Dynamic Chess Inc.

List of Recommended Books

Opening

Challenging the Sicilian with 2.a3 by Bezgodov. One of the most original opening books ever
written. A lot of it can probably be devoured with modern computers but in 2004 this book was
such a trip to read. To give you an idea about the kind of crazy stuff is in this book a sample line
is 1.e4 c5 2.a3!? e6 3.b4 cxb4 4.axb4 Bxb4 5.Bb2 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.c4 Nb6 8.Ra3!! with the
remarkable idea of Rg3 with some attacking chances and if 8..Bxa3 9.Bxa3 traps black’s king in
the center! Out of print now so if you see a copy get your paws on it!

GM Repertoire vs the Sicilian Vol. 1 by Parimarjan Negi. The first book to my knowledge in
recent times that offers a juicy repertoire as white with 6.Bg5 vs the Najdorf. This book is an
absolutely gorgeous feast of attacking chess and while a lot of the sharpest lines need to be
updated (such is the fate of opening books nowadays), this book can create a good base for a
lovely attacking repertoire vs the most popular variation of the Sicilian.

Richter Rauzer Reborn by Kozul and Jankovic: An absolutely mind-bending book which covers
what can be considered as one of the most misunderstood variations of the Sicilian defense. For
years the reputation of the black side of the Richter Rauzer, specifically Kozul’s namesake
variation was regarded as suspicious by opening theory and yet the two authors among other
grandmasters remained faithful to it. With the advent of modern computing technology this
variation was vindicated as computers realized all is not gloom for black, leading to a new
revival of the classical sicilian. Zdenko Kozul is a leading authority on this line so what he says
must be considered to be gospel.

GM Repertoire Dragon volumes 1 and 2 by Gawain Jones: One of the strongest grandmasters to
regularly employ the Dragon variation shares all of his secrets. What is remarkable about these
books is that they are about to be 5 years old and yet they have aged remarkably well in an era
where opening books can go out of date quickly. For being this old the book is remarkably solid
and will be best suited towards the stronger player willing to put in some hard work. The
developments in a lot of lines will need to be scrutinized but this book has held up time and time
again as the gold standard in this opening.

Tiger’s Modern/The Modern Tiger by Tiger Hillarp Persson. I (GM) remember when I was a
younger, less experienced player that the Modern defense (1.e4 g6) fit into a category of
openings that I would never ever play. Reading the original Tiger’s Modern (The Modern Tiger
is the newer version) completely changed my mind and now the Modern defense is one of my
main weapons as black. The book focuses on a specific interpretation of the opening,
emphasizing the idea of a6 and b5 when white develops his knight to c3. This aims for an
interesting type of hybrid between the Sicilian Najdorf and Dragon variations, and yet the
opening is amorphous enough to also resemble the Pirc, King’s Indian, Hippopotamus, Philidor,
and even the Ruy Lopez! Eye opening stuff for adventurous readers looking for something not
totally mainstream as black.

Dismantling the Sicilian (2009) by De la Villa: Outdated now but I was a big fan of this book
when it came out over 10 years ago. The attacking flavor of this book pulled me in and I won a
lot of games with the hard-hitting suggestions in this book. I (GM) really enjoyed the format of
this book based on illustrative games and featuring a summary of lines with evaluations at the
end of each chapter. Even though I still refer to this volume every now and then the readers will
be interested to know there is a newer 2017 edition of this book with Max Illingworth as an
author. If you can get your hands on a copy of the original English 2009 edition, the details in a
lot of lines will need to be reworked but it forms the basis for a strong repertoire vs the Sicilian

Sicilian Attacks by Yakovich: Gorgeous book that focuses more on the resulting middlegames in
Sicilian positions where white castles queenside. A very specific topic but covered extremely
well in great depth. Readers can also pick out some theoretical tidbits despite the book being
over 10 years old.

King’s Indian Warfare by Ilya Smirin: Again, more of a middlegame book than an opening book,
but few books come close to this lovely effort by Smirin (one of the greatest exponents of the
KID in the modern era). A treasure trove of dynamic chess, this book will inspire, amaze, and
educate as the reader gets exposed to the vast wonders that is the King’s Indian. A must have for
all KID players.

Opening for White According to Anand 1.e4 by Alexander Khalifman: Massive 13 volume series
that sets the layout for a hardcore, super GM level repertoire. Very influential for its time in
theoretical terms but also the standard to which other books were written.

Grandmaster Repertoire 1: 1.d4 by Boris Avrukh. A lot of water has passed under the bridge
since this book came out in 2008 but it’s hard to express into words how influential this book
was. A standard bearer in terms of theoretical content (tons of high level novelties) as well as
quality of the writing, chess books continue to be produced in a similar fashion by Quality Chess
due in large part to the success of this book. It has since been updated in separate volumes thus
completing a world-class 1.d4 repertoire written by a strong GM who has worked with Kramnik,
Caruana, and many others.
Winning with the Trompowsky by Peter Wells: Normally whenever a book contains the title
“winning with”, strong players tend to doubt the credibility of such books in question. However
there is nothing gimmicky about this book, giving a unique perspective on an opening which had
not seen too much comprehensive coverage in chess literature. Three years after the publication
of this book Peter Wells beat Alexei Shirov in 13 moves with the tromp without so much as
breaking a sweat, punishing a line which was covered in this great book.

El Atacque de Trompowsky by De la Villa: Spanish language coverage of the Trompowsky

similar to Wells’ book which uses complete games to illustrate concepts and theoretical lines

Unconventional Approaches to Modern Chess Vol. 1 by Ipatov: Unique book by Thinkers

Publishing, a company emerging with several novel ideas to challenge the Quality Chess
Juggernaut. This book covers a lot of rare and unorthodox opening ideas for black in a wide
variety of openings. There is something for everyone here but be warned, some of these ideas
have a hazard warning next to them! With that being said, a lot of the ideas don’t involve a lot of
risk but the author always writes with a practical mindset so even if one would emerge with a
theoretical disadvantage, the position will likely be rich enough to enable one to outplay the
opponent

The Strategic Nimzo Indian by Ivan Sokolov: A titanic effort, covering one of the most complex
labyrinths in modern chess, the Nimzo Indian with 4.e3. This book remains relevant even 8 years
after publication since a lot of the rare lines have a relatively stable character. Careful research
combined with examination of this book is bound to provide plenty of ammunition for both black
and white.

Play the Nimzo Indian by Dearing: A solid and dynamic repertoire for black taught to the reader
through illustrative games. This book was a big help towards forming my first Nimzo Indian
Repertoire as black

Leningrad System: a Complete Weapon Against 1.d4 by Kindermann: Groundbreaking book on

the Leningrad Dutch for the time made even more invaluable by giving thorough advice vs. the
Flank Openings. For those looking to avoid opening preparation and to play non-standard
positions in the closed games, you’ve found the book. In recent times the Leningrad has been
taken up from time to time by top names such as Carlsen, Caruana, Nakamura, and
Nepomniatchi so the variation can be considered quite sound despite the previously sketchy
reputation.

The King’s Gambit by John Shaw: Absolutely massive tome on the most romantic of all chess
openings, truly a labor of love as you can tell from the size alone. Repertoire coverage is given
from white’s perspective, as well as a thorough overview on options that Shaw doesn’t
recommend. Definitely a trend-setting book as the lines played were heavily tested in
correspondence play and appear to hold up. To undertake such an effort in such a computer
heavy world was extremely brave.

Middlegame: Attacking Chess/Tactics

Storming the Barricades and Rocking the Ramparts by Larry Christiansen: These are two
separate books and are very charming as far as chess books go. Chock full of great attacking
principles, advice, and inspiring examples these books will take your attacking play and
imagination to the next level. Insights from a former US champion and reputable attacking
player will show you the real-life thinking process of a grandmaster.

Attack with Mikhail Tal by Tal and Damsky: Anything by Mikhail Tal is a must-read, let alone
something on his specialty attacking chess. Unfortunately this book was to be his last, as he
passed away before it was published so we never got to see the last chapter of the book
(attacking on the queenside). Easily digestible examples on a certain theme followed by
exercises at the end of each chapter make this book both charming and thoroughly educational.

Combinational Motifs by Maxim Blokh: This is essentially the book version of the software
CT-ART. The problems vary in difficulty which makes the book suitable for all levels of players,
even for masters (2200+USCF) and above. The unique format of each problem containing
another problem within itself (almost every position can be solved as both white and black to
move) blew my mind when I first saw it and the selected problems helped me really feel the
tactical horsepower.
Forcing Chess Moves by Charles Hertan: A great book for players and coaches of all strengths
which has seen 4 editions since its first publication in 2008. Anyone hoping to increase their
tactical awareness and willing to put in some hard work will be handsomely rewarded. Loads of
examples with thorough explanations on how to think plus exercises to reinforce learning make
this a must-have for any chess library.

Imagination in Chess by Paata Gaprindashvili : Amazing book which is mostly exercise based
testing calculation, tactical awareness, and resourcefulness among other things. What makes this
book unique is that it also contains discussions on the thinking process with applicable advice for
readers to improve on this subject; diagrams are given to show the proper flow of each
recommended process. Be careful, the level of difficulty for a lot of these examples is extremely
high. Such that many Grandmasters have told me in confidence that the book is almost too
difficult for them! Definitely for the extremely ambitious player or anyone looking for a real
challenge.

Critical Moments in chess by Paata Gaprindashvili: Another lovely effort by Gaprindashvili on

one of the hardest things to train in chess: decision making. Careful study of the examples and
exercises given will help the reader develop a better feeling for handling the initiative. To teach
someone how to feel is so abstract and difficult and this book filled with great examples and
practical advice does just that.

Invisible Chess Moves by Afek and Neiman: A very digestible read which examines the causes
of why humans tend to miss certain types of chess moves (so digestible in fact that I read the
book in a day). An awareness of the types of moves that tend to elude the human mind will
hopefully increase our ability to find them when it really counts. Groundbreaking stuff which
goes where published literature had previously not gone before.

Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation by Jacob Aagaard: Perhaps my (GM) favorite book in

the acclaimed Grandmaster Preparation series, this book seeks to strengthen the readers
calculation ability through exercises on various themes such as candidates, prophylaxis,
intermediate moves etc. The level is very high and the exercises deep so it’s no surprise that this
book is present in the libraries of GM Surya Ganguly (second of Vishy Anand),GM Alexander
Motylev (former European champion), and GM Boris Gelfand (Runner-up in the world
championship) and doubtless hundreds of other Grandmasters across the world.

Combinations: the Heart of Chess by Irving Chernev: A charming book which provides a primer
on a variety of chess combinations in addition to providing tactical highlight reels for great
players of the past (Morphy, Anderssen, Alekhine, Pillsbury among many others). Lower rated
players will find good training material with the wealth of examples presented while higher rated
players can find both teaching material and inspiration. Players newer to the game may be put off
by the old descriptive notation used in the book but if one is not averse to it, hours of enjoyment
are to be had with this book.

Grandmaster Preparation: Attack and Defense by Jacob Aagaard: Another quality edition to the
renowned Grandmaster Preparation series, this book seeks to help the reader develop both their
attacking and defensive skills in an exercise-based format. Demanding as it is, this book is a
pleasure to work through because you can really feel the horsepower and strength of all the
chosen exercises.

Attacking Manual 1 and 2 by Jacob Aagaard. Two great books containing a lot of practical
advice on various aspects of attacking chess illustrated with a good balance of examples (a lot of
which are fresh and not seen in a lot of previous literature on the same subject) and exercises.
Something that is unique that I haven’t seen too much of in subsequent literature is that certain
exercises are highlighted as recommended to play out against a computer. This makes for
extremely difficult training but potentially rewarding; I know Topalov did something similar in
training for the 2005 FIDE world championship (which he won in great fashion).

Perfect your chess by Andrei Volokitin and Vladimir Grabinsky. Great exercise book which
contains not only exercises of a tactical nature, but also simply positions where one must just
“make a move” as the chapter title states. Containing many unique examples, this book also tells
you which examples are suited to what rating level, thus giving you an idea on your progress.
Written by a top 100 player, Volokitin (peak rating 2725) and his coach, my only complaint is
that they didn’t write more books!

How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician by David Lemoir. This was one of the first chess
books given to me by my (GM) mother as a present. I was just as enamored with this book
almost 18 years ago as I am now. While offering some exercises, the main highlight has to be the
unique examples and the chapter divisions on certain types of sacrifices and attacks. The analysis
isn’t super dense so it is digestible for players of all levels but provides tons of inspiration and
enjoyment to any player reading this book.

Middlegame: Strategy and misc.

Risk and Bluff in Chess: By Vladimir Tukmakov: Without a doubt one of my favorite chess
books ever written. This gem of a book shows how far one can really defy the laws of what is
humanly possible in chess through calculated risks. The uniqueness of the topic and the content
itself is so inspiring that I can hardly do it justice. I (GM) found this book when I was voting in
an election at the library. Next thing I knew the lights were turning off and the library was
closing, I was so engrossed with the book that I forgot where I was. I was so inspired by what I
read that a week later I tied for second place at the Mid America Open with a few Grandmasters
(missing first by half a point) and I immediately grabbed a copy a few days later, you should too.

Bobby Fischer: His Approach to Chess by Elie Augur: Another one of my favorite books ever
written, this time by a complete unknown. This book provides something that resembles a
complete chess education examining Fischer’s games in a totally new light. Insights are given to
unique topics like piece formations, playing for a win, active defense and counter attack, typical
blunders etc. Another inspiring book which offers thought provoking material for readers to
ponder in their own games
Simple Chess and More Simple Chess by Emms: Accessible to a wide audience, these two
volumes by Emms provide great examples which illustrate strategic themes with great clarity.
Topics such as the bishop pair, doubled pawns, squares etc are covered with great explanations
followed by a few exercises at the end of each chapter. John Emms has a track record as a great
author and these books are super solid and no exception to that rule.

Seven Deadly Chess Sins by Rowson. A stunning effort by Scotland’s first GM, this book looks
at the seven main causes chess games are lost. The abstract nature of this topic makes it difficult
to write about which is why it is obvious that this book is a labor of love. Unique examples
coupled with philosophical discussions on each “sin” make for highly thought-provoking
reading, provided the reader is willing to be honest and introspective with regards to their own
play. I first started reading this book as a master and noticed marked improvement in my play
due to the awareness that this book promoted. This book and Rowson’s Chess for Zebras
(another book taking preconceptions and bad habits into chess gold) earned the highest praise of
famed chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky (author of some of the best chess books ever written in the
eyes of many).

Pump Up Your Rating by Axel Smith: A great effort, a virtual one stop shop for all of your chess
improvement needs. The chapter on pawn play is worth the price of the book alone; the practical
recommendations about move timing, playing in time trouble, creating a list of mistakes (and
how to analyze them), and opening preparations are all gold. The author gives unique real-world
insight to how strong players think at the board and how they work away from it. This book will
be eye opening for players of all levels, but those aspiring for titles will find it especially
valuable.

The Method in Chess/The Critical Moment by Iossif Dorman. These two very important books
lay the groundwork for an interesting system of understanding chess. The Method introduces it
while The Critical Moment goes further in depth with the system. Dorfman’s system is based on
four factors: 1. Static king position 2. Material Balance 3.Who stands better after the exchange of
queens 4. Pawn structure. Dorfman used to work with Kasparov so anything he says shouldn’t be
taken lightly and while such a systematic approach might not appeal to everyone, the clarity of
explanation as well as the absence of ultra long variations give the impression of a very pure
chess understanding.

The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes by Romain Edouard: Another general improvement
book offering strong insights from a strong former 2700 player. Examples are taken largely from
his own practice and the author is not shy when it comes to exposing some of his shortcomings.
The practical advice as well as some of the mistakes made by the author will undoubtedly be
eye-opening for many readers hovering around the master level. The subsequent volumes on
calculation especially his middlegame exercise book received high praise from many, including
Susan Polgar.

Mastering Chess Strategy by Johann Hellsten. A monumental collection of great examples that
deal with all of the fundamentals of chess strategy. With plenty of exercises to complete, this is
an ideal volume for anyone looking for a collection of model games on specific themes to build
their strategic understanding. The clarity of the examples is striking as well as the explanations.
Teachers will find great reference material here as well and I suspect even IM or GM level
players will have a great time with this book.

Positional Chess Handbook by Israel Gelfer. The Israeli FM who wrote this book might not be a
household name, but what a masterpiece he left behind. Every now and then one comes across a
chess book that drags you in and charms you to no end, for me this was such a book. Clear, crisp,
and to the point is the creed of this book with examples that couldn’t be better selected. I could
really feel the strength of every example, a lot of which were very unique to that book (it is
common for a lot of books to cannibalize one another in selection of examples). While the
reading might be slightly dry, the selection is so good that any ambitious reader can seriously
level up with a book like this.

Your Opponent’s Resources by Mark Dvoretsky: Even though this is one of the last books
published by Mark Dvoretsky, I believe it was the best. Dvoretsky often wrote about
prophylactic thinking in his works so it was very refreshing to see an entire volume devoted to
the topic. Training the reader through exercises, the hard work through each carefully curated
chapter will undoubtedly get the attentive reader to strengthen the prophylactic side of their
brain. Something which is neglected all too often by chess players. Be warned though, this book
is meant to give a serious challenge to players 21-2200 and up, but any diligent student is bound
to get something out of this book with the right approach.

Under the Surface by Jan Markos: This is possibly my favorite chess book that I’ve read in the
last 3-4 years. I was so engrossed in the book that I must have read and re-read the book in a
space of 2 or less days. With so many books written on chess strategy, to offer something new in
this modern era is nothing short of remarkable. Many of the concepts discussed are rarely if at all
discussed in previous literature and so the reader is invited to reimagine chess strategy to the
lovely interpretation of this book. Markos guides the reader through concepts such as
“infection”, “billiard balls”, “hierarchy”, and “magnetic skin” among others in chapters that are
easily digestible with plenty of explanations. I never looked at chess the same way after reading
this book and neither will anyone who buys this masterpiece.
Psychology in Chess by Krogius: Older soviet era publication on a topic which strong players
often understand, but rarely teach or write about. The abstract nature of the subject makes it
difficult to even figure out where to begin but the former second of Boris Spassky (leading him
to victory in the 1969 world championship) guides us through the dizzying maze through
concepts like intuition, deficiencies in attention, retained images etc. For anyone looking to add a
better understanding of the human part of chess or anyone looking to get an insight as to why the
Soviets were so dominant can be found in this book.

Bishop vs Knight: The Verdict by Steve Mayer: A lovely volume written by a lesser known
National Master level player on one of the most delicate battles that can occur in chess. Mayer
does an excellent job examining the topic of bishop vs knight through the context of several
historical examples (Steinitz demonstrating the superiority of the bishop pair in an open position,
Chigorin and his handling of the knights) while examining various other situations relative to
piece and pawn correlation. In doing so Mayer introduces the reader to other concepts which
were novel for chess literature (changing the color of your bishop, increasing the speed of your
knights) which round out a great treatment on a subject misunderstood often by class players.

Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy/Chess Strategy in Action: I am too often asked by amateurs
whether “My System” by Nimzowitsch is a good book to read on strategy, in short I would say
that while extremely relevant and groundbreaking for its time, there are more relevant books to
read. The two volumes listed above show how chess strategy evolved since Nimzo’s time and
illustrate said evolution through no shortage of examples, basically proving that nothing is sacred
in chess anymore. Check out
https://www.alexcolovic.com/2016/06/secrets-of-modern-chess-strategy/ for an in depth review
by an insightful Grandmaster.

Art of Defense in Chess by Polugaevsky and Damsky: One of the first books I ever owned, it was
well beyond my paygrade at the time. However as I became stronger I continually revisited the
book and got progressively more and more out of it. Defense is psychologically more taxing than
attacking so strengthening this part of one's game will give a leg up over the competition. The
reader will be shown typical devices such as fortresses, counterattack in the center, counterattack
on the king, simplification and so many more. One argument I have heard about books from this
era is that they lack relevance due to modern computers, but I think this is simply false. It’s far
more important to see the method, the illustration of the device in practice than to get wrapped
up in the move-by-move specifics pointed out by the engine.

Techniques of Positional play by Broznik and Terekhin. Have you ever wondered if there were
any “secret” techniques that strong players have in their arsenal that rank and file players don’t
have? Look no further than this amazing book which presents 45 typical techniques that are
without a doubt understood by every Grandmaster. With such ideas being presented like
“Restriction, hitting the junction, and the potential queen” readers eyes will be opened to ideas
that are present in nearly every high level chess game but often glossed over in post game
interviews and annotations. To take your positional chess understanding to the next level, check
this book out which shows many advanced grandmaster techniques that can be applied in your
games today!

Best Play: A New Method for Discovering the Strongest Move by Alexander Shashin: Be warned,
this is not like any chess book that you have ever read or probably ever been created! The author
proposes a new system-like approach to chess understanding by use of algorithms and formulas
dedicated to positional, attacking, and defensive play. I can’t say much more to do this book
justice but this is definitely a unique book for someone looking for an out of the box view on
chess strategy. While Shashin might give off the impression that he is something of a snake oil
salesman, there is merit to be had in this book by re-examining the games of Petrosian, Tal,
Capablanca, and other greats and finding much that is new.

Secrets of Practical Chess by John Nunn. A great one-stop-shop for chess improvers, looking for
advice on all aspects of chess! Nunn’s introduction of terms such as “LPDO” and “DUAT”
(Loose pieces drop off and Don’t analyze unnecessary tactics) are worth their weight in gold
alone. While the section on computers might be a touch outdated, readers will get a good idea of
how a world class player thinks and works on the game
Endgames

Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky: A great reference book for theoretical
endgames by one of the most celebrated chess trainers of all time. Includes great explanations for
many tablebase style endgames as well as more complicated ones. Honorable mention goes to
Karsten Muller and Frank Lamprecht for Fundamental Chess Endings for a similarly
encyclopedic tome.

100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesus De la Villa: A less intimidating volume tailored more
towards less experienced players when it comes to theoretical endgames, breaking down what
you need to know and giving practical advice and memory tips. Pair this with his subsequent
workbook on the same subject for a winning combination

Endgame Strategy by Mikhail Shereshevsky: A good old school read which introduces tenets of
practical endgames. One of the first works to cover the topics of “Do not hurry” and “The
principle of two weaknesses” in depth, the reader will soon find out why so many older
grandmasters hold this book in high esteem.
Secrets of Chess Endgame Strategy by Lars Bo Hansen: Covering the aspects of practical
endgame play, this manual gives several illustrative examples on the hardest part of learning
endgames; technique. Basically a slightly modernized version of Shereshevsky’s work with
additional twists.

Amateur to IM by Jonathan Hawkins: An honest appraisal of the author’s own play, this book
shows the hard work that the author put into breaking through to a new level by elevating his
level of play in the endgame. This book is a unique mix of both practical and theoretical
endgames, not to be missed is the chapter on the notorious king, rook, and bishop vs king and
rook endgame in which many elite grandmasters have come undone.

Jeremy Silman’s Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman: Another quality effort by the great
American chess author and IM. Readable from beginner to master as the title states, this book is
a fantastic mix of theoretical and practical endgames with in-depth explanations that readers
have come to expect from Silman.

Endgame Artillery by Alex Angos: Extremely rare book from 1982 written by a former Greek
champion. While the author is not well known at all, this book covers an often neglected type of
endgame; the heavy piece endgame. I can’t recall seeing a better treatise on such endgames apart
from Marin’s chapter on Alekhine in Learn from the Legends. Clear and succinct explanations
give the reader plenty of typical examples to comprehend what is often a very tricky and tactical
type of endgame.

The Art of the Endgame by Jan Timman: Jan Timman is a unique person in that he was not only a
world class player/world championship candidate, but also a composer of endgame studies. Here
he presents studies by theme (mating nets, bishop promotions, fortresses) and honors famous
composers by showing his own versions of studies inspired by the originals. A breathtaking look
at the fascinating world of compositions which gives a glimpse into how studies are made.

Zimbeck’s Chess Puzzles by David Zimbeck: David Zimbeck, while not a grandmaster or a
household name by any means is undoubtedly one of the greatest chess minds I (GM) have had
the pleasure of meeting. Composing without a computer, it is not unusual to see mind-bending
positions in this book, the solutions to which could be a few hundred plus moves! For more great
content visit http://zimbeckchess.com/ immediately!

Game Collections
My Great Predecessors by Garry Kasparov: Essential reading for the history buff, Kasparov
offers insight into the games of world champions and their contemporaries as well as providing
nice biographies for each. While his analysis has been the subject of intense scrutiny, the games
themselves plus Garry’s unique views make for thoroughly instructive and entertaining reading
with a historical twist.

Tal-Botvinnik 1960 by Mikhail Tal: Perhaps my favorite book ever written on a match or
tournament ever. Tal’s annotations are witty, instructive, and inspiring as he takes the reader on a
journey through preparation for a world championship match, as well as showing what the heat
of battle looks like. Tal’s imagination was unparalleled and these shine through perfectly in his
annotations.

Secrets of Grandmaster Play and John Nunn’s Best Games by John Nunn: The chess world is so
lucky to have John Nunn because of the legacy he left with such great games and equally
amazing annotations. Lovers of sharp chess will be entertained by the fighting games that have
mind-bending complications, while those seeking insight to how a top-flight player thinks during
the game will be thoroughly satisfied.

101 Brilliant Chess Miniatures: A charming collection of decisive miniatures (games 25 moves
or shorter) that have been contested by grandmasters. Readers will see that GM and elite level
players are fallible and are treated to a selection of short games without being burdened with tons
of analysis. A great feast of tactics and sharp play!

The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal by Mikhail Tal: An absolute classic which examines the chess
of one of the most imaginative players of all time through his own eyes. Very unique is the style
in which the autobiographical part of the book is written where Tal interviews himself as a
reporter talking to Tal!

Timman’s Selected Games by Jan Timman: While Jan Timman never became world champion,
he was undoubtedly one of the biggest threats to the throne during his prime. Playing in an
enterprising universal style, Timman interpreted a wide variety of openings successfully, often
creating great innovations. The chess world is extremely indebted to Timman for his excellent
annotations and theoretical contributions. Recommended for lovers of sharp and
uncompromising chess.

The Road to the Top/The Quest for Perfection by Paul Keres: Another great player who never
became world champion, almost undoubtedly stopped by the greater powers in the Soviet
empire. Tragic as Keres’ quest for the throne may be, he played in a very universal style while
also offering readers clear and instructive annotations. Lovers of open play and 1.e4 e5 have
found a great player from which they can model their games after.

Strike Like Judit! By Charles Hertan: A spectacular collection of tactical games and fragments
from the greatest woman player of all time, Judit Polgar. Her mastery of the Sicilian defense for
both colors makes that particular chapter worth the price of the book alone! Also not to be
missed are her collection of tactical shots and scintillating endgames. Hertan writes with the
same quality that made his other work (Forcing Chess Moves) such a renowned masterpiece.

My Best Games of Chess 1908-1937 by Alexander Alekhine: A great look into the mind of one
of the best attacking players of all time, this book was basically bedside reading for a young
Kasparov (and it showed in his games too)! Readers will find Alekhine’s clear explanations on
planning and the subsequent realization to be eye opening, as well as his mastery of other phases
of the game. The book has since been re-issued in algebraic notation which makes it easier to
digest. I have heard many modern players speak negatively of this book arguing that players
during that era do not play the same dynamic chess that we play today, but I find this to be
irrelevant. Skills such as planning and attacking are necessary to master and the lack of
computeresque moves helps the reader to understand these aspects of the game and many others
in a very pure fashion.

Candidate Moves by Christian Bauer: A unique selection of games by a strong modern French
Grandmaster featuring a variety of openings. Christian Bauer is one of the most original and
adventurous players on the modern circuit today and the readers can hope to glean some insight
as to how they can inject some freshness in their games as well. Unique to this book that I have
never seen anywhere else is the examination of each game through white and black’s perspective
(Bauer will analyze the whole game through white’s perspective, then reanalyze the whole game
through the black lens).

Gata Kamsky: Chess Gamer by Gata Kamsky. So far two volumes in this series have been
released and they do not disappoint in the slightest. Kamsky has a unique story in that after
losing the 1996 FIDE world championship match to Karpov, he hardly played until his return in
2004. Shortly returning to a top level after his return, Kamsky has given us a splendid collection
of his best efforts with some of the most in depth annotations I have ever seen. With each game
taking up approximately 15-20 pages of analysis this is definitely not a book for the lazy.
However Kamsky does not seek to drown the reader in an endless sea of variations, rather it is
representative of the depth to which he understands chess, providing first-class explanations in
the process. One of the few books I have read which gave me the instant impression of feeling
stronger from going over the content.
Learn from the Legends by Mihail Marin: A monumental work which examines in depth
specific aspects of the game that great players of the past have enriched our understanding of.
Examples include Rubinstein and his mastery of Rook endgames, Karpov and Opposite Colored
Bishops, Alekhine and the “fourth phase” of the game (endgames with queens and rooks). The
analysis is extremely detailed and the explanations are equally painstaking making this a book
for those seeking to model their play after certain great players of the past.

Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev: Old school look on classic
instructive games based on a theme. Students will find themes illustrated clearly through the
games while coaches can find model games and positions to which they can show their students
valuable chess fundamentals. The easily accessible explanations make this book entertaining to
amateurs and strong players alike.