Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

The Amateur's Mind: Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery

This book takes the student on a journey through his own mind and returns him to the chess board with a wealth of new-found knowledge and the promise of a significant gain in strength. Most amateurs possess erroneous thinking processes that remain with them throughout their chess lives. These flaws in their mental armour result in stinging defeats and painful reversals. Books can be bought and studied, lessons can... (more)

Desperate Duchesses

by Eloisa James

Welcome to a world of reckless sensuality and glittering sophistication . . . of dangerously handsome gentlemen and young ladies longing to gain a title . . . of games played for high stakes, including—on occasion—a lady's virtue. A marquess's sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a game player of consummate skill, a notorious... (more)

Chess For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

Chess For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

by James Eade

Proven tactical tips to strengthen your game Your quick and easy guide to the rules, strategies, and etiquette of chess Kings, queens, knights - does chess seem like a royal pain to grasp? This friendly guide helps you make the right moves. From using the correct terms to engaging in the art of attack, you'll get step-by-step explanations that demystify the game. You'll also find updated... (more)

Understanding Chess Move by Move

by John Nunn

John Nunn is one of the most highly regarded chess writers in the world. He has carefully selected thirty modern games to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and to illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that everyone can understand. Jargon is avoided as far as possible. Almost all the examples are taken from the 1990s and show how key... (more)

Winning Chess Strategies, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Strategies, revised (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

by Yasser Seirawan, Jeremy Silman

A complete overview of proven chess principles that teaches readers how to deploy their pieces using the right moves at the right time to build small advantages into effective, long-range strategies.

Winning Chess Combinations (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

Winning Chess Combinations (Winning Chess - Everyman Chess)

by Yasser Seirawan

Combinations are the central element in chess; they make the game so magical and captivating. The beautiful point of sacrificing a queen, the strongest piece, in order to checkmate with a lowly pawn brings a smile of joy to all chess lovers. Virtually all chess games possess a combination, either one hidden in the shadows of analysis carefully avoided or one that provides a decisive blow. Winning Chess... (more)

My System

A Treatise on Chess

by Aron Nimzovich

"One of the most stimulating books ever written on chess." -- Reuben Fine For many years, Nimzovich was known as the "Stormy Petrel" of the chess world. Today, his profound theories of positional chess are accepted as a matter of course, and a knowledge of them is essential to every player who wants to improve his game. My System describes a theory of chess; it also describes the character and genius of its... (more)

Chess the Easy Way

More chess coaches in America recommend this book for their students than any other book. Written by one of the World's Strongest Grandmasters who was top contender for the World Chess Championship, “Chess the Easy Way” takes the player from the beginning moves of chess, rapidly advancing to the Expert Level. Long out of print, there have been more requests for this book than ALL OTHER CHESS BOOKS COMBINED. ... (more)

101 Chess Endgame Tips

by Steve Giddins

Popular chess author Steve Giddins presents 101 ideas that are vital to successful endgame play. By absorbing and understanding these concepts and methods, you will ensure that you will spot them when they are possible in your own games. This is an ideal book to read without using a chess set, as the abundant diagrams guide you through the analysis and illustrate the key points. All types of endings are covered,... (more)

Play Winning Chess: An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess from the Usa's #1 Ranked Chess Player (Winning Chess)

Play Winning Chess: An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess from the Usa's #1 Ranked Chess Player (Winning Chess)

by Yasser Seirawan, Jeremy Silman

An introduction to the moves, strategies, and philosophy of chess, with clear explanations of the games fundamentals, instructive examples, question-and-answer sections, sample games, and psychological hints.

How to Win in the Chess Openings

by I. A. Horowitz

International Master Al Horowitz goes through every major chess opening system and provides just one line of play for White, one line of play for Black, and the reason for each move by White or Black. This book will not show the reader how to win every game, but it will provide an easy route which will enable the player to get a reasonable, playable position out of the opening with good winning chances, even... (more)

A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire

by Chris Baker

Tired of being surprised in the opening by your opponents? Horrified by the idea of studying many hours each week to keep up to date with main-line openings? Then this is the book for you! For here is a repertoire of opening lines for White, based on starting with Bobby Fischer's favorite move 1 e4, that are slightly off the beaten track, but full of practical sting and cunning traps for unwary opponents. All are... (more)

The Art of the Middle Game

by Paul Keres, Alexander Kotov, H. Golombek, A. Kotov

Translated by Harry Golombek. Superb guide to neglected area of chess. Two formidable grandmasters cover attacking the king, defense, importance of pawn structure, analysis, much more. Authoritative introduction by Harry Golombek. Belongs in the library of every serious chess enthusiast. Indexes of players and middle-game themes.

Chess for Beginners (A Picture Guide)

by Israel A. Horowitz, Sol Horowitz

In this book, I. A. Horowitz, Chess Editor of the New York Times and former U.S. Open Champion, applies some of the ideas and convictions acquired from thirty-five years of playing, teaching and analyzing the royal game. He emphasizes the tactical aspects of the game: how to recognize the big chance and hit hard when it occurs. He also stresses the ideas and methods in opening play, rather than the routine... (more)

Chess Training Pocket Book: 300 Most Important Positions and Ideas, Second Edition

Chess Training Pocket Book: 300 Most Important Positions and Ideas, Second Edition

by Lev Alburt

This newly revised volume in the successful Comprehensive Chess Course sharpens and tightens your game through examination and study of the 300 most important chess game positions. The most important and instructive positions over the last 100 years arranged as challenges, with illuminating explanations and solutions. Lev Alburt, Grandmaster of Chess and renowned three-time US chess champion, presents and analyzes... (more)

Queen's Gambit Declined

by Matthew Sadler

In this book Grandmaster Sadler explains the ideas behind the Queen's Gambit Declined, one of Black's most dependable replies to the queen's pawn. He discusses all of the major variations in popular practice, explaining the key plans and ideas and highlighting important recent developments. Written by Grandmaster Matthew Sadler, one of the world's top young players, this book offers a full explanation of both the... (more)

Kids' Book of Chess and Chess Set

by Harvey Kidder

An acclaimed introduction to the world's most enduring game. Fantasy art illustrations by Kimberly Buclken Root capture the energy and excitement of chess's origins--the medieval battlefield--while a direct, lively text explains the game and its pieces in light of history. Each chess piece and its movements are explained in connection with the medieval world that influenced its evolution. Plus the book comes along... (more)

The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain

The Immortal Game: A History of Chess, or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science and the Human Brain

by David Shenk

Why has one game, alone among the thousands of games invented and played throughout human history, not only survived but thrived within every culture it has touched? What is it about its thirty-two figurative pieces, moving about its sixty-four black and white squares according to very simple rules, that has captivated people for nearly 1,500 years? Why has it driven some of its greatest players into paranoia and... (more)

500 Master Games of Chess (3 Books in 1 Volume)

500 Master Games of Chess (3 Books in 1 Volume)

by Tartakower, Saveli-I Grigor-Evich, Savelii? Grigor?evich Tartakover, S. G. Tartakover

Vast collection of great chess games from 1798–1938, with much material nowhere else readily available. Fully annotated, arranged by opening for easier study. 150 years of master play!

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Top Books

by Mikhail Tal

by Jeremy Silman

by Eloisa James

by James Eade

by John Nunn

by Yasser Seirawan, Jeremy Silman

by Yasser Seirawan

A Treatise on Chess

by Aron Nimzovich

by Steve Giddins

by Yasser Seirawan, Jeremy Silman

by I. A. Horowitz

by Chris Baker

by Paul Keres, Alexander Kotov, H. Golombek, A. Kotov

by Israel A. Horowitz, Sol Horowitz

by Lev Alburt

by Matthew Sadler

by Harvey Kidder

by David Shenk

by Tartakower, Saveli-I Grigor-Evich, Savelii? Grigor?evich Tartakover, S. G. Tartakover