If you are:
a) looking for a book to help you learn chess; or
b) a beginner or near-beginner at chess and want to improve your game;
or
c) looking for a book to help you teach someone else who is a chess beginner;
or
d) trying to find something general about the game (its history, culture,
facts and figures, etc)...
... then you've come to the right place!
A Few Questions Before We Start...
 Question:
Why are there so many chess books?
Answer: If you've already had a look round this website before
arriving here, you might be a bit bewildered at just how many books there
are about chess. There are thousands! Chess has been around, in one form
or another, for about a thousand years and for several hundreds of those
years, people have been writing about all aspects of it: how to learn,
how to play, how to play better, history, biographies of the great players,
chess puzzles... and much more. Very few games or sports can claim to
have the range of literature of chess.
Question: With all this choice, how do I know if a book will suit
me?
Answer: That's the main question we're trying to answer here.
Many books written about chess are very specialised and advanced. Such
books are unlikely be suitable for a complete beginner, or someone who
has been playing social chess for a while. So, to save you the effort
of having to sift through hundreds of titles, we've done it for you and
produced the list. It contains books written by acknowledged chess masters
or experienced teachers (or both), to suit beginners and elementary players,
whether they are adults or juniors.
Question: So, can you recommend a specific book or books that will
be absolutely right for me?
Answer: Not quite, but we can help steer you in the right direction.
There's no one book for beginners which will be right for everyone. Your
choice of book will depend on factors such as your age, your level of
interest, and the amount of time you want to devote to learning the game.
New books come out all the time, and they address
new aspects of the game that arise. The rules of the game haven't change
for about 500 years(!) but the way it is played (e.g. via the internet
and with computers) develops all the time. Another big factor is your
own motivation: what is it you are trying to achieve? Do you aspire to
playing in chess competitions or perhaps just want to beat your Dad? Oddly
enough, someone has written a 'how-to' book on that very subject...
This list is not comprehensive, definitive or in any particular order,
but represents a good cross-section of chess books for beginners by reputable
authors. And you can order them from stock by clicking on the shopping
cart button.
USE YOUR PC TO LEARN CHESS!... we also stock some superb
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Which of these statements best describes you (or your pupil if you are
a teacher)? Select the most suitable and click on the link
- I'm an absolute beginner... click
here
- I know the moves but I want to learn some strategy...
click here
- I want to know more about chess in general... click
here
- I want to know how grandmasters play chess... click
here
- I already play a reasonable game but want to improve further...
click here
I'm an Absolute Beginner
Checkmate! My First Chess Book by Garry
Kasparov (Everyman) 
£9.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Garry Kasparov introduces the great game of chess to younger players.
He expertly explains the pieces and how they move, the values of the chessmen,
how to attack and how to defend, how to capture, how to employ special
moves such as castling, how to write the moves down and, crucially, how
to give check and deliver checkmate. He explains the techniques for numerous
tricks and traps and, just as importantly, how to avoid falling into them.
With the help of the world's best player, new players will be ready for
their first chess battle, be it against their mum or dad, their friends,
their computer, on the internet or in a competition. Lavishly illustrated
in colour throughout • 95 pages, hardcover, 200mm x 200mm format
Chess For Children by Murray Chandler &
Helen Milligan (Gambit)
£9.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
With this charming book, children will delight in learning the basic moves
of chess - the most popular and challenging strategy game of all. All
the rules of chess are clearly explained, step by step, assuming no prior
knowledge. The lessons are reinforced by the inventive tales that George
is told by his pet alligator Kirsty, self-proclaimed grand-alligator of
chess. Chess is recognized in many countries as a useful tool for developing
creative thinking in children. Although chess can be regarded as a rather
complex and mysterious game, the rules themselves are straightforward.
It doesn't take long to learn how the pieces move, and even children as
young as five can enjoy exciting games. They will also thoroughly enjoy
outwitting friends and relatives! • 112 pages, hardcover
Comprehensive Chess Course, Volume 1 by
Roman Pelts and Lev Alburt (CIC)
£12.95 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
"Grandmaster Lev Alburt, a highly successful chess coach, here offers
for the first time the once-secret Russian method of chess training"
(Garry Kasparov). This is a complete course on the basics of chess in
12 lessons. A beautifully laid-out and integrated course, designed by
former Soviet grandmaster Alburt (and his old coach Pelts). Alburt emigrated
to the USA and became its champion three times. It's important to understand
the basics of chess before you advance. Whether you are an adult learner
or a child, you couldn't be in better hands than with these two super-experienced
authors, who take you through the basics with crystal-clear explanations
and plenty of examples. Suitable for working with a teacher. Also suitable
for elementary/intermediate players. 124 pp, softback
Concise Chess by John Emms (Everyman, 2003)
£9.99 plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas
This pocket-sized (13 x 11.5 cms), and yet substantial, book teaches
the basics. Assuming no prior knowledge, Grandmaster John Emms takes you
through all the crucial aspects of learning the game: the rules, the pieces,
check and checkmate, chess notation, how to win material, attacking and
defending, the opening, middlegame and endgame. Very clear and with plenty
of examples and diagrams. It's amazing how the author managed to pack
so much into so small a volume. 288 pages.
Starting Out in Chess by Byron Jacobs (Everyman,
2004)
£9.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
An excellent beginner’s book, for adults and teenagers rather than
children, attractively laid out and written without gimmicks by International
Master Byron Jacobs. Also suitable for elementary/intermediate players.
128 pp, softback
Chess: From First Moves to Checkmate by
Daniel King (Kingfisher)
£9.99 hardcover
(plus postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
A lavish, big-format book on chess by top English grandmaster and chess
commentator Daniel King, with beautiful colour illustrations and diagrams
to help you through the rules whilst also learning about the history of
the game of kings and its greatest exponents. Chess never looked more
aesthetically pleasing! 64 pp, hardback, big format (24cm x 23.5cm)
I Know The Moves But
I Want to Learn Some Strategy...
Note: also check some of the 'absolute beginners'
titles: some of them have good material for elementary/intermediate players.
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray
Chandler (Gambit)
£9.99 hardcover
(plus postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Despite the title this best-selling book is not just for children wanting
to beat adults - it might just as well as be titled How to Beat Your
Children At Chess. As in most competitive games and sports, the all-important
way to improve is to practice against someone who is slightly better than
you are. That 'someone' might be a 'something' - a computer! This book
will help you make the best of this strategy. Lots of good advice on beating
a stronger player. Makes improving easy and fun. Includes the '50 Deadly
Checkmates'! Note on the author: he's a world-class grandmaster with an
enviable playing record against Garry Kasparov - two wins, no draws, no
losses! 127 pp, hardback
Chess Tactics for Kids by Murray Chandler
(Gambit)
£9.99 hardcover
(plus postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Chess enthusiasts of all ages and levels will find this book an instructive
delight. In a simple, easy-to-understand format it explains how to bamboozle
your chess opponents using commonly occurring tactical motifs. The illustrative
positions, all taken from real games, show the 50 Tricky Tactics that
experienced chess masters use to win their games. Recognising frequently-occurring
tactical ideas is vital to success in chess. One of the fastest and most
enjoyable ways to improve at chess is by learning these thematic manoeuvres.
Beginners will benefit from the clear explanation of basic concepts, such
as how to utilise a fork, pin, or skewer. Advanced players will delight
in the many devious middlegame tricks - some classified here for the first
time - which can catch out even grandmasters. Chess Tactics for Kids
makes improving easy and fun, and is full of helpful explanations on how
to approach chess games with confidence - and success.
Learn Chess Tactics by John Nunn (Gambit)
£12.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
This book teaches basic tactical ideas such as the fork, pin, and discovered
attack, and introduces general ideas such as elimination, immobilization
and compulsion. A basic knowledge of simple tactics will enable a novice
to start winning games, by giving checkmate or capturing material. As
the player progresses, his tactical arsenal will broaden, and he will
start to play sacrifices and combinations, and develop a deeper understanding
of the game. Players who fail to study tactics systematically tend to
suffer from tactical blind-spots that plague them throughout their playing
career, and thus they fail to realize their full potential. 160 pages.
Discovering Chess Openings by John Emms
(Everyman)
£14.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
There's no denying that the opening is one of the most daunting phases
of the game for newcomers to chess. There are literally hundreds of different
opening lines, many with unusual sounding names, and some of these go
up to twenty or so moves of theory. What is a chess player supposed to
do: memorise countless variations? John Emms argues that studying openings
doesn't have to be hard work at all - indeed, it can be both enjoyable
and enlightening. The key to successful opening play is not simply learning
lines off by heart; instead it's the understanding of the basic principles,
and here the reader is guided through the vital themes: swift development,
central control and king safety. An appreciation of these principles and
their many offshoots will actually allow readers to recreate and discover
opening theory, giving them the opportunity to choose the most suitable
lines to play in their games • 248 pages, softback
Improve Your Opening Play by Chris Ward
(Everyman)
£10.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
There are lots of books about the opening in chess. Many of these have
masses and masses of possible variations in dozens of differently-named
openings. But if you are a near-beginner, don't be tempted to launch into
such a book straightaway and start trying to memorise hundreds of moves.
You'll be much better off with a book like this which explains the basic
ideas behind the major openings, with the inexperienced player in mind.
Anyone who has seen English grandmaster Chris Ward in action as a chess
coach will be familiar with his infectious enthusiasm for the game, and
this translates well to the printed page. A very good first book on chess
openings, which avoids the hazards of getting bogged down in a bewildering
mass of variations.
Improve Your Middlegame Play by Andrew
Kinsman (Everyman)
£10.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
So, you've found your way through the opening moves of the game: what
to do now? International Master Andrew Kinsman is on hand to steer you
through the minefields of the middlegame. This is a thoroughly readable
and enjoyable book designed for the club player, with lots of practical
tips and an excellent selection of modern material. It gives useful insights
on club and tournament chess, with a chapter on the grotesque blunders
made by supposedly better players (including the person writing these
words!).
What You Need to Know About Endgames by
Yuri Averbakh (Caissa Commerce, 2006)
£9.99 (plus
postage £1.00 UK, £2.00 overseas)
The part of the game most neglected by chessplayers at every level is
the endgame. And yet it is the phase of the game that can bring you a
huge number of wins... if you know what you are doing. This book is written
by one of the greatest endgame virtuosi, Russian grandmaster Yuri Averbakh,
and it guides you gently through all the basic endgames. It is printed
in Serbia and the translation into English is frankly terrible! But it
is still an excellent book. 99 pages, hardback.
Comprehensive Chess Course, Volume 2 by
Roman Pelts and Lev Alburt (CIC)
£21.95 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Your top-class teachers now help you make the step from raw beginner to
tournament player. Once again, you learn via question and answer, with
exercises to test your progress. This, and the first volume, are also
excellent books to help you learn the game with an experienced teacher.
The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by
Jeremy Silman (Siles Press)
£14.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
So, you've just learnt the rules of chess. Ready to take on the world?
Well, maybe you should learn a bit about strategy before joining battle
with Garry Kasparov! This is an ideal first primer, taking you in easy
stages through some openings, elements of chess strategy and introduces
chess terminology. It's a good fat book, but amiable and readable: it
doesn't make learning chess seem like too much hard work.
Mastering Checkmates by Neil McDonald (Batsford)
£13.99 (plus postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
This book presents fundamental and familiar checkmating patterns. At the
end of each chapter there are a few examples of the genre to test your
newly-acquired skill. The material is well chosen and up to date to the
end of 2002, and the book is a good choice for elementary players wishing
to brush up their tactics, or those who like solving chess puzzles.
Ten Ways to Succeed in the Opening by Tim
Onions & David Regis (Self-published)
£4.95
(postage £1 UK, £2 abroad)
An inexpensive 82-page booklet by experienced chess teachers explaining
the basic principles of the opening. Ideal for youngsters, with lots of
diagrams and cartoons. In fact, it's ideal for children of all ages.
Ten Ways to Succeed in the Middlegame by
Tim Onions & David Regis (Self-published)
£4.95
(postage £1 UK, £2 abroad)
This book tells you about the heart of chess - the middlegame - in a format
designed for young players. It uses a large clear type and is illsutrated
throughout with many chess diagrams and cartoons. You will learn how to
think about your position, how to spot tactics and work out combinations
of moves, and how to make a plan for all your pieces • 74 pages
Ten Ways to Succeed in the Endgame by Tim
Onions & David Regis (Self-published)
£4.95
(postage £1 UK, £2 abroad)
An inexpensive 53-page booklet by experienced chess teachers explaining
the basic principles of the endgame. Ideal for youngsters, with lots of
diagrams and line drawings. Great value!
I Want to Know More About
Chess In General...
Survival Guide to Chess for Parents by
Tanya Jones (Everyman) 
£14.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Do you have a child who is interested in chess, but you're not sure
how to help? Tanya Jones (mother of top English junior Gawain Jones) concentrates
on the numerous aspects of being a 'chess parent' and answers the many
questions facing those with chess-playing children. There's certainly
more to this than meets the eye. Problems are as diverse as 'How can I
help in the very early stages?', 'How do I find suitable clubs and tournaments?',
'Should I watch when he or she is playing?' and 'How do I find a good
chess coach?' Jones also tackles aspects such as chess and education,
plus the ever-increasing role of computers and the Internet. Whether your
child is just starting out in the game or is a budding prodigy, this book
is essential reading. 144 pages.
I Want to Know How
Grandmasters Play Chess...
Logical Chess: Move By Move by Irving Chernev
(Batsford)
£14.99
(plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
If you've learnt chess, played a bit and are keen to find out how the
top players play the game, then this is the book for you. This much-loved
classic takes you through 33 games played by masters and grandmasters
and explains their thinking in simple-to-understand terms. The clarity
of Chernev's explanations are a revelation and you will find that the
chess wisdom you are exposed to will rub off in your own games.
I Already Play A Reasonable
Game but Want to Improve Further...
Winning Chess Strategies by Yasser Seirawan
(Everyman)
£14.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
A complete overview of proven chess principles that teaches you how to
deploy your pieces using the right moves at the right time to build small
advantages into effective, long-range strategies. By top US grandmaster
Yasser Seirawan.
How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman
(Siles Press)
£14.99 (plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
The expanded third edition of another of Jeremy Silman's classic works.
It's a step-by-step course that is designed to improve the intermediate
player's game. Has chapters on a number of areas of chess where a bit
of book learning can make all the difference to your game. And learning
is never dull with the humorous and helpful Silman at your shoulder.
The Reassess Your Chess Workbook by Jeremy
Silman (Siles Press)
£14.99
(plus
postage 10% UK, 20% overseas)
Jeremy Silman is a top-class US chess master with a knack for explaining
the finer points of strategy. Here he takes the intermediate player through
131 problems which cover openings, tactics and positional middlegames,
and help the learner to master imbalance in chess. Beautifully laid out.
FURTHER READING: Check out our
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Ltd. Not to be used without permission.
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