The 20 Chess Books That Helped Me To Become a Grandmaster

    The 20 Chess Books That Helped Me To Become a Grandmaster

     

    I learned to play chess in 1986 and was immediately struck by a chess fever. I started playing at home and at school but soon I started to study with books.

    At that time this was my only way of learning. There was no internet nor tournaments in my city. So the books were an essential part of my progress.

    This is the list of the most important books I studied until I achieved the GM title. They are not the best books ever written but those who helped me most on this journey. I think this list can be useful to chess enthusiasts for two main reasons:

     

    1- To understand the way forward and what types of books are most important in the formation of a chess player;

    2- To find similar, up to date, works or read the same books – some are classics and timeless in value.

     

    The books will be shown in chronological order. That is, the earliest books were studied at the beginning of my development and the last ones when I was already close to the grandmaster title.

     

     

    1- Xadrez Básico (Translation: Chess Basics)

    Author: Orfeu D’Agostini

     

    A true Brazilian classic. This was my first book and countless Brazilian chess players began their studies with it. A pity that this work has not yet been updated.

     

    2- Test Your Chess IQ

    Author: A. Livshitz

     

    At the beginning the priority is to train tactics: to know all the tactical themes and to solve many exercises. One of my favorite books for this work was “Test Your Chess IQ” which has been updated and has versions for different levels. Remember that this will be just one of many materials (books, videos, websites) needed to train your calculation.

     

    3- Modern Chess Strategy

    Author: Ludek Pachman

     

     

    Another classic that influenced my generation. Chess has changed a lot since the time this book was written, but it still remains an important work to improve your positional play. Several other (updated) strategy books can be used for a similar study.

     

    4- Chess Informants

    Several authors

     

    In an age without computers and gigantic databases, the Informants were the books that provided the most important games analyzed by several grandmasters. Each of the volumes guaranteed many hours of fun.

     

    5- My 60 Memorable Games

    Author: Bobby Fischer

     

    One of the best chess books ever written. Honest analysis from the best chess player ever.

     

    6- Alekhine’s Best Games

    Author: Alexander Alekhine

     

    Another book filled with spectacular games that influenced my way of seeing chess. Alekhine was a great scientist of the game, recognizing the importance of having a good preparation and playing with energy. No wonder he is the chess player who most influenced Kasparov’s style.

     

    7- Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953

    Author: David Bronstein

     

     

    The classical book with all the games from one of the greatest tournaments in chess history. With many words and few analysis, this work can greatly enhance your strategic understanding of the game. It is also worth studying the book by Don Miguel Najdorf about the same tournament, but with a different approach.

     

    8- Test Your Positional Play

    Author: Bellin/Ponzetto

     

     

    A little known book, but the duo Bellin and Pozetto produced excellent books (at least in my affective memory). The book has a very interesting format, with explanation of the main strategic themes and a series of tests. The point is that the authors offer multiple possible solutions and the reader must find out, in addition to the correct solution, which hole exists in the other available plans. The book helped me improve my positional play.

     

    9- An Opening Repertoire For White

    Author: Raymond Keene

     

    Perhaps this work today is questionable – after all the way of studying openings has changed a lot and certainly not all the recommendations in the book are good. But remember that this article is about the books that formed me, not the ones that still have to be read today. The “ORW”, as it was known by my generation, offered a complete repertoire for white and was the basis of my openings for many years.

     

    10- Beating The Sicilian

    Author: John Nunn

     

    During the 80’s and early 90’s (until Dvoretsky’s books appeared), John Nunn was the best author. A brilliant mathematician, the Englishman employs a scientific style in his work, inserting many analysis. All his books from this period were excellent.

     

     

     

     

    11- The Najdorf For The Tournament Player

    Autor: John Nunn

    Nunn once again. How many games I won with my favorite Defense Najdorf thanks to the study of this book! The analyzes are so good that many variations suggested by Nunn persist  today, even in the sharpest lines, something incredible if we consider that the analyzes were done without the aid of computers.

     

    12- Mastering The King’s Indian

    Author: Bellin/Ponzetto

     

    Another excellent book by the duo Bellin and Ponzetto. The King’s Indian was part of my repertoire during my formative years. The book’s advantage is that not only theoretical variations are shown, but also the most important tactical and strategic themes of the KID.

     

    13- The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal

    Author: Mikhail Tal

     

    This work is a book of chess, literature, history, overcoming, love of life, science and art. And a great source of inspiration, coming from one of the most brilliant minds that have ever passed through this world. A must-have book in any chess library.

     

    14- Grandmaster Preparation

    Autor: Lev Polugaevsky

     

    Another constant source of inspiration. “Poluga” was passionate about chess and this book is his love declaration. Recommended reading especially before playing a tournament, as a way to motivate for the “hard work” needed when preparing for the games.

     

    15- The Test of Time

    Author: Garry Kasparov

     

    The Test of Time is a book that shows the rise of the young Garry Kasparov. The narration ends just before the match against Karpov.

    We discover the dreams that motivated Kasparov from the beginning of his career and we can get an idea of ​​the aggressive style of play he has always demonstrated as well as the tireless work that was necessary to reach the top.

    I read this book when I was a dreamer too – I was starting my career and wondering how far I could go.

    A curiosity: many years after reading the book I was invited to write the preface to the Portuguese edition.

     

    16- Secrets of Chess Training

    Author: Mark Dvoretsky

    Dvoretsky’s early books were for me like finding a hidden treasure. They changed my way of thinking about chess. The most striking was his first work, Secrets of Chess Training. This book showed me that the road to mastery was long and arduous and that there was no shortcut. The only thing to do was to study hard and analyze many positions.

     

    17- Secrets of Chess Tactics

    Author: Mark Dvoretsky

     

    The second book from Dvoretsky I read is about calculation. The complexity of some positions is absurd. This is essential material for anyone who wants to start calculating as a grandmaster. It is worth explaining that these books were re-released in a collection entitled “School Of Chess Excellence”.

     

    18- Test Your Endgame Ability

    Author: Livshits/Speelman

     

    This little-known book is great for training calculating with endgames. The format is similar to Test Your Chess IQ: tests to each specific type of endgame. You need to calculate accurately to solve the positions and after solving the whole book you will improve both your calculation and your pattern recognition. This book is a little jewel.

     

    19- The Art of Chess Analysis

    Author: Jan Timman

     

    Another excellent and not very well known book, which shows the evolution of Jan Timman as a player and analyst. Memorable games (from several chess players) are dissected by the great Dutch player, showing his love for the game. Another excellent book to improve your calculation.

     

    20- Secrets of Grandmaster Play

    Author: John Nunn

    Another book by my favorite author for many years. This is a book of Nunn’s own games, analyzed in his mathematical style, with many variations and a constant concern to find the “truth”. Recommended for chess players already close to the International Master title (at least).

     

    10 Replies to “The 20 Chess Books That Helped Me To Become a Grandmaster”

    • Ali Omer Sabendi

      Dear Rafael,

      Thanks for your willingness to extend the hand of help.
      I have already watched your videos on youtube.com, i really appreciate the spirit of selfless assistance to the whole world that you are one of its leaders in Chess.
      I am a player on chess.com, my rate is at 1800x1800 high, although I have never studied chess.
      I am willing to start if you are kind to send me pdfs of the books or links to them.
      Thanks in anticipation.
      Wish you would put me against a grandmaster when I confirm that I am ready.

      • Hjjgh

        1. Test Your Chess IQ: First challenge: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=F1F7BA9EC1DA158423191F7292110AC1

        Master challenge: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=5758EEA48ACB6C749733F3812CDE1477

        Grandmaster challenge: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=4D2227853A8927427C0629E0996F11BC

        2. Modern chess strategy: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=093EFF7344B7DDE05C6C447DA7AA32D1
        This book is old but I link it anyway. I recommend to instead read this : https://b-ok.cc/book/920629/4dcea7 (High elo 1500-2200)

        3. My 60 memorable games: https://www.pdfdrive.com/my-60-memorable-games-chess-tactics-chess-strategies-with-bobby-fischer-e184235633.html (not recommend for beginners, you can still read but bit complicated)

        4. Alekhine's best games: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=41FC15CD941DA5C60E1DC3186DEDF463 ( same advice, don't read player's games unless your high rated since you won't understand them very well)

        5. Zurich tourny games: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=5DC9529EF101C2B1DB51047A463DC2F6 (There are also many books about tournaments games with computer analysis, you can search them up and read them too as they are more accurate)

        6. TEst your positional play: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=B8F4E3F282267E8676EFC821A21DD447

        7. ORW: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=BE64394EABD5B68803ABCCB5E4B1B07F (Old book not recommended but you can still read to compare with today's theory for fun) If youre very very high level player, you can read, : https://www.docdroid.net/AyyoM2e/kaufmans-new-repertoire-for-black-and-white-2019-pdf ( not much simple explanation but very latest and must for 2000+)

        8. Beating The Sicilian: http://gen.lib.rus.ec/book/index.php?md5=4B97EFEDC04E03E002E3ECA3C657E92E (Remember that opening books which are old often become useless due to new engine advances unless they explain openings instead but still old opening books = not optimal) a more recent anti sicilian: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=1EBFD6D73485341A7C1F552AA51566B5

        9. The Najdorf For The Tournament Player: Couldn't find it and but i uploaded some old najdorf book anyways by same author :
        https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/aTXg3rku/file.html and https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/Z20nn2Rk/file.html ( once again old theory not that useful for very high rated players but you can make use at low to decently high lvl actually)

        10. Mastering the KID: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=9BA65CC335C48F12ED2F825D2E2ACA03 ( you know what I say about old opening books by now)

        11. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=50817EF974488F41E5286C9B529C90EE (great book by mihail tal himself, great read about his life, and games you might have trouble understanding a bit)

        12. Grandmaster Preparation: Couldn't find it but I have few books of the author, personally havent read them : https://www38.zippyshare.com/v/8sw8r72Q/file.html and https://www38.zippyshare.com/v/U3XQHcOQ/file.html

        13. The test of time : https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=200B230ACD556A488FEC48E533F84A34

        14. Secrets of Chess Training: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=1AF5036A8CBC981637C5378FE547B553 (dvoretsky books are timeless)

        15. Secrets of Chess Tactics: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=A337E2091D67521218016EA034E675C4

        16. Test Your Endgame Ability: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=C00FB39A56113FA51261983257E2DEFA

        17. The Art of Chess Analysis: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=72766996C51E565A43BE9C09D547AF51

        18. Secrets of Grandmaster Play: https://libgen.lc/ads.php?md5=6C5DB2CFF78BC3307125614FD2A573C1

      • William

        Hello. If you are 1800 with no studying then maybe you have some qualities to become a GM. But do you have passion to become one. I think passion would be evident if you have discipline as exemplified by studying and are willing to spend money to purchade books rather than acquire free pdf files which basically amounts tostealing intellectual property.

    • Mads

      I'm not a grandmaster, unfortunately I had some mayor distractions during my teenage years, which draw me in different directions, than chess. I think that the main cause was that nobody ever had a proper approach to show me, that chess are more interesting, that i thought... That's why now I'm tryng to show my kids, that this is not some old, boring game. You need to show interest for what they’re doing. Kids love when their parents take part in something they love doing themselves! And this goes for any grown-up around the kid. Even though you don’t know anything about chess besides its name and pieces’ names, you can teach your child yourself, using special guides made for parents. One of the brightest examples of such kind of books can be “Chess is Child's Play: Teaching Techniques That Work” by Bill Kilpatrick and Laura Sherman. An easy and handy book specially made for parents, easy to understand and funny to read, including anecdotes in “Coffee Talk” came from the teaching experience of the authors and also “Coach’s Corner” with extra techniques from their experiences. The second book, which is even better, is written by Maksim Aksanov - net-bossorg/chess-puzzles-for-kids-by-maksim-aksanov. It is best to teach kids some strategy tips and how to have a proper look on a chessboard. Also, when your child will eventualy get bored, you will find there nice colorbook :)

    • Giles Lewey

      Strange that "My System" isn't on your list?

      • Rafael Leitão

        I am not a fan of Nimzo's book.

        • Doalcei Santana

          I think this question will haunt you to the rest of your life...everytime i read some list of best chess books made by you, someone asks about My System....

          • Rafael Leitão

            Yes, you are right. People have a love/hate relationship with this book.

    • Marcelo

      Hi
      It was wonderful to see Xadrez Basico opening this list. It was the book I read when I was a kid, back in 1973. I wish I still had my copy.

    • Begod SP

      Another good chess book https://www.amazon.com/TOP-100-CHESS-TIPS-Grandmaster-ebook/dp/B0CQD2SGF8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
      Simple and efficient, TOP 100 Chess TIPS

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