a very good one (I have it), and I therefore recommend it as part of your study plan, I strongly believe that before reading it, you would be well served to read Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" first; the reason being that "Weapons" is not only written for the novice-intermediate level audience, but more to the point, it deals exclusively with the basic elements, concepts and techniques - the tools - of positional chess which are crucial to understading the discussions in Seirawan's books.  It's like studying arithmetic first, before studying algebra.  The Pandolfini book will prepare you to more easily learn from Seirawan's strategy book, as well as Michael Stean's "Simple Chess" and Silman's "The Amateur's Mind", and provide a solid foundation for you to understand the more advanced chess books you will want to read, as you progress in chess.

Finally, although "Silman's Complete Endgame Course" is excellent and can serve you well, staying with my thesis of keeping it simple at this point in your chess development, you might be better served to first read "Pandofini's Endgame Course", as it will be a quicker, easier read, and still teach you the important techniques of basic endgame play.  It is also written for the beginner-intermediate audience.  And because the text is structured with one endgame lesson per page, you will be exposed to more themes and techniques more quickly than with other introductory endgame books.  However, there is one caveat - there are some typographical errors in the book, which some reviewers have complained about.  But I don't think these typos are numerous or egregious enough to avoid the good instruction the book contains.  In fact, simply get the errata sheet posted online for the book, to identify and correct the typos if you wish.

https://www.amazon.com/Pandolfinis-Endgame-Course-Concepts-Explained/dp/0671656880/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478740002&sr=1-1&keywords=pandolfini%27s+endgame+course

Pandolfini's Endgame Course - Errata.....

http://www.glennwilson.com/chess/books/pec_errata.html

Seirawan's book is a good first strategy book. From what I see, people does not have problem digesting this book even thought they have not read books like Weapon's Of Chess.  I also have this as my first chess strategy book and i enjoyed it and learned from it(not complicated to digest).

 

This book also sytematically break down fundamental strategical concepts like bishop vs knight, pawn majorities, king safety, king attacks, various pawn structures and plan about it, weak square, weak pawns etc.

Here are two more possibilities to consider at some point:

Chess Strategy for Kids by Thomas Engqvist

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Strategy_for_Kids.pdf

Starting Out: Attacking Play by James Plaskett

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101549/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review467.pdf

Here are some reviews for some of the books mentioned in post #1:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101523/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review908.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092834/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review872.pdf

One can see a sample from Simple Attacking Plans at:

https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7192.pdf

One can see a sample from The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book at:

https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7191.pdf

Strategy books from easier to more difficult (my impression having read all of them):

1. Weapons of Chess by Pandolfini
2. The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Silman
3. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess by Wolffe (ch.9-14 cover strategy)
4. Winning Chess Strategies by Seirawan
5. The Amateur's Mind by Silman

You convinced me. I'm going to get Weapons of chess on my kindle.
I really hope that, the whole pack with some practice will get me stronger. Because right now i'm very frustrated (take a look at my recent post) since I feel like playing worse although i know much more about chess than before

Cheers

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/playing-worse-than-before

Two other useful resource is the Chessimo Strategy Module app and Purdy's Guide to Good Chess. The Chessimo app has 720 basic strategy problems with 1-2 sentence explanations for each problem, so you can get through them quickly.

Most of these resources give basic examples and explanations of strategic themes, with Purdy and Silman the best to try to "put it altogether" in terms of a thinking method, but I wouldn't expect any short-term miracles.

Good decision.  You will not regret it.

I believe that you will find that "Weapons...." contains invaluable lessons for those who aspire to playing better chess.  The book is focused on introducing the beginner-novice player to the fundamental elements, concepts and techniques that form the building blocks of positional play. If one does not acquire a fundamental understanding of positional concepts and how to employ them, one is necessarily limiting ones chess development.

I think this list is a good one.  And the order appears to be appropriate.

I would also add to the list "Simple Chess" by Michael Stean. It could be read any time after first completing "Weapons of Chess".  I also might include, as an (excellent) option, "Elements of Positional Evaluation" by Dan Heisman.  It could be studied concurrently with "Weapons..."

https://www.amazon.com/Elements-Positional-Evaluation-Pieces-Their/dp/1888690585/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478824046&sr=1-1&keywords=elements+of+positional+evaluation+-+dan+heisman

I have simple chess on my computer  Isn't it more advanced? Should I read it just after Weapons of chess or after all my books? Well, now that i've sobered up i'll start reading

It is more advance than Weapons of Chess. But your already read Amature's Mind right?You can try reading Simple Chess as they on the same level.

I always thought Simple Chess was more difficult than Amateur's Mind (it is certainly more difficult than Pandolfini's or Seirawan's books), but maybe worth a revisit.

Has anyone here read and know what level player would benefit most from Valeri Beim's Back to Basics: Strategy and/or Adam Hunt's Chess Strategy: Move by Move?

I have all the books you keep mentioning.  I am familiar with them all.

Of course there will be something of value in almost any book.  But some books approach the subject matter from a more "advanced" perspective than others, as you recognize.  This is the basis for the recommendations I have made for you.   That is, that there is an appropriate order in which to read the books.  The point is to start off with those that deal with subject matter at a level appropriate to your CURRENT knowledge and skill level.

So yes, "Simple Chess" is more "advanced" than "Weapons of Chess"; this is not to say that "Simple Chess" is a better book for you AT THIS TIME than "Weapons....' They are both good books, but "Weapons..." can be viewed as learning arithmetic (i.e., the basic elements), whereas "Simple Chess" can be likened to studying algebra.  You must understand arithmetic before you can become skillful with algebra.  In other words, learning is an orderly, structured process of exposure to, and assimilation of prerequisite fundamentals in order to provide a basis for moving on to more advanced concepts.  

Bottom line - do yourself a favor and absorb everything in "Weapons of Chess" first, before moving on the other, good, but more "advanced" books.  This will provide a solid foundation in the basic, fundamental elements of positional chess, for your subsequent study of the more advanced books.

By the way, Valeri Breim's book "Back to Basics: Strategy" is a decent book, targeted to the novice-intermediate audience. I do find his writing style excessively verbose, and sometimes tiresome to wade through, but you may judge differently.  It is another book that would be best attempted after first reading Panlolfini's "Weapons of Chess" - the same recommendation I had made earlier regarding Silman's "The Amateur's Mind", Seirawan's "Winning Chess Strategies" and Stean's "Simple Chess", as these books are slightly more advanced (and all of which I prefer over Breim's book).  Adam Hunt's book is also decent, but very advanced for you at this time; better for you to focus on some of the other books previously mentioned.

Back to Basics: Strategy by Valeri Beim

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092512/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review842.pdf

Elements of Positional Evaluation (4th ed.) by Dan Heisman

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708084653/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review742.pdf

Chess Strategy: Move by Move by Adam Hunt

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093249/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review890.pdf

Hi.

Little update. I just finished Weapons of Chess and took some notes from it. I understand now why it was recommended. It's and easy read, but it's enough of a read to be easely and effectively assimilated. Chapters were brief but well explained enough to be understood and memorised. I read some chapters more carefully than others (I read everything, just didn't took notes from every pages). 

The structure of the book is a little weird, but not a big deal. He talks about pawns structure in many chapters but not in order (talks about types of pawns, suddenly about visualisation, then comes back to pawns, then goes to paired bishops, then back to central pawns...).

I particularly like the "types of pawns" chapter around the beggining/middle (looking for outposts, blocade cases, weak bases central pawn structure part, variation calculation part and analyse part (as the little exercices about visualisation around the end). 

I'm a little sad that he didn't go more trough the analyse part in the beginning. This really helps me and i feel like i was doing a ton wrong on this part that some more "tips" would have been even better! 

The same goes with the chapter "avoid errors" wich basicaly tells be to be concentrated the whole time and move carefully. It's good to be reminded of that but not that usefull (although the part were they told me not to look for fancy moves but more solid moves reminded me of some games)

Now, i'll slowly reread the notes that a took (4 full pages). Maybe go back to some chapters that i might have passed to fast. 

Tomorrow arrive my other books. When i'll feel ready (around middle/end of next week) i'll start Emms book about opening principals. I'll continue to update my thoughts on them

 

Cheers!

Supplementary games that you can look/study based on themes that you get from the Weapons Of Chess. I suggest you collect games based on pattern themes, so you can have reference. You can save these game sin PGN format.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1125461

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1257953

Outpost(Knight Outpost on d5 )

Play against isolated pawn

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1068264

Bishop Pair power demonstration by former world chess champions

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1132616

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018625

thank you for the games i'll look at them with my notes besides me

Does anyone know where Purdy's Search for Perfection fits into this group of books we have been talking about? I read his small book Guide to Good Chess and thought it was great. He seems to emphasize how to approach and think about positions rather than straight-up content (like Pandolfini's and most strategy books).

I very much like the combination of Weapons of Chess and Silman's Complete Book of Chess Strategy for the start of one's study of strategy ... these are the most accessible primers on chess strategy for beginners getting tired of "endgames and tactics" ad nauseum. Weapons of Chess is more focuses on pawn structure while Silman's book is more like a global primer briefly covering all of chess. He covers openings (brief dated intros, but good nonetheless for lower level players), tactical motifs, attack, middlegame strategy, and introductory endgames. In fact, a lot of the tactics/attack selections in Silman's Complete Book of Chess Strategy have been made into lessons in Chess Mentor.

You comments regarding Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" and Silman's "Complete Book of Chess Strategy" are on the mark.  Together they do make a good introduction to positional concepts for the novice.  But they should be studied together, as the Silman book is not as comprehenive as "Weapons..." (on the topic of positional chess), but the examples he provides are very good and provide a useful supplement to content of Pandolfini's book.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Chess-Strategy-Grandmaster/dp/1890085014/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479162276&sr=1-1&keywords=the+complete+book+of+chess+strategy

"Guide to Good Chess" by C.J.S. Purdy is also excellent....

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Good-Chess-First-Points/dp/1888710047/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479162807&sr=1-1&keywords=guide+to+good+chess