From: mkukkone@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Mika Kukkonen)
Subject: Re: Request Book Recommendations
Organization: University of Helsinki
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 07:48:48 GMT

In <1ffbwwcp511@tweekco.uucp> 824-5054%wwiv@tweekco.uucp (Jay Whitley #824 @5054) writes:

>I agree with Jerry Wilcox's recommendation of Chernev's "Logical Chess
>Move-by-Move."  The question I have is:  are there any other books
>explaining every move (to the novice-to-average player) that aren't
>cryptic annotations?  Chernev's explanations are very good...any others
>like his?
>
>I also like Pandolfini's Solitaire Chess/ABCs in Chess Life...are there any
>chess books that use a similar format that help explain the moves that
>are directed toward the non-expert?
>
>I often feel that the most significant void in chess books is the bridge
>between beginners and more expert books.  Many players don't want beginners
>books, but they don't want to jump up to master-level annotated GM games!

It has been in my mind for some time to write something about this
subject, as there is a lot of chessbooks in market, and not all of them
are good. Following books are not for beginner, but for experienced
player, who has played in competitions and wants to improve.

First few good ones that give annotations after (almost) every move:

	Learn from the Grandmasters, ed. by Raymond Keene

One of my first books, this give some good analysis and thoughts, but is
a little showy on some parts (W.Browne's part being most useless egotrip).
Basically the idea was each GM to annotate one game that had a big
impact to them in youth, and then give the one they thought as their
best. Luckily most of them escaped that "best" and gave some interesting
ones (like Tal gave his endgame (!) win over Smyslow in 1964).

	Better Chess for Club Players, by Peter Griffiths

This book has been geared for mid-level or below that players, and as a
result of that gives some excellent insights to how to play certain
positions. The games themselves were played by players of mid-level
strenght, so it may be easier for reader to digest the information in
them. The book has been divided in three parts, one for games
illustrating attacking, one for positional play and one for endgames.
The is also and endgame book of same style by the author, but I have not
been able to get hands on it.

	Secrets of Grandmaster Play, by John Nunn and Peter Griffiths

A must for anyone who wants to become a master level player. This gives
excellent analysis on Nunn's own games and really shows you why those
GM's and IM's always get into time trouble at weekend tournaments :) .

Two other titles that are worth buying, if you got the money:

	Chess for Tigers, by Simon Webb

This a really fun book geared on how to become a Tiger instead being a
sniveling Rabbit that loses to everyone. The basis is on psycological
side, and this books gives you good advices how to Swindle your
opponents.

	Play like a Grandmaster, by Alexander Kotov

More general than the "Think like a GM", this also give some insight how
were are supposed to think when playing. Interesting read, and some good
advice. 

	Tal's Winning Chess Combinations, by Mikhail Tal
					  and Viktor Chenkin

This book (which btw is translated by Hanon W. Russell) is the one that
really teaches how to see those tactics. Tactical patterns are repeated
until they really get into your backbone. The name is little flashy, but
the books is excellent.

	An Opening Repertoire for White, by Raymond Keene

If 1.d4 is your move, then this book gives your some insight of what you
do have to know. The lines Keene has picked are little wierd on main
lines, and Keene's analysis is little too optimistic (same as in BCO),
but it is a good backbone for a repertoire.

	Chess Endings for the Practical Player, by Ludek Pachman

Hands up, who has studied endings at age below 20 ? IMHO youths never
have enough patience to study them (I didn't have!), but certain basic
knowledge in endgame is a must for becoming a good player. This book
gives an excellent compilation on basic endgames and practical examples
how to handle them. Learning endgames is not easy, but this book helps a
lot. 

	Lehrbuch der Shachendspiele, Band 1 & 2, by Juri Awerbach

I mention these two books only, as they are definetely the books to take
on tournaments where they are still adjourning games, If the endgame
position is not on these books, then it is not an endgame ! :)

On the subject of Informators, NIC's and various opening books:

I have found these game compilations to be good only as, well, game
compilations. The analysis on them is biased, full of errors and
generally worthless. As a funny note, I almost lost one E-mail game
because I got scared by one recommediation in early Informator, found a
side line in second oldest to only (later) to see that the line had been
refuted in newest Informator. Luckily my opponent knew nothing of this!

Dedicated opening books are needed only, if you are at expert level,
when it is necessary know something to simply avoid losing straight from
opening. But pick a book where ther are full games, as the positional
ideas behind openings are the ones that count, not some trappy lines.

I would very much start some discussion on this subject, as there really
has been too much waste on bandwith on this newsgroup lately.

Mika
-- 
Mika Kukkonen = Mika.Kukkonen@Helsinki.FI
Trying to learn to live in Helsinki University of Computer Science.
"I am studying, so I am, or am I (studying)?"
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess