For my studies on positional chess/strategy, I'm almost done with Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide To Chess. When I finish, which book by Silman do you recommend? I own both, and have gone through a few pages of each, and both talk about imbalances. Are both books sort of duplicates of each other?
Musik:
How did you like the Pandolfini book? Im looking to get a book on strategy.
#1 on top of list of how to stop being and Amateur!
Sit on your hands before you make a move,
too many blunders happen by moving too quickly!
If you are talking beginner books, I got a lot more out of Winning Chess Strategies by Seiriwan.
Another critical one is "The Inner Game of Chess" by Andrew Soltis. That book alone boosted me about 600 points. Read that book, cover to cover. It will do wonders to your game.
Andrew Soltis is an excellent writer when it comes to middlegame books. Avoid his opening books, however.
90% sure Silman recommends The Amateur's Mind be read first. Somewhere on Coach Heisman's website (danheisman.com) there is Silman's recommended book order, but I'm a little too lazy to look it up for you. If you've never been to his website, you're in for a treat as all those wonderful articles that Heisman has been writing for his Novice Nook column over at ChessCafe are available.
Silman's recommended book reading order was offered by him prior to his completely rewriting the 4th edition. By his own admission, his prior recommendation no longer needs to be heeded.
Sssssssh their will be no <2000 later! lol.
For my studies on positional chess/strategy, I'm almost done with Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide To Chess. When I finish, which book by Silman do you recommend? I own both, and have gone through a few pages of each, and both talk about imbalances. Are both books sort of duplicates of each other?
Musik:
How did you like the Pandolfini book? Im looking to get a book on strategy.
I liked it a lot. It's an easy book on strategy, and what I liked most was that it filled in some gaps in my learning. 
If you are talking beginner books, I got a lot more out of Winning Chess Strategies by Seiriwan.
Another critical one is "The Inner Game of Chess" by Andrew Soltis. That book alone boosted me about 600 points. Read that book, cover to cover. It will do wonders to your game.
Andrew Soltis is an excellent writer when it comes to middlegame books. Avoid his opening books, however.
I've never heard of The Innner Game of Chess. I'll check into that book. Thanks.
I did read the Inner Game of Tennis in college. Awesome book!
I would start by reading the several dozen threads on Silman's Reassess.
Thank you. I got the answer I was looking for.
"My recommended order (though all stand alone):
1) Read Reassess Your Chess through page 52. Then put it away! [Dan's note: You can skip this 1st step with the 4th ed. of How to Reassess Your Chess]
2) Read all of The Amateur's Mind.
3) Read the rest of How to Reassess Your Chess.
4) Read The Workbook.
And yes, you have to start people out with tactics and the basic mates else they will get shredded instantly.”- IM Jeremy Silman in an e-mail to Dan, 11/16/2001.
Since I have the 4th edition of Reassess, I will start with The Amateur's Mind.
For my studies on positional chess/strategy, I'm almost done with Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide To Chess. When I finish, which book by Silman do you recommend? I own both, and have gone through a few pages of each, and both talk about imbalances. Are both books sort of duplicates of each other?
Musik:
How did you like the Pandolfini book? Im looking to get a book on strategy.
I forgot to mention my favorite part about the book. The format is Student-Teacher, the Socratic method, for the entire book!
Read Reassess first, Mind afterward. Mind teaches you how to use what you learned in Reassess first.
Trying to read Mind first will give you a boat and an oar. Just no water.
Read Reassess first, Mind afterward. Mind teaches you how to use what you learned in Reassess first.
Trying to read Mind first will give you a boat and an oar. Just no water.
Can you elaborate? Silman and Dan say to read The Amateur's Mind first, provided you have the 4th edition of How To Reassess Your Chess.
"My recommended order (though all stand alone):
1) Read Reassess Your Chess through page 52. Then put it away!
[Dan's note: You can skip this 1st step with the 4th ed. of How to Reassess Your Chess]
2) Read all of The Amateur's Mind.
3) Read the rest of How to Reassess Your Chess.
4) Read The Workbook.
And yes, you have to start people out with tactics and the basic mates else they will get shredded instantly.”
- IM Jeremy Silman in an e-mail to Dan, 11/16/2001.
Taken From Silman's site:
https://www.jeremysilman.com/faqs/
"A: What is the best order to read your books?
Q: The answer depends on your strength. However, let’s say you are 1800 or below. In that case read the 4th edition of How to Reassess Your Chess to page 28, next read all of The Amateur’s Mind, then go back to How to Reassess Your Chess and read the whole thing cover to cover. While reading those two books, spend some time going through Silman’s Complete Endgame Course (only reading as far as your rating level)."
From the 4th Edition of HTRYC:
On page 28, he states if you are rated below 1800, or lower rated, have tactical issues, prone to blunders,you need to "get on top of this stuff".
On page 636, he gives you a study plan suggestion with suggested books. This has helped me SO much!
Tactics (WINNING CHESS TACTICS BY YASSER SEIRAWAN( along with any other book for puzzle drills), and ART OF ATTACK IN CHESS BY VLADIMIR VUKOVIC)
Building Opening Repertoire (FCO FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS BY PAUL VAN DER STERREN,and for much later, MODERN CHESS OPENINGS BY NICK DE FIRMIAN)
Positional Play (Amateur's Mind, How To Reassess Your Chess)
The Endgame (Silmans' Complete Endgame Course).
Then after that on page 638, he gives the time frames on about how much time to spend on each section of the suggested study program.
About the Workbook:
The Workbook can be utilized with or without HTRYC. Use it as a Test for HTRYC, Puzzle book or Read the solutions as an Instruction manual. (taken from the back cover).
From what I understand from reading the books (I only started though, so can't comment on them extensively), "Reassess Your Chess" is about general positional and tactical elements, while "Amateur's Mind" is more about developing the right thinking patterns. I'd say you can read them both at the same time, although, as others pointed out, Silman recommends reading "Amateur's Mind" first.
@MayCaesar: you are correct.
I have Silman’s reassess your chess book and let me tell you, it is not going to be an easy read for a 1000 or below ELO. It is packed with material and concepts but is presented in an overwhelming manner for lower ELO rated players. I recommend reading amateurs mind first. If you already have the book, look at people making videos that explains the concept on YouTube and also really try to understand what Silman is saying what he is saying move by move in the book.
For my studies on positional chess/strategy, I'm almost done with Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide To Chess. When I finish, which book by Silman do you recommend? I own both, and have gone through a few pages of each, and both talk about imbalances. Are both books sort of duplicates of each other?