Books Recommended by Dan Heisman
As an Amazon Associate, we earn money from purchases made through links in this page.
The Chess Tactics Workbook
Al Woolum
Source: "Somewhat similar to Bain's book but with more problems overall and more mate problems, but less single motif problems." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderCheckmate for Children
Mastering the Most Important Skill in Chess
Kevin Stark
Source: "A modern book covering checkmate patterns - one of the best I have ever seen at just this particular issue." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderApplying Logic in Chess
Erik Kislik
Source: "Covers the entire gamut: how and what to study, how to use engines, analyzing your own games, and much more." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderPractical Chess Exercises
600 Lessons from Tactics to Strategy
Ray Cheng
Source: "An interesting idea with 600 positions from games where all you are given is that there is a best move." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender100 Endgames You Must Know
Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player
Jesus de la Villa
Source: "Every time I read this book I like it more. It's advanced, but seems to have its pulse on just what it claims." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Logical Approach to Chess
Max Euwe
Source: "Very logical (!) and somewhat basic, but also lots of good general knowledge/principles for beginner/intermediates." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender50 Essential Chess Lessons
Steve Giddins
Source: "Positioned as a more modern, slightly more advanced than The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderUnderstanding Chess Middlegames
John Nunn
Source: "Another good one from the doctor, with 100 different middlegame issues and two sample games/snippets of each." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThought and Choice in Chess
Adriaan de Groot
Source: "The definitive book analyzing how strong chessplayers think. Warning! Reads like a PhD thesis, not a chess book." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games
John Nunn
Source: "The 100 best games of all-time, as analyzed by computer and authors down through the ages." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Rules of Thumb
Lev Alburt
Source: "These ideas are so important they are part of my 'Big Five' things you should learn first." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderRethinking the Chess Pieces
Andrew Soltis
Source: "Advanced book about the changing value of the pieces, playing imbalances, when to trade, etc." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderRapid Chess Improvement
Michael De La De Maza
Source: "An expanded version of his '400 Points in 400 Days' article on how to improve your game." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderStarting Out
Chess Tactics and Checkmates
Chris Ward
Source: "There are some fairly difficult problems but most are basic and quite fundamental." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderUnderstanding Chess Move by Move
John Nunn
Source: "Sort of a modern MUCH more advanced version of Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Art of Planning in Chess
Move by Move
Neil McDonald
Source: "Even better (and more advanced) than his good anthology The Art of Logical Chess Thinking." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderModern Chess Openings
Nick De Firmian
Source: "Every intermediate can use a one-volume tome covering all the openings." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderTranspo Tricks in Chess
Andrew Soltis
Source: "Some really great practical advice about how to get the most out of many openings." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Method in Chess
Iossif Dorfman
Source: "Not a well-written book, but some important ideas about planning and imbalances." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess for Zebras
Jonathan Rowson
Source: "I recommend anyone who is considering chess lessons to read the first chapter." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderModern Chess
Move by Move
Colin Crouch
Source: "Bridges the gap between Logical Chess Move by Move and Understanding Chess Move by Move." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderJudgment and Planning in Chess
Dr. Max Euwe
Source: "Chess planning is a difficult subject. This is one of the few advanced books on the subject." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Tactics for Students
John A. Bain
Source: "Learn motifs (pins, removal of guard, double attacks, back-rank mates, etc.)" - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderPractical Chess Endings
Irving Chernev
Source: "An excellent collection of endgame problems covering most practical ideas." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderPawn Power in Chess
Hans Kmoch
Source: "How to use pawns in chess. This subject is a must for any serious player." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderWinning Chess Exercises for Kids
Jeff Coakley
Source: "Possibly the best 'intermediate' book to test the tactics for players of all ages!" - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess
Patrick Wolff
Source: "Covers not only how to play, but many of the same tips I give my students." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Winning Way
The How What and Why of Opening Strategems
Bruce Pandolfini
Source: "Similar to another classic, Winning Chess Traps by Irving Chernev." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Wisest Things Ever Said About Chess
With over 250 annotated positions
Andrew Soltis
Source: "288 principles with examples. Just terrific stuff and very practical." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Art of Checkmate
Georges Renaud
Source: "Mostly a great book about checkmate pattern but lots of problems, too." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Training Pocket Book
300 Most Important Positions
Lev Alburt
Source: "The 300 most instructive positions needed to get to a rating of 1800." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderA First Book of Morphy
Frisco Del Rosario
Source: "A basic game book showing many basic principles via Morphy games." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderBobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Bobby Fischer
Source: "A programmed study of back rank and related mates." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Seven Deadly Chess Sins
Jonathan Rowson
Source: "A book on thinking - psychological aspects - avoiding time trouble, etc." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Strategy for Club Players
The Road to Positional Advantage
Herman Grooten
Source: "A 'more advanced' strategy book with lots of games examples." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderHow To Choose A Chess Move
Andrew Soltis
Source: "Another good general book, this time on thought process, by the GM." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderInside the Chess Mind
Jacob Aagaard
Source: "A collection of 'think out loud' protocols from titled players over 12 positions." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Endings
Essential Knowledge
Yuri Averbakh
Source: "This small book contains all the basics for chess endgames." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Strategy Workbook
A Blueprint for Developing the Best Plan
Todd Bardwick
Source: "Has basic ideas but not all problems are easy." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderLogical Chess
Move By Move
Irving Chernev
Source: "A classic which explains each move in excruciating detail!" - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderSacrifice and Initiative in Chess
Seize the Moment to Get the Advantage
Ivan Sokolov
Source: "Another advanced follow-up [to Art of Attack in Chess] book." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderEncyclopedia of Chess Openings
Zdenko Krnic
Source: "Five volumes to cover in more detail than NCO." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
Chess Workbook for Children
The Chess Detective's Introduction to the Royal Game
Todd Bardwick
Source: "Excellent workbook at a young beginner level." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played
62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy
Irving Chernev
Source: "A book of games, each with an individual idea." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderWinning Chess Strategy for Kids
Jeff Coakley
Source: "Highly recommended for basic tactics AND strategy." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Kaufman Repertoire for Black and White
A Complete, Sound and User-friendly Chess Opening Repertoire
Larry Kaufmann
Source: "Probably the best opening repertoire book." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderSecrets of Modern Chess Strategy
Advances since Nimzowitsch
John Watson
Source: "The most advanced positional book - great." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderWinning Chess Puzzles for Kids
Jeff Coakley
Source: "Don't be fooled by the titles! [This book is a gem]." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderThe Reassess Your Chess Workbook
Jeremy Silman
Source: "How to use imblances to figure out what to do." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderHow to Reassess Your Chess
Chess Mastery Through Chess Imbalances
Jeremy Silman
Source: "How to use imblances to figure out what to do." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Success
Planning After the Opening
Neil McDonald
Source: "The third book in this 'Chess Secrets' series." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderPower Chess for Kids
Learn How to Think Ahead and Become One of the Best Players in Your School
Charles Hertan
Source: "A helpful book about how to find basic forcing moves." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderComprehensive Chess Course
Volumes I & II in One
Lev Alburt
Source: "Based on the official Soviet training method!" - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderSquare One
A Chess Drill Book for Beginners
Bruce Pandolfini
Source: "A book to teach young beginners how to play." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
Pandolfini's Endgame Course
Basic Endgame Concepts Explained by America's Leading Chess Teacher
Bruce Pandolfini
Source: "Straightforward examples of basic ideas." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
The Amateur's Mind
Turning Chess Misconceptions Into Chess Mastery
Jeremy Silman
Source: "Examines faulty thinking processes." - Dan Heisman
1 recommenderChess Exam And Training Guide
Rate Yourself And Learn How To Improve
Igor Khmelnitsky
Source: "A book of excellent test problems." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
- 1 recommender
Chess Secrets
The Giants of Power Play
Neil McDonald
Source: Dan Heisman recommended this book in his blog.
1 recommenderChess Secrets
The Giants of Strategy
Neil McDonald
Source: Dan Heisman recommended this book in his blog.
1 recommender- 1 recommender
Chess
The Art of Logical Thinking
Neil McDonald
Source: "[The author's] good anthology." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
The Joys of Chess
Heroes, Battles and Brilliancies
Christian Hesse
Source: "It's 'just' a fun book." - Dan Heisman
1 recommender- 1 recommender
Any feedback? Email us