by Discover the timeless wisdom of chess masters with our curated list of the 20 best-selling chess books, covering a wide range of topics and skill levels. Here are 20 top-selling chess books (not in the order/sales), and why they are a must read for all chess lovers – juniors and experts alike:
“Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess” by Bobby Fischer – A classic instructional book by the legendary World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, aimed at beginners and intermediate players.
“My System” by Aron Nimzowitsch – Nimzowitsch’s seminal work on chess strategy, introducing key concepts like prophylaxis and overprotection that revolutionized chess thinking.
“Logical Chess: Move By Move” by Irving Chernev – An instructional book analyzing 33 games move by move, ideal for improving chess strategy and thought process.
“How to Reassess Your Chess” by Jeremy Silman – A comprehensive guide to evaluating positions and creating plans, suitable for amateur and club players seeking improvement.
“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess” by Patrick Wolff – A beginner-friendly manual covering chess rules, strategies, and tactics in an accessible format.
“Silman’s Complete Endgame Course” by Jeremy Silman – A thorough endgame guide covering fundamental to advanced concepts, essential for improving endgame play.
“Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953” by David Bronstein – A classic tournament book featuring annotations by participants, regarded as one of the greatest tournaments in history.
“Pawn Structure Chess” by Andrew Soltis – Explores the significance of pawn structures and their impact on strategy, offering guidance on middlegame plans.
“Endgame” by Frank Brady – A biography chronicling the life and chess career of Bobby Fischer, providing insights into his rise and eventual withdrawal from the game.
“Endgame Strategy” by Mikhail Shereshevsky – Focuses on advanced endgame concepts and strategies, helping players excel in complex endgame situations.
“The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal” by Mikhail Tal – Tal’s autobiography, offering insights into his creative and attacking style of play.
“The Soviet Chess Primer” by Ilya Maizelis – An instructive guide on chess principles and strategy, drawn from the Soviet School of Chess.
“Chess Fundamentals” by Jose Capablanca – A classic instructional book covering essential chess concepts and endgames by the third World Chess Champion.
“The Reassess Your Chess Workbook” by Jeremy Silman – A companion workbook to Silman’s main book, providing practical exercises for improvement.
“Think Like a Grandmaster” by Alexander Kotov – Offers valuable insights into how grandmasters approach chess, emphasizing thought process during play.
“Pandolfini’s Endgame Course” by Bruce Pandolfini – A comprehensive endgame guide for players at all levels, covering fundamental to complex endgame scenarios.
“Averbakh’s Selected Games” by Yuri Averbakh – A collection of instructive games from the renowned Soviet chess player and author, offering valuable lessons in strategy.
“100 Endgames You Must Know” by Jesus de la Villa – Essential endgame knowledge for improving players, focusing on key endgame positions and techniques.
“Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual” by Mark Dvoretsky – An authoritative work on complex endgame techniques, with advanced studies and examples.
“Understanding Chess Move by Move” by John Nunn – A guide that explains key moves and plans in various games, deepening understanding of strategic concepts.
