Best Chess Books

I first learned how to play chess during my freshman year of high school (9th grade). I had always thought that the game was too complicated for me to learn, but when I finally did, I was fascinated by the depth and complexity of the strategies. By the time I was a senior (12th grade), I was the captain of my school's chess team and led my team to win the NJ state championship. These are some of the most memorable chess books which helped me develop my tactical and strategic chess skills to become an advanced player.

The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by International Master Jeremy Silman is a masterpiece. To this day, it is my favorite chess book; I have read it over and over again many times. Silman covers every aspect of the game: opening moves, tactical combinations, positional strategy, and endgame tips.

Believe it or not, this book is helpful for beginners and advanced players alike. That's how broad and rich the material is. Silman's writing style is also very clear and concise. He does not down you in a long boring list of moves. Instead he verbalizes as much as possible and provides a sufficient amount of diagrams so that you don't have to play out each move on your own chessboard to understand what he is referring to.

Find the Winning Move by International Master Gary Lane is another gem in a sea of chess books. To improve as a chess player, you have to practice your tactics and solve chess problems. But the problem is that most chess puzzle books are very dry and boring. And it feels like a tedious task to go through them. But not this book!

All of the examples used in this book are from real games between real masters. Lane even includes the date and location of each tournament and the description of events leading up to the current position. Then it is your job to find the killer combo that won the game. It is really fun, and I enjoyed every moment of trying to figure out how each master went about winning. It is also very insightful about the mistakes you will even find grandmaster making!

Attacking Chess by International Master Josh Waitzkin was probably the most inspirational book for me. While this book might not be as technical as the others, Josh gives a lot of insight into the psychology of chess. He talks about his own experiences as a child prodigy of chess and how it affected his daily life. He uses examples from his real games and clearly explains his thought process that he went through during each game.

There was a movie called Searching for Bobby Fischer that was released in 1993; it is about Waitzkin's life as a scholastic chess player. If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend watching that too! It is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Okay, so this one isn't a book--it's a movie. If you liked Searching for Bobby Fischer, then you will love Knights of the South Bronx, starring Ted Danson.

Richard Mason (Ted Danson) is an unemployed businessman who ends up teaching at an urban public school. He uses chess as a teaching tool, and these kids learn the meaning of success through chess. The film is so emotional--the kids have to deal with with poverty, and Richard struggles to find meaning in his life. It made a big man like me cry. It made me appreciate the game of chess even more, and it really demonstrated how the royal game is a positive influence to everyone's lives.

So if you love the game of chess like I do and you are serious about becoming a better chess player, then I would highly recommend these books and movies. Being a good chess player is a great skill to have. It keeps your brain alert and sharp. It also feel great when you beat all your friends and they think you are a genius! If you are a beginner just starting out or an intermediate player trying to get even better keep reading books, solving puzzles, and playing games. You will eventually reach your chess goals. Always forward--never quit!