Book Recommendations

Here are my recommendations for chess books based on my own experience and the vast experience of my podcast guests.

Each image and description has an Amazon affiliate link so that you can support the podcast while acquiring your books.

Beginner – Tactics

Everyone’s First Chess Workbook

This is the book that will introduce you to all of the tactical themes and give you puzzles to cement them. Everyone should start here!

Beginner – Blunder Elimination

Learn Chess The Right Way: Book 3

This book will help you eliminate the dreaded blunder. After completing this, my daughter’s blunders were cut in half!

Beginner – Expert – Endgames

Silman’s Complete Engame Course

This book will help you eliminate the dreaded blunder. After completing this, my daughter’s blunders were cut in half!

Intermediate – Strategy

Simple Chess

This should be your second strategy book. It goes deep into a few concepts. It is accessible, short, and affordable. It’s a can’t skip book!

Intermediate – Endgame

This is the endgame book that changed how I play chess. There is not memorization here. Just learning how to play endgames. There is a new, updated version. But I personally like the shorter, simpler, old one.

Intermediate – Advanced – Tactics

Chess Tactics From Scratch

This book changed everything for me. It takes the patterns you know, and teaches you to set them up.

Intermediate – Advanced – Strategy

Chess Structures

This is the ultimate reference guide for learning the plans of most any opening. It focuses on the most critical structures. Don’t read this until you have finished two strategy books.