How many chess books have you actually read? • page 2/3 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I've never read any book on chess.

I love reading. I love chess.

Reading a chess book sounds like something I'd have to do in the 7th circle of hell. No. Never. Please No.

I've never read any book on chess. I love reading. I love chess. Reading a chess book sounds like something I'd have to do in the 7th circle of hell. No. Never. Please No.

NoseKnowsAll

#12

I found Silman's "How to Reassess Your Chess" and found it super interesting to read because his writing style and examples were fantastic. I've read through it fully at least twice.

I've also read a bit of "First book on Morphy" and it was not nearly as interesting.

So for me I guess it depends on the author?

I found Silman's "How to Reassess Your Chess" and found it super interesting to read because his writing style and examples were fantastic. I've read through it fully at least twice. I've also read a bit of "First book on Morphy" and it was not nearly as interesting. So for me I guess it depends on the author?

tpr

#13

#3 'Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953' by David Bronstein is a marvellous book indeed, but the games are 64 years old now.

About 15

I have 12 books and didn't finish any of them. Only thing I read was Bobby Fischer's 60 memorable games and when I got to game 20 I quit.

FM PetarBosnjak

#16

I was really astonished by the following book: Chess for Zebras, in my opinion that one is an eye-opener.

CM Sarg0n

#17

Yeah, the Zebras. Indeed:

More eye-openers:

Seven deadly Sins, Move First Think Later, Watson SOMCS

Finally, after 20 years they have managed to teach chess. The classics are not bad: at that time, there was nothing else to read.

Yeah, the Zebras. Indeed: More eye-openers: Seven deadly Sins, Move First Think Later, Watson SOMCS Finally, after 20 years they have managed to teach chess. The classics are not bad: at that time, there was nothing else to read.

a_player

#18

actually hum, 0 ! that maybe why i suck at chess :')
In fact i always heard that you have to read books and learn opening, but does it REALLY make you progress ? i dont understand how learning openings is helpfull when you play blitz or bullet .. its boring and seems useless

actually hum, 0 ! that maybe why i suck at chess :') In fact i always heard that you have to read books and learn opening, but does it REALLY make you progress ? i dont understand how learning openings is helpfull when you play blitz or bullet .. its boring and seems useless

d0su

#19

Rapid Chess Improvement - Michael de la Maza
It's Your Move! - Chris Ward
The Amateur's Mind - Jeremy Silman
Smerdon's Scandinavian - David Smerdon

People like to poke fun at de la Maza's book as being gimmicky and self-promoting (which it is), but having read it pretty early on, it makes a lot of sense for someone who wants practical results and is willing to put in the work. When I got the book in middle school, my chess coach noticed an improvement after I spent one week doing the visualization exercises.

Rapid Chess Improvement - Michael de la Maza It's Your Move! - Chris Ward The Amateur's Mind - Jeremy Silman Smerdon's Scandinavian - David Smerdon People like to poke fun at de la Maza's book as being gimmicky and self-promoting (which it is), but having read it pretty early on, it makes a lot of sense for someone who wants practical results and is willing to put in the work. When I got the book in middle school, my chess coach noticed an improvement after I spent one week doing the visualization exercises.

ruttuvaari edited

#20

#18 a_player, a personal example: I've played the Alekhine for three decades and it has given me very much useful experience which matters very much in blitz. For example, every time I see too early Nf3 in the Four Pawns Attack (so that I can at once play ...Bg4 instead of ...Bf5 and then ...Bg4) by White. And one cheap trick in 4. Bc4 followed by completely unsound 5. Bxf7+ sacrifice. I've seen that so many times.

It does help to have a decent position before one starts to blunder in tactics, like a patzer like me does.

#18 a_player, a personal example: I've played the Alekhine for three decades and it has given me very much useful experience which matters very much in blitz. For example, every time I see too early Nf3 in the Four Pawns Attack (so that I can at once play ...Bg4 instead of ...Bf5 and then ...Bg4) by White. And one cheap trick in 4. Bc4 followed by completely unsound 5. Bxf7+ sacrifice. I've seen that so many times. It does help to have a decent position before one starts to blunder in tactics, like a patzer like me does.