Chess Books

If You would like to Get down to the Fundamentals i would read this book before the dry and much longer Znosko-Borovsky Book "The Art Of Chess Combination." The Reinfeld book is less verbose yet it gets the job done.
If you start off with this book then progress to the Znosko-Borovsky book
and then the Book by Gyorgy Negyesy and Jozsef Hegyi "Combination In Chess"
Corvina Press 1965, you will be a most formidable opponent when you sit down at the chessboard.

This book is an excellent discussion of the elements of positional chess, for the intermediate player. This subject has been looked at in "The Middle Game in Chess" by Znosko-Borovsky and in "A Primer of Chess" by Capablanca.

Most of the books on the market which discuss positional chess present an endless parade of games, which you have to play through in order to understand the concepts. Heisman's book has a readability that these other books lack.

Heisman's concepts will make you a better positional chess player, and deserve serious attention from academics who wish to understand the heuristics which make up the positional style of play.

This book and its companion, published by Chess Stars and available at gmchess.com, present the entire collection of Lasker's games, over a period of 43 years. No player ever has maintained such a high level oif play over such a long period, except perhaps Korchnoi, but it is unlikely that he ever reached Lasker's level, at least when compared to his peers. Lasker's games are endlessly fascinating. You can see him play Steinitz, Alekhine, and Botvinnik; the King's Gambit and the King's Indian. He was there for a lot of history. He was a tenacious fighter, at every stage of the game. These books are amazing games collections to have. All fo the games are annotaed, some heavily, in Informator style. I am very glad that I have these books.

After buying MCO 13 I found it hard to find my specific opening or a specific line...it just had opening names...but with ECO B...I could just go to the ECO code and see more of white's replies...I am a Sicilian player and the ECO B20-B99 was very important to have as I could basically find any respone white would have...I recommend this much more than MCO...you will never fear 1.e4 again!

I have just finished reading this book, after realizing I had to do something about my endgame.
To my suprise Theo Schuster manages to make this (the engame)into a enjoyable subject.

You will learn basic theoretical draws and wins, rhules of thumb in those positions and the exceptions to those rules.

The book also has examples from grandmaster praxis, were you will be able to see how the masters use these rules to visualize end-positions for combinations, and how they sometimes fail (every bit as insructive).

A good example of how important the understanding of the basics this books covers is the following example:

In his book on the Zurich torurnament Bronsteins chritizises a move in one of the games, stating that White ( a pawn down) should have traded down into a rook endgame, which "in positions like this" are usually drawn!

Theo schuster's book showes why such a position is drawn.

Like Chess, Go is divided into opening, middle, and endgames. Unlike Chess, which is played on a smaller amount of real estate, the early phases of Go are filled with signs and portents, with each player making gestures and claims to not quite specified territory. The game moves from the initial claim and counter-claim to conflict and struggle until territories are defined and lines are drawn. Now comes the endgame, where all the initial positioning and saber rattling comes down-to hand-to-hand reality.

Games are won and lost here. Mistakes have immediate penalties, and a moment's loss of focus can waste a brilliant strategy. Not only must a player have an intuitive sense of tesuji - the right move, but a strong feeling for the flow and scope of the game. The player who can maintain sente, who can remain on the attack the longest has the best chance of winning. Part of this is an understanding of the value of each move. And this requires the ability to fight on many fronts at one time.

Mastering the endgame is often a struggle. Many books have been written to aid the developing player begin to understand the principles involved. One book I found very helpful, and still often go through is a part of the Elementary Go Series, "The Endgame" by Tomoko Ogawa and James Davies. The book introduces the concepts at an easily digestible rate, and provides countless games, examples, and problems to help make it real. All of this in a small format that can almost be tucked in a pocket, to be read as time permits.

Here in the United States, where it is often difficult to get to play enough competitive games, such books are the keys to improving one's game. From the outside the endgame often appears to be the dullest part of the Go game, but it is the most satisfying to master, since it makes one a winner at this complex, deceptive game.

First published by Batsford in 1979. Volume 2 deals with all variations after 1 P-QB4 N-KB3 in which Black refrains from playing ...P-K4 or ...P-QB4 early on. In most books on the English, authors have ignored or only briefly discussed lines related to the Grünfeld and King's Indian Defences; but here Watson sets out this material at great length. Popular systems involving the move ...P-K3 are deeply researched and analysed, including the 'Queen's English', 'Nimzo-English', and Mikenas-Flohr Attack. Understanding the ideas behind these variations is essential for club and tournament players who wish to play the English or have to meet it with Black.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.

International Master John Watson is widely known as a player, author, and chess trainer. His books have won numerous awards including Book-of-the-Year awards for "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action".

First published in 1979. Volume 1 covers all lines after 1 P-QB4 P-K4, Black's most popular reply to the English Opening. It often leads to sharp, tactical play with attacking chances for both sides. The book is logically organised and unlike some works on this opening includes transpositional possibilities at all stages by cross-reference to other lines.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.

International Master John Watson is widely known as a player, author, and chess trainer. His books have won numerous awards including Book-of-the-Year awards for "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action".

First published in 1980. Volume 3 (1 P-QB4 P-QB4) accounts for a high percentage of master games. The author shows that its former reputation as a dull system hasn't held up as modern players have found increasingly sharp and unbalanced methods of conducting the play. Attention to detail has been maintained and a particular effort has been made to deal thoroughly with transpositions.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.

International Master John Watson is widely known as a player, author, and chess trainer. His books have won numerous awards including Book-of-the-Year awards for "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action".

First published in 1981. Volume 4 covers the wide variety of defences to 1.P-QB4 not dealt with in the previous three volumes. A good many of these are 'Flank Defences', favouring fianchetto systems or wing attacks. Black also has the choice of a number of moves that can transpose into a standard Queen's Pawn (1.d4) or King's Pawn (1.e4) opening. This book shows that White can go his own way instead and create fascinating play in which both sides have their chances.
Watson's aim throughout has been to provide a practical balance of theory, discussion and examples. With encyclopaedic coverage and many original suggestions, this series gives the reader the ability to understand the complexities of the English Opening and to play it with confidence.

International Master John Watson is widely known as a player, author, and chess trainer. His books have won numerous awards including Book-of-the-Year awards for "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action".