 | Aron Nimzowitsch: A Reappraisal by Raymond Keene
Buy used from: $15.00 You must have a plan to play chess. Nimzowitch's games showcase many plans and studying them with Keene's excellent notes cannot fail to improve your play. Much better than "My System" and "Chess Praxis"
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 | Rocking the Ramparts: A Guide to Attacking Chess by Larry Christiansen
Buy used from: $15.50 Storming the Barricades was a good book, but this one is AWESOME!
Just the chapters on the Evans Gambit and the Center Game are worth the price of admission.
You'll never view the rook in the same way again after this book which reacquainted me with the sheer fun of chess.
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 | Chess Tactics for Advanced Players by Yuri Averbakh
Buy used from: $45.00 Grab it if you can. Endgame studies and instructive games galore.
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 | Power Chess With Pieces: The Ultimate Guide to the Bishop Pair & Strong Knights (New in Chess) by Jan Timman
Buy new: $25.95 / Used from: $15.14 Probably my favorite overall work.
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 | The Art of the Middle Game by Paul Keres
Buy new: $8.76 / Used from: $3.62 This book provides my framework for chess. I've read and reread it several times.
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 | Chess Training for Budding Champions by Jesper Hall
Buy new: $14.96 / Used from: $4.07 A cheap book that kicked my strength up to class 'A.' How many books provide as much information?
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 | Understanding Your Chess by James Rizzitano
Buy new: $24.95 / Used from: $7.95 Killer read. You can learn how to learn from your own games by watching Rizzitano go through his own.
Excellent games in variations you might not expect (i.e., four knights).
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 | Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master by Jeremy Silman
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $16.00 solid book...but still better is...
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 | 100 Endgames You Must Know: Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player by Jesus de la Villa
Buy new: $18.21 / Used from: $14.56 Tough book. Short enough to finish. Helped me improve.
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 | Bishop vs Knight (Modern Practical Endings.) by Byron Jacobs
Second favorite. I can't believe people don't just love this book.
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 | Simple Chess: New Algebraic Edition by Michael Stean
Buy new: $9.95 / Used from: $6.34 Everyone should have this masterpiece.
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 | Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors, Part 1 by Garry Kasparov
Buy new: $23.10 / Used from: $12.91 The first volume is probably the weakest of the series, but has games that are easy to learn from. Buy the whole set as the foundation for your library.
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 | Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $15.00 The endgame work...the 'tragicomedies' make me feel better if I botch an ending.
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 | Chess Opening Essentials: The Ideas & Plans Behind ALL Chess Openings - Volume 1: The Complete 1. e4 by Stefan Djuric
Buy new: $19.77 / Used from: $17.44 My favorite opening series. Plus my wife bought me this book! Brief theory with noteworthy games to emulate.
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