what chess books should I be reading

Hi everyone I'm new to chess and I'm wondering what books to read to improve

'Simple Chess' by Michael Stean takes you from beginner to strong club player. 

'My System' by Aron Nimzowitsch takes you from club player to county player. 

'Nimzowitsch: a Reappraisal' by Raymond Keene is a useful bridge to take you to...

'Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy: Advances Since Nimzowitsch' by John Watson, which takes you to master level. 

Then you're on your own. 

thank you for the advice

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

I should add that you don't need books to learn tactics: the internet is awash with tactical puzzles: don't waste money on books full of tactics when you can get unlimited tactical training for free online. There isn't a 'quality issue' with this because all tactical training is valuable. Practising calculation is valuable, no matter what kind of (standard) chess puzzle it is.

The four books I mentioned focus on strategy: high quality resources on strategy are harder to find for free. 

I also like online chess.com blogs and articles. They are like books (and free xD), but also a lot shorter and with interacting diagrams usually. You can read them in one sitting or come back later whereas chess books might take months to read.

chess.com has many great chess articles and blogs to check out for all levels, but here is one I wrote a long time ago primarily for chess.com players under 1000 rating and how to get to at least 1000 rating on here. Naturally, anyone might get something from it though - especially if chess "opening principles" are new for you

https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again 

"Chess Beatdowns". It's a great games collections book filled with strategy and tactics.

thank you

Hi, as a new chess player you want to read informally-written, well-illustrated books without a lot of analysis. So right away I'll tell you to stay away from Nimzovitsch.  Indeed, stay away from ANY chess book that was written before the 1980s, before graphics came in. Back in the "good old days" chess writers were far more boring, nerdy, and asocial than they are now - I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true.

Start with Seirawan's Winning Chess series.  Yaz has a welcoming writing style and he understands how to talk to beginners and get them interested in the game.  Later you can start reading the golden oldies, although you aren't going to get much from them that hasn't been re-distilled and far better presented by modern writers like Silman and Watson. When you are ready for a GM games book, go with My 60 Memorable Games by Fischer - it's the greatest of them all.  Then Tal's match with Botvinnik book. 

Get a general openings survey book too - it's an important part of the game that too often beginners are told to ignore.  Don't get into repertoire books, they are too specific and meant for intermediate players. 

>"Chess Beatdowns". It's a great games collections book filled with strategy and tactics.<

thanks for your help

Hey, themaskedbishop, "Chess Beatdowns" was written by someone whose rapid rating is over 500 points higher than yours, so who's the amateur? Also, you advise to "stay away from Nimzowitsch". Seirawan (who you recommend) has stated that "My System" by Nimzowitsch was THE most influential chess book he ever read!!! Please stop pontificating on here like you're some GM, you're just another sub-1500 amateur. Everyone here is allowed to state their own opinions; that doesn't mean you have to attack other's opinions.

guys both of ye helped loads please don't fight on here.

I'm inclined to agree with @themaskedbishop. My System is aimed at advanced players. Also, it was written by Nimzowitsch to introduce and put forward his ideas on chess, not necessarily to teach chess. These are quite different aims. It would be like asking undergraduate students to learn by reading research journals, something you might expect from a postgraduate or independent learner, but not a new student. It's also poorly written. He is well regarded as an annotater, but having struggled through a few chapters, in my opinion his instructional prose does not flow well. A beginner would be better served by books written by experienced chess educators such as Seirawan and Silman for example. Only an opinion which doesn't require a GM rating, just some experience of learning and reading.

The classics are called 'classics' for good reasons. I stand by the list of 4 I suggested. But, the timings matter: Stean will serve you well up to about 1700 elo. Nimzowitsch will be appropriate only after that point. Keene (whose other books should be avoided) can be read straight after Nimzowitsch. Don't attempt Watson until you've broken 2000. 

I've always thought that you can never go wrong with a Dan Heisman book.

I doubt most players rated below 1000 would get much out of my system....it would probably be better to focus on tactics and some opening principles. I would suggest online tactical training and a book called "200 open games" by David Bronstein. The Bronstein book is about e4 e5 and has a very entertaining style about it.  It is basically a collection of games and the author explains things pretty well I think.

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I'm a chess coach and chess book author in California: www.ChessByLauren.com.   I recommend two books for you: “50 Poison Pieces” and “Queen For A Day: The Girl’s Guide To Chess Mastery.” Both books are available on Amazon.com. Both books are endorsed by top chess professionals. 

First book, for sure: John Emms' Discovering Chess Openings.  Remember: you want to learn opening principles, not so much openings themselves.

Then you'll want to learn tactics.  John Bain's Chess Tactics for Students is good.  So are the puzzles here on chess.com, and also chesstempo.com

When you want to learn endgames, Silman's Complete Endgame Course is a classic, deservedly so, because it has separate sections depending on how strong of a player you are.