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Working through chess books

I have many chess books. Sometimes I even read them.

I have many chess books. Sometimes I even read them.

'One must collect and read them' - Bronstein

'One must collect and read them' - Bronstein

@CaptainHugbard said in #1:

Should I work through several at once or just one at a time?

It's best to work through one book at a time. Working through a book can be very time-consuming. It depends on how many pages a book has. And which topic(s) it has.

@CaptainHugbard said in #1: > Should I work through several at once or just one at a time? It's best to work through one book at a time. Working through a book can be very time-consuming. It depends on how many pages a book has. And which topic(s) it has.

@tpr said in #12:

'One must collect and read them' - Bronstein

Right

@tpr said in #12: > 'One must collect and read them' - Bronstein Right

@EmaciatedSpaniard: Thank you. Silmans Endgames Course I started as well...

@EmaciatedSpaniard: Thank you. Silmans Endgames Course I started as well...

"It's best to work through one book at a time." * Yes

"Working through a book can be very time-consuming." * Yes. Take Zürich 1953 by Bronstein. It contains 210 games. They played at 2.5 hours per 40 moves, i.e. each game lasted about 5 hours. That makes a total of 1050 hours playing time. Why would you think you could work through these games in less than 1050 hours?

"It's best to work through one book at a time." * Yes "Working through a book can be very time-consuming." * Yes. Take Zürich 1953 by Bronstein. It contains 210 games. They played at 2.5 hours per 40 moves, i.e. each game lasted about 5 hours. That makes a total of 1050 hours playing time. Why would you think you could work through these games in less than 1050 hours?

Prior to indulging in complex GM maneuvered games, you should have learned the ropes.
If you have not used the sites learning section, you might as well leave your books where they are.

Solve at 100%:
https://lichess.org/learn
https://lichess.org/practice

Use:
https://lichess.org/training/coordinate
https://lichess.org/study
https://lichess.org/video

Assisting with opening preparation :
https://lichess.org/training/openings
Sort openings by most popular. Notice which popular openings are not in orange.
The popular openings that are not in orange are the ones you need to learn and practice.
Even with that, you're not really going to be playing any novelty moves until you get out of the book moves.
If you want to use your books or AI, search for the opening name you need to study.

Prior to indulging in complex GM maneuvered games, you should have learned the ropes. If you have not used the sites learning section, you might as well leave your books where they are. Solve at 100%: https://lichess.org/learn https://lichess.org/practice Use: https://lichess.org/training/coordinate https://lichess.org/study https://lichess.org/video Assisting with opening preparation : https://lichess.org/training/openings Sort openings by most popular. Notice which popular openings are not in orange. The popular openings that are not in orange are the ones you need to learn and practice. Even with that, you're not really going to be playing any novelty moves until you get out of the book moves. If you want to use your books or AI, search for the opening name you need to study.

"... Logical Chess [(Batsford edition by Chernev)] ... a collection of 33 games ... is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), and a nice gift for a young player just taking up chess. ..." - IM John Watson (1999)
https://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books
https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Chess-Every-Explained-Algebraic/dp/0713484640?asin=0713484640&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1004861
"... A typical way of choosing an opening repertoire is to copy the openings used by a player one admires. ... However, what is good at world-championship level is not always the best choice at lower levels of play, and it is often a good idea to choose a 'model' who is nearer your own playing strength. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)

"... Logical Chess [(Batsford edition by Chernev)] ... a collection of 33 games ... is definitely for beginners and players who are just starting to learn about development, weak squares, the centre, standard attacking ideas, and the like. In many ways, it would [be] a wonderful 'first' book (or first 'serious' book, after the ones which teach the rules and elementary mates, for example), and a nice gift for a young player just taking up chess. ..." - IM John Watson (1999) https://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/assorted-recent-books https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Chess-Every-Explained-Algebraic/dp/0713484640?asin=0713484640&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1004861 "... A typical way of choosing an opening repertoire is to copy the openings used by a player one admires. ... However, what is good at world-championship level is not always the best choice at lower levels of play, and it is often a good idea to choose a 'model' who is nearer your own playing strength. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)

i forgot, i actually also have an e-copy of Chernev's book. also a good one to work through game by game

i forgot, i actually also have an e-copy of Chernev's book. also a good one to work through game by game

To the OP:

I think the hardest thing in chess is to OBJECTIVELY access where your weaknesses are. To that end I would first consider working your way through on of those "Test your Chess" types of book*, then based on the feedback select at least one-and-only-one book in that deficient area and start your study - should take a wee while. Rinse and repeat.

Overall I would put emphasis on the importance of concentrated/narrow study, hence the one-and-only-one. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that you will need to feel improvement in some area is occurring if you are to finish the book!

Additionally, if you have any 'puzzle-type' books I would also add one-and-only-one to your study time. I usually mark up the easy or hard puzzles for subsequent re-reads. Tactics needs to be maintained and will always pay-off, although LiChess etc do a very good job of 'puzzles' there is a lot to be said for the efficiency of a selected set of puzzles chosen by an experienced coach - there are plenty of such books. I would have a strong bias towards 'mate-puzzles' books - you just can't drill these enough.

Anyway, the short answer is TWO books, for concurrent study. However there are many entertainment type chess books which may be added, for example 'The Complete Chess Addict' , fictional stuff like 'The Queen's Gambit' or amusing stuff like 'Soft Pawn'.

  • "Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess" by Kopec & Terrie is recommend as the various test-sets have been extensively real-world researched across a wide range of chess abilities and there are some interesting appendixes worth reading - it's about 210 puzzles across 12 targeted test-sets. There are of course other such books.

PS: Just counted, I am working my way through four, so what do I know?! :)...

To the OP: I think the hardest thing in chess is to OBJECTIVELY access where your weaknesses are. To that end I would first consider working your way through on of those "Test your Chess" types of book*, then based on the feedback select at least one-and-only-one book in that deficient area and start your study - should take a wee while. Rinse and repeat. Overall I would put emphasis on the importance of concentrated/narrow study, hence the one-and-only-one. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that you will need to feel improvement in some area is occurring if you are to finish the book! Additionally, if you have any 'puzzle-type' books I would also add one-and-only-one to your study time. I usually mark up the easy or hard puzzles for subsequent re-reads. Tactics needs to be maintained and will always pay-off, although LiChess etc do a very good job of 'puzzles' there is a lot to be said for the efficiency of a selected set of puzzles chosen by an experienced coach - there are plenty of such books. I would have a strong bias towards 'mate-puzzles' books - you just can't drill these enough. Anyway, the short answer is TWO books, for concurrent study. However there are many entertainment type chess books which may be added, for example 'The Complete Chess Addict' , fictional stuff like 'The Queen's Gambit' or amusing stuff like 'Soft Pawn'. * "Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess" by Kopec & Terrie is recommend as the various test-sets have been extensively real-world researched across a wide range of chess abilities and there are some interesting appendixes worth reading - it's about 210 puzzles across 12 targeted test-sets. There are of course other such books. PS: Just counted, I am working my way through four, so what do I know?! :)...

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