chess book for positional play?
Sort:
I am looking for book recommendations to improve my positional play. I am a absolute beginner (around 1000) or anything else what would help make get a better grasp at the game. Thanks
"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf
maybe “amateur’s mind” by silman
Jun 19, 2019
0
#5
"Simple Chess" by Michael Stean is a good introduction to positional play. The book isn't quite as simple as the title implies, but it does a good job of explaining and illustrating basic positional concepts.
I agree with old patzer. Simple Chess is a really good introduction to positional play. It gives good guidelines to get started.
Winning Chess Strategy by Seirawan
https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Strategies-Everyman/dp/1857443853
eheadsfan wrote:
Winning Chess Strategy ...
Strategies
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
silman book
Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy
check my other blog articles for more chess book recommendations for beginners...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
Jun 20, 2019
0
#12
Get good with tactics first. Get a chess.com membership then do tactics and lessons. It would be enough to learn about all aspects of the game.Also play games and analyze them before playing another game. Try to play 15 min or longer time control.
Tactics are important. But so is strategy. The book OLD PATZER mentioned introduces beginners into concepts like holes and weak pawns and gives good beginner guidelines to positional play.
I think that the Stean book might be a little hard for someone "around 1000", but one can look at the available online sample at doverpublications and come to one's own conclusion.
"... If each player is capable of quick development, castling and of not blundering any pieces away, what is there to separate the two sides? This is the starting-point of Simple Chess. ..."
(By the way, if I remember correctly, OldPatzerMike is the one on the right.)
Good point, Spongy. But if we waited till everyone met those standards, esprcially blundering pieces, then few could read the book. I've read it and see it as a good introductory to positional understanding.
kindaspongey wrote:
I think that the Stean book might be a little hard for someone "around 1000", but one can look at the available online sample at doverpublications and come to one's own conclusion.
"... If each player is capable of quick development, castling and of not blundering any pieces away, what is there to separate the two sides? This is the starting-point of Simple Chess. ..."
(By the way, if I remember correctly, OldPatzerMike is the one on the right.)
Yes I agree. It wouldn't be a wasted purchase, but I would always recommend Logical Chess by Chernev.
My favorite book and author!
Geodesist216 wrote:
silman book
I went through that book years ago. 😁
Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman
nooboie wrote:
I am looking for book recommendations to improve my positional play. I am a absolute beginner (around 1000) or anything else what would help make get a better grasp at the game. Thanks
You could try this books, its great for getting more used to strategies
https://www.chessable.com/chess-structures-a-grandmaster-guide/course/14540/, as well as this one https://www.chessable.com/knights-on-the-attack/course/16475/
"... Chess structures: A Grandmaster Guide is not a primer of positional play; for that, try Michael Stean's Simple Chess, Herman Grooten's Chess Strategy for Club Players, or Silman's ... How to Reassess Your Chess. Instead, you might think of Chess Structures as positional chess 'finishing school.' ..." - John Hartmann
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-structures-a-grandmaster-guide/
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Flores_Rios_Chess_Structures-excerpt.pdf