Good beginning strategy books
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Sep 3, 2007
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Maybe you can try Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev. Haven't got or read it, but I've heard plenty of things concerning it, and it would pretty much be exactly what you are looking for.
Etienne wrote: Maybe you can try Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev. Haven't got or read it, but I've heard plenty of things concerning it, and it would pretty much be exactly what you are looking for.
Yes, this is a very good book for beginners and I highly recommend it.
Regarding endgame resources, there are some free lessons on ChessKids which would especially benefit a starving student:
If you spend 30 minutes per day on these, you'll be done in a week, and have the endgame knowledge of an average chessplayer. You'll also have built a solid foundation for future endgame study.
Edward Lasker's Chess Strategy is a great start....
Edward Lasker's Chess Strategy is a great start....
Edward Lasker's Chess Strategy is a great start....
Some possibilities for strategy reading:
50 Essential Chess Lessons by Steve Giddins
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708100833/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review534.pdf
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
Simple Chess by Michael Stean
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094419/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ammind.pdf
Chess Secrets: The Giants of Chess Strategy by Neil McDonald
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092313/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review620.pdf
Chess Strategy for Club Players by Herman Grooten
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101926/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review696.pdf
Chess Training for Post-beginners by Yaroslav Srokovski
https://web.archive.org/web/20140712013538/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review945.pdf
Chess Strategy: Move by Move by Adam Hunt
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093249/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review890.pdf
How to Reassess Your Chess (4th ed.) by Jeremy Silman
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708095832/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review769.pdf
Understanding Chess Middlegames by GM John Nunn
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627012322/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen154.pdf
Winning Pawn Structures by GM Alexander Baburin (1998)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140718055446/http://chesscafe.com/text/wps.txt
Understanding Pawn Play in Chess by GM Drazen Marovic (2000)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110136/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review249.pdf
Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess by GM Drazen Marovic (2001)
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/books-of-many-flavours
Winning Chess Middlegames, An Essential Guide to Pawn Structures by GM Ivan Sokolov (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708091955/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review676.pdf
Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andrew Soltis (2013)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101523/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review908.pdf
Chess Structures - A Grandmaster Guide by GM Mauricio Flores Rios (2015)
"There is also masses of stuff in the book that made me go 'Oooh!' and 'Aaah!' so I think it will have the same effect on you! In particular, I loved Rios' exposition of White's plan of exerting queenside pressure against Hedgehog systems. I'd seen one of the games he quotes in his chapter but I'd never remotely made any link to a structured way of fighting the Hedgehog structure, so this chapter was a real eye-opener for me ...
In conclusion, warmly recommended. Lots to learn!" - GM Matthew Sadler
The Power of Pawns by GM Jörg Hickl (2016)
"The didactic concept of the book is admirable. Each chapter defines the structures, explains the typical characteristics and shows the plans for both White and Black. The reader participates by assessing positions and invariably receives useful tips for practical play." - FM Harry Schaack
Python Strategy by Tigran Petrosian
http://sagarteacheschess.blogspot.com/2015/09/python-strategy-book-review.html
Petrosian’s Legacy by Tigran Petrosian (1990)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103409/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review309.pdf
Petrosian: Move by Move by
Hi everyone,
I've only recently gotten into chess. I have some very basic strategic concepts under my belt, and am now hoping to grow a bit more in my serious playing. At present my wife and I are both graduate students, which means that paying for lessons is a long shot. (I'm getting a master's degree in vocal music, and already have to pay for voice lessons.)
Books are the best option I have. The problem is that many chess books I've checked out seem to be written by the experienced for the experienced. "Black clearly should avoid 9 . . . Nc7 in this case, because that would lead to the following disasterous string of five moves for reasons that are too obvious even to discuss." That's how it feels, anyway.
I'm looking for suggestions for books that will help me expand my opening options and my understanding of the middle and endgames without talking way over my head. Any thoughts?
Thanks!