hmm of hand:-

Think like a grandmaster
The King Hunt
The art of attack in chess
My system
Reassess your chess


there are ALOT more!

I included Think Like a Grandmaster and Reassess Your Chess (although that seems to enjoy a love-hate relationship with different readers). My System got a nostalgic mention (problem is that some of the guidance no longer holds up). Yes, Art of Attack wasn't in there, but could have been.

Did you see my original list?

Keep up the great suggestions

To get better, there have been more than enough userful comments.

But there are some books that are more germaine to what one can call "aquired tastes".

I have a pretty large collection. It exceeds four hundred books. Mostly books that I consider of lasting value. Less emphasis on openning books. Much more emphasis on game collections, middlegame books, chess biographies and tournament books. A fair number of endgame books as well.

My favorites in my library include (in no particular order and not exhaustive):

My 60 Most Memorable Games by Bobby Fischer.
Fundamental Chess Endings Lamprecht and Muller.
Selected Games by Bent Larsen
My Great Predicessors vols. 1-5 By Garry Kasparov
The Open Game, Semi Open Game, Semi Closed Game, Closed Game By Anatoly Karpov
My Best Games as Black, My Best Games as White by Victor Korchnoi
Secrets of Chess Strategy and Chess Strategy in Action by John Watson.
Modern Chess Series Part 1 by Garry Kasparov
Pal Benko: My Life, Games and Composition by Benko
Anthology of Chess Beauty-this is out of print and most remarkable.
New York 1924
Zurich 1953
Candidates 1971

These are just a few of my treasured books. For these are some of my must have books.

What about Jeremy Silman's latest book on chess endings? It's called Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master and I've heard some good things about it.
Also, completely unrelated, this is my very first post here so three cheers for me!!

Hi Tommetje,

3 cheers for your first post!

I have one Silman book on the original list, but it seems to completely divide readers into the love it or loathe it camps.

Best regards, Roger

Sorry I forgot to translate.
"Pra" = "For" in portuguese

I wanted to know if you have books for download?

Not for downloading, for buying. You can't download books (unless illegal e-books) with the exception that some books can be bought as an e-book. But I doubt all of them--if any-- can be bought as such an e-book.

bom dia!

... there are some other exceptions with 'out of copyright' material, check out Google Books where you'll find some complete (antiquarian) chess titles to download.

But, no, none of these 'must have' titles are available for free download. Some are available at very cheap prices on Amazon... hover on the links in the article to find out which.

boa sorte, Roger

I am glad to see that all the boks that were mentioned are of the highest quality.

I stick my neck out here to recommend The life and games of Michail Tal (or at least his commentaries to the Tal - Botvinnik match).

I found also enjoyable the provocative writing style of Michail Suba "Dynamic chess strategy".

Oter game collections that are worth reading : the collection of the Alekhine games (commented by himself, not by others), and the 2-volumes of Paul Keres. And of course Botvinnik.

Finally, besides the great Shereshevsky books, anything written by Mednis on the endgames is worth collecting (google it out, there are 4-5 booklets)

Hi Chamaco,

yes, totally agree with all your suggestions.

We had the Alekhine collections (two volumes) in my school library (a Bell Edition from the 30's I think), and also an old copy of My System. An enlightened school!

I've heard the Keres work is fantastic, and I have a first edition Botvinnik autographed copy of Championship Chess (which is going on eBay next week!).

I remember Mednis was the recommended read (particularly for rook endings) in the late 70's and 80's.

Best regards, Roger