My Favourite Chess Books
So what are my favourite chess books, my personal top 10?
Lists like this are very subjective, they are MY favourites. You can disagree with MY list, that’s fine, as I may disagree with yours.
And my list is a combination of books that have a personal story attached, great instructional books and also just some good chess reads.
Also, to be in my list I had to own a copy, seems fair enough…If I love a book that much that it makes my top 10 it should be in my library!
Maybe you know some or all of these, maybe you have even read some. If not, now is the time to go grab a copy and have a read. Who knows, some may even make it into your Top 10.
In random order:
Total Chess – David Spanier
A great collection of thoughts on chess by an amateur chess player. My local library had a copy and I borrowed and read it endlessly as a teenager. One of the books that fostered a love of more than just the game or moves being played. Chess can be so much more than that!
SADLY NOW OUT OF PRINT, BUT 2ND HAND COPIES ARE AVAILABLE
Batsford Chess Openings Volume 2 – Gary Kasparov & Raymond Keene
My first up to date (at the time) ‘Openings Bible’ – I own 2 copies! MCO was the original ‘Openings Bible’, first followed by the Horowitz one below, then by the 2 Batsford versions, then an excellent one by Nunn et all – Nunn’s Chess Openings.
SADLY NOW OUT OF PRINT, BUT 2ND HAND COPIES ARE AVAILABLE
Chess Openings Theory & Practice – I A Horowitz
My first ‘Openings Bible’. One of the books that really got me into more serious chess – I first read it in 1987 and was amazed at how many openings and variations and sub variations there were!
SADLY NOW OUT OF PRINT, BUT 2ND HAND COPIES ARE AVAILABLE
The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings – Reuben Fine
Not just lines of theory, but great explanations, key positions, pawn structures etc. My first coach gave me a hardback edition without a cover back in 1986 – I used it until it literally fell to pieces – thankfully now replaced with a new paperback version. Whilst specific lines of theory have changed over the years, the general ideas in most variations of most openings haven’t changed, making this book timeless!
Understanding Chess Move by Move – John Nunn
Very instructive games collection from a leading chess author. I use this one in my chess lessons – it is very highly regarded in the chess world. John Nunn is an excellent author.
How Fischer Plays Chess – David Levy
A favourite from my local library in South Africa, one of the first chess books I can remember reading. My first chess hero was Bobby Fischer, based mainly on this book!!
Chess for Children – Raymond Bott & Stanley Morrison
Brilliantly written, a childhood favourite.
My 60 Memorable Games – Bobby Fischer
Do I need to say anything? Yes, Fischer’s opponent in game 1 is IM James Sherwin from the USA, now living in England. I once beat him (Sherwin!) in a 3+0 Blitz game on Lichess!!
Fischer v Spassky – Svetozar Gligoric
Gligoric’s account of the 1972 ‘Match of the Century’. there are a number of books on this match – this is the first one I read and my personal favourite.
Unlimited Challenge – Garry Kasparov
Along with Fischer, the world champion I rate most highly, Garry Kasparov tells his life story – 1963 to 1990 – inspirational.