Chess Books for improving !!! - Chess Forums

kwjn

Jul 25, 2018

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#1

Hi, I am kinda new to chess, started playing 6-7 months ago(I am 15). I am really serious about improving my chess and I am interested in some really good books to improve, especially Soviet Books. Up until now I studied "The Game of Chess" , by Siegbert Tarrasch(really good book in my opinion) and My System. I am currently studying Chess Middlegame Planning by Romanovsky and then I wanna go with Chess Middlegame Combinations, also by Romanovsky. I want to say that I spend 7-8 hours a day studying(without exaggeration). Also, I am not interested in openings.

I would appreciate answers from experienced players who know what they are talking about.

Thanks in advance !

kwjn

Jul 25, 2018

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#2

Klauer wrote:

Very good selection! My System and Romanovsky are somewhat advanced, if you haven't reached very fast a level near 1400 playing strength.

I don't talk about a special book atm, because you got to decide first what to learn. You cannot walk the third step before the first and the second. Those two steps are what Tarrasch tells: Basic mates and tactics. This and analyzing your games yourself, playing best only rapid games in the beginning or otb games with friends or in a club will give you the fastest progress. And even under those conditions you should follow this or you will fail:

http://www.yodaquotes.net/patience-you-must-have-my-young-padawan/

If and only if you tell me your contradictions or agree you will get further advice (how to analyse yourself, books I used as recommendation for the courses I gave, overall training hints depending on your needs) from my side. Anyway you will probably get here an overload of hints, ranging from very good to very bad, sometimes from the same person.

Good luck and have fun with chess!

Well, I am going at a club and I am going at tournaments. My current level is 1300-1400 probably(I am not sure...). I studied My System because I heard that beginners can take something out of it and I know that Tarrasch was dogmatic with the thing with the center, so I wanted to see Nimzowitsch's vision. For example, the part with blockades, restrain and passed pawns were very instructive for me. My Tactics are pretty bad(it's hard in only 7 months). And I don't really know how to analyze my own games. Oh, and I studied a bit from The Art of the Middlegame by Kotov and Keres, but I find Keres' part really hard. Kotov's part was really instructive for me.

I would be glad to have your help !!!!

kindaspongey

Jul 26, 2018

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#3

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#4

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-directory

Fer8799

Jul 28, 2018

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#5

It is a good thing you started to read classic books, but would recommend you read newer book. theory has changed from tarrasch to our days..., If you like Soviet books, I recommend you the complete positional manual and the shereshevky method, both books created from material used in the new russian school created in sirus.

ThrillerFan

Jul 28, 2018

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#6

I would suggest the following 3 books for a player of your level.

Play Winning Chess

Winning Chess Tactics

Winning Chess Strategies

All of them are by Yasser Sieriwan. They should be read in the order listed above.

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#7

Fer8799 wrote:

... If you like Soviet books, I recommend you the complete positional manual and ...

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9040.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9049.pdf
There are two books in that series, I don't know about kwjn, but the online samples make me feel like I am not ready for that stuff yet.
"The book is aimed at players who are already around first category strength [Translator's note: Approximately 2000-2200 Elo] but some examples will also be useful to players of a higher standard."

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#8

Fer8799 wrote:

... the shereshevky method, ...

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/the-shereshevsky-method/
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9056.pdf

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#9

DeirdreSkye wrote:

... Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" ...

Kwjn might want to look at a sample of the contents in order to get a feel for whether or not the book is something to try to work on at this time.
http://store.doverpublications.com/0486202909.html

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#10

DeirdreSkye wrote:

... Reti's "Masters of the chessboard" …

http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2012/4/1/book-notice-richard-retis-masters-of-the-chessboard.html

kindaspongey

Jul 28, 2018

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#11

DeirdreSkye wrote:

... Shereshevsky's 2 books "Endgame strategy" are also great as they teach you how opening and middlegame are connected with the endgame but ...

Perhaps you are thinking of Mastering the Endgame?

http://roman-chess.blogspot.com/2007/11/review-of-mastering-endgame-by-m.html

IMKeto

Jul 28, 2018

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#12

DeirdreSkye wrote:

I would suggest Reti's "Masters of the chessboard" and Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" for a general chess education.

Shereshevsky's 2 books "Endgame strategy" are also great as they teach you how opening and middlegame are connected with the endgame but you will need to study fundamental endgames first.

Seirawan's books are too simplistic and overall not nearly as good as Pachman's or Reti's.

Look at the OP's ratings, and games. The Seirwan books would be ideal for him.

OldPatzerMike

Jul 29, 2018

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#13

@kwjn: You are pursuing a serious program of chess study. Well done.

If you want to study Pachman, you should know that his main work is available in two forms: a three volume work called Complete Chess Strategy and an abridged version in one volume called Modern Chess Strategy. I recommend the complete version. Note that the first volume of Complete Chess Strategy is available under two different titles: Planning the Pieces, and First Principles of the Middle Game. The contents are identical in both, but the publisher just gave it a different title when it was reprinted.

RussBell

Jul 29, 2018

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#14

@kwjn -

Based on your chess rating and the fact that you have just begun playing the game a few months ago, in my opinion Romanovsky's book is probably too advanced for you at this point in your chess development. I say this because the book assumes a strong understanding of positional chess concepts, which those at your experience level typically have not yet acquired. This is not to say that you could not possibly learn something from his book, just that it assumes a knowledge level that few at the beginner-novice level possess. It's kind of like someone wishing to learn mathematics by beginning their studies with calculus, without first having mastered the prerequisites of arithmetic and algebra.

Therefore, based on your current level I agree with IMBacon's earlier suggestion that Yasser Seirawan's "Winning Chess" series, and similar books, would be be appropriate for you.

You might want to check out my good chess books lists which feature many titles that are appropriate for the beginner-novice player. You will note that Romanovsky's book is suggested in one of my lists as being an advanced book appropriate primarily for the experienced player....

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

.https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Good luck to you in your chess studies!

Sandaime513

Jul 30, 2018

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#15

You need mate in one chess books. Not GM teachers.

kwjn

Jul 30, 2018

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#16

Sandaime513 wrote:

You need mate in one chess books. Not GM teachers.

Who said I want GM teachers? ..

CelticG

Jul 30, 2018

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#17

You'll probably think this one is too basic, but it might be useful for some folks. It's a kid's book called Chess For Young Beginners by William T McLeod and Ronald Mongredien and I'm finding it really helpful. It's quite an old book - it belonged to a relative of mine who'd stashed it in their attic. They asked me if I wanted it, and I accepted their kind offer. I can now beat my chess computer at level 2. Actually, since I started studying the book, I'm thrashing the computer at level 2. For me that's a big step!

IMKeto

Jul 30, 2018

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#18

DeirdreSkye wrote:

I would suggest Reti's "Masters of the chessboard" and Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" for a general chess education.

Shereshevsky's 2 books "Endgame strategy" are also great as they teach you how opening and middlegame are connected with the endgame but you will need to study fundamental endgames first.

Seirawan's books are too simplistic and overall not nearly as good as Pachman's or Reti's.

I have no doubt the books you mention are good. I made my recommendation based on the OP's games. And simplistic is what he needs.

IMKeto

Jul 30, 2018

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#19

DeirdreSkye wrote:

IMBacon wrote:

DeirdreSkye wrote:

I would suggest Reti's "Masters of the chessboard" and Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" for a general chess education.

Shereshevsky's 2 books "Endgame strategy" are also great as they teach you how opening and middlegame are connected with the endgame but you will need to study fundamental endgames first.

Seirawan's books are too simplistic and overall not nearly as good as Pachman's or Reti's.

I have no doubt the books you mention are good. I made my recommendation based on the OP's games. And simplistic is what he needs.

Simplistic is never good, simple is good. And Pachman's books are difficult but simple.Difficult means they need effort and personal work. The point is that knowledge is useless without skills and skills don't develop by reading a book, they develop by working with a book. Seirawan's books don't encourage that(neither do you).

I get your whole "schtick" here is to argue with everyone. That i dont have a problem with. Its tired old act, that has been over done here for years. But moving past that. The OP would benefit more from Seirawans books. You are free to disagree obviously, as its just my opinion.

When youre producing this:

https://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=2974053678

You need to start at the basics.

BlackDeathRising

Jul 30, 2018

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#20

Hi kwjn, good for you for working so hard, I wish you all the best. I can't help you with which books to read like these others can, but you mentioned you don't know how to analyze your own games. IM David Pruess is a fine teacher, and he has a video on his youtube channel I think you would find helpful in that regard. The title is, "What is analysis?(And should I do it?)." It not only explains how to analyze, but how to start out, and how you will want to look deeper as you progress as a chess player. You can find it here.

I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps.