My highly subjective rating system:
✭✭✭✭✭ - It doesn't get any better than this
✭✭✭✭ - Very, very good and enjoyable
✭✭✭ - Worth reading
✭✭ - Not my cup of tea, but not entirely worthless
✭ - Uninteresting
Those ratings do not reflect the quality of the books (or of the authors, or of the games), but rather my personal enjoyment (and sometimes purely sentimental) value of them (which of course also reflects the above qualities, but not entirely so).
The books are sorted in alphabetical order in each section.
Players' Games Collections, Biographies
Matches, Tournament Books
Various Games Collections
Middlegame, Strategy, Tactics
Endgame
Not Really Fitting Anywhere
Players' Games Collections, Biographies
✭✭✭✭✭
Alexander Aljechin, Auf dem Wege zur Weltmeisterschaft 1923-1927.
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin, 1983
My first Alekhine book and still my favourite, together with his book about the 1924 tournament. It covers the years 1923 to 1927, including all games from his match with Capablanca and the sensational game Réti-Alekhine from Baden-Baden 1925.
✭✭✭✭✭
Alexander Aljechin, Meine besten Partien 1908-1923.
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin, 1982
✭✭✭
Vishy Anand, Meine besten Schachpartien.
Edition Olms - Zürich, 1998
✭✭✭✭
Hermann von Gottschall, Adolf Anderssen - der Altmeister deutscher Schachspielkunst.
Edition Olms - Zürich, 1980 (Reprint of Leipzig 1912)
A quote from Hans Ree's column Dutch Treat at chesscafe.com: "The American grandmaster Peter Biyiasis once told me that during the 70s, when Fischer stayed a few weeks at his house, he had hoped to analyse modern openings with the great man, but all Fischer wanted to do was analyse games from Gottschall's book, which he had brought with him."
✭✭✭✭✭
Pal Benko, My Life, Games and Compositions
Siles Press - Los Angeles, 2003
✭✭✭
Hans Müller, Botwinnik lehrt Schach.
Das Schach-Archiv - Hamburg, 1966
100 games of Botvinnik, annotated in good old soviet style (the winner is always right, the loser gets the question marks) by the Austrian Hans Müller (apparently using Botvinnik's own original analysis in his). It is perhaps not his fault, but I never warmed up to Botvinnik nor his games.
✭✭
David Bronstein, 200 Open Games
Dover - New York, 1991
200 games of David Bronstein that featured the first moves 1 e4 e5, sorted by openings. The games are not annotated, apart from an introductory text to each game, sometimes telling an anecdote referring to the game, or the players, or something else, sometimes highlighting the decisive moment of the game. An interesting approach to a game collection, but I'd rather wish he had written old-fashioned annotations to those games.
✭✭✭
David Bronstein/Tom Fürstenberg, The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Cadogan Chess, 1996
Unfortunately this is not quite as good as it could have been. There are some of the usual Bronstein suprises associated with this book. Only 50 games have full annotations, the other chapters are: "40 combinations with explanations", "60 games with diagrams" (no annotations at all, just literally the game scores plus somewhere between 4 to 8 diagrams per game), "70 picturesque games" (just game scores bar any comments).
✭✭
Alexej Suetin, David Bronstein - Die Kunst der Schachtaktik
Bock & Kübler - Berlin, 1996
✭✭✭✭✭
Irving Chernev, Capablanca's Best Chess Endings - 60 Complete Games
Dover - New York, 1978
✭✭✭✭
Fred Reinfeld, The Immortal Games of Capablanca
Dover - New York, 1990
✭✭✭
H. Golombek, J.R. Capablanca - 75 seiner schönsten Partien
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin, 1983
✭✭✭
Kurt Richter/Rudolf Teschner, Dr. Max Euwe - Eine Auswahl seiner schönsten Partien.
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin, 1986
✭✭✭✭✭
Bobby Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games.
Faber and Faber - London 1972
This is the book that finally got me hooked on chess. I bought it at a yard sale in the summer of 1983, spending something like 20 DM on it. The magic of the name "Fischer" had worked on me, so I just had to get that one and ignored the fun-poking of my company ("What's the title? 'The 60 Games that I still can remember?'"). I remember that I first had some trouble of getting into this book: not only was it written in english, but the notation (P-K4 etc.) was far off from what I had seen before. Nevermind, somehow I managed to solve this mystery and eventually this became my most intensely read chess book. Although nowadays I am not such a die-hard Fischer fan anymore as I used to be, for me it still rates among the very best games collections ever. Yes, there are also lesser games in this book: today's top players probably wouldn't include a simul game (against Celle) or an off-hand game (against Fine) in their best-of collections anymore, but maybe it is precisely this multi-level and multi-style approach that turned this book into a classic of the size of Alekhine's or Capablanca's collections.
As I understand, this is not the most desirable edition, but in my opinion the cover looks better than that of the original U.S.-edition. Although it is softcover, the binding still holds well after more than 30 years. They sure knew how to produce quality books back then.
✭✭✭
Christian M. Bijl, Die gesammelten Partien von Robert J. Fischer.
Beyer/Variant - Nederhorst den Berg, 1986
✭✭✭✭
Svetozar Gligoric, I Play Against Pieces.
Batsford: London, 2002
✭✭
Robert Hübner, Twenty-five Annotated Games.
Edition Marco Verlag Arno Nickel - Berlin, 1996
Karl Kraus' drama "Die letzten Tage der Menschheit" had been written for a Martian theater. I do not know what readership exactly Robert Hübner has in mind for his game annotations, but it must be a similar exotic and exclusive one. 400+ pages of 2 columns for 25 games. The diagrams are crisp, the paper of high quality, the binding superb, but the annotations, often a non-verbal maze of lengthy and numerous variations, are virtually indigestible for me.
✭
M. van Fondern/Peter Kleine, Dr. Robert Hübner - 60 seiner schönsten Partien.
Beyer Verlag - Hollfeld, 1982
✭✭
Anatoli Karpow, Meine Besten Partien.
Bock & Kübler - Berlin, 1997
Writing annotations to his games has never really been Karpov's forte. Shallow and often superficial. He should get a ghostwriter (or change his old one).
✭✭✭✭✭
Paul Keres, Ausgewählte Partien 1931-1958.
Variant - Nederhorst den Berg, 1983
Arguably one of the best collections of the Golden Era of chess. This is classical chess at its best The annotations are as thorough like those by Alekhine in his books (albeit pre-computer era, of course), yet accessible for the average player, since Keres does not only give variations but also thorough verbal explanations. This book really lives up to its subtitle "Zugleich ein Lehrbuch des praktischen Schachs" ("A manual of practical chess").
✭✭✭
Erich Carl, Paul Keres Ausgewählte Partien 1959-1974 und der Versuch einer Biographie
Beyer Verlag - Hollfeld 1983
✭✭✭
Paul Keres & John Nunn, Paul Keres: The Quest for Perfection.
American Batsford Chess Library - Seattle, 1997
✭✭✭
Viktor Kortschnoi, Meine besten Kämpfe 1&2.
Edition Olms - Zürich, 2002 (2 volumes)
✭✭✭✭
Bent Larsen, Best Games of Chess,
Hardinge Simpole – 2003
✭✭
Dr. J. Hannak, Emanuel Lasker - The Life of a Chess Master
Dover - New York 1991
✭
Chris Ward, The Genius of Paul Morphy
Cadogan Chess -- London 1997
✭✭✭✭
Rashid Nezhmetdinov, Nezhmetdinov’s Best Games of Chess
Caissa Editions – Yorklyn 2000
✭✭✭✭
Aron Nimzowitsch, Die Praxis meines Systems
Das Schach-Archiv - Hamburg 1973
A collection of 109 games of Nimzowitsch. I’ll take his games over his “System” any day.
✭✭✭
Alexej Suetin, Tigran Petrosjan - Die Karriere eines Schachgenies
Bock & Kübler - Berlin 1997
✭✭✭✭✭
Hans Kmoch, Rubinstein gewinnt!
Edition Olms - Zürich 1989 (Reprint of Wien 1933)
There is a definate shortage of books on Rubinstein. Donaldson's work ist currently out of print, so I have to settle with this one for the time being. The annotations are lighter than one would wish for, but that is not unusual for books of that vintage. As for the games. well, just for his game with Rotlevi and his two Qc1-games with Lasker and Capablanca Rubinstein already would have deservedly earned immortality. Plus a couple of wonderful endgames, such as the rook endgame against Spielmann. Games of transcendental beauty.
✭✭
Viktor Glatman, Akiba Rubinstein's Chess Academy
Moscow 1992
✭✭✭✭
Alexei Shirov, Fire on Board
Cadogan Chess - London 1997
✭✭✭✭
Wassili Smyslow, Meine 130 schönsten Partien von 1938-1984
Sachverlag Rudi Schmaus - Heidelberg 1988
✭✭✭✭
Ludwig Bachmann, Schachmeister Steinitz 1/2 & 3/4 (2 volumes)
Edition Olms - Zürich 1986 (Reprint of Ansbach 1920-1928)
✭✭✭
Mark Taimanov, Taimanov's Selected Games
Cadogan Chess - London 1998
✭✭✭✭✭
Mikhail Tal, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal
Cadogan Chess - London 1997
✭✭✭
Siegbert Tarrasch, Dreihundert Schachpartien
Edition Olms - Zürich 1994 (Reprint of Gouda 1925)
✭✭✭
S. G. Tartakower, My Best Games of Chess 1905-1954
Dover - New York 1985
✭✭✭
Wolfgang Uhlmann, Ein Leben lang Französisch
Beyer - Hollfeld 1991
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✭✭✭✭✭
Alexander Aljechin, Das Grossmeister-Turnier New York 1924
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin 1985
✭✭✭✭
Der Schachwettkampf Aljechin-Euwe um die Weltmeisterschaft 1935
Edition Olms - Zürich 1983 (Reprints of Mährisch-Ostrau 1936 and Wien 1935)
Today, the Alekhine-Euwe matches almost seem forgotten by the larger chess public, yet they have seen better games and were more contested than the legendary 1927 match between Capablanca and Alekhine, and than a good portion of the post-war WC matches. This books actually contains two match books, one with Euwe's and Alekhine's annotations, and the other with annotations and some behind-the-scenes information from Hans Kmoch.
✭✭✭✭
Alexander Aljechin, Das New Yorker Schachturnier 1927
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin 1982
✭✭✭
Alexander Aljechin, Das Internationale Schachturnier Nottingham 1936
Edition Marco – Berlin 1986
✭✭✭
Die Schachkämpfe um die Weltmeisterschaft zwischen Aljechin und Bogoljubow 1929 und 1934
Edition Olms – Zürich 1983
Four volumes in one: 1. Yates/Winter, Games Played in the World’s Championship Match (1929), 2. Bogoljubow, Schachkampf um die Weltmeisterschaft (1934), 3. Lasker, Games Played in the Return Match for the World’s Championship (1934), 4. Fine/Reinfeld, Alekhine vs. Bogoljubow. World Chess Championship 1934.
✭✭✭✭
David Bronstein, Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953
Dover - New York 1979
✭✭✭✭✭
Mikhail Tal, Tal-Botvinnik 1960
Russell Enterprises - Milford CT 1996
✭✭
Yasser Seirawan/George Stefanovic, No Regrets - Fischer-Spassky 1992
International Chess Enterprises - Seattle 1992
A patchwork of game analysis, full transcripts of post-game press conferences, short interviews and journalistic daily impressions. The press conference statements are full of trite and preposterous nonsense (of both Fischer and Spassky), but in their demonstration of the irreal quirks of the protagonsists, they are invaluable. As a match book, this is simply a failure, but interesting as a raw document.
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✭✭✭
Alexander Alekhine, 107 Great Chess Battles 1939-1945
Dover - New York 1992
✭✭✭✭
Irving Chernev, Logical Chess: Move by Move
Batsford – London 2003
✭✭
Reuben Fine, Die größten Schachpartien der Welt
Heyne - München 1981
The german edition of Fine's "The World's Greatest Chess Games". My earliest chess book, next to Tarrasch's Das Schachspiel. The annotations may be a bit light, and the short biographical clips not too accurate, but when I was a beginner this selection of classical games did just fine. Noteworthy about this edition is the outrageous translation by two guys, who seem to have never played a game of chess nor read a chess book. It is simply amazing how they managed to get it all wrong!
✭✭✭✭
John Nunn, Understanding Chess Move by Move
Gambit – London 2001
✭✭✭✭
Aleksei Suetin, Schachstrategie der Weltmeister
Sportverlag Berlin 1983
✭✭✭✭
Dr. S. Tartakower/J. Du Mont, 500 Master Games of Chess
Dover - New York 1975
✭✭✭✭
Jan Timman, The Art of Chess Analysis
Cadogan Chess - London 1997
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✭✭
Hans Berliner, The System - A World Champion's Approach to Chess
Gambit - London 1999
Summary: White plays 1 d4 and wins.
✭✭✭
José Raoul Capablanca, Grundzüge der Schachstrategie
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin 1979
Mikhail Tal & Iakov Damsky, Attack with Mikhail Tal
Cadogan Chess - London 1997
Lyev Polugayevsky & Iakov Damsky, The Art of Defence in Chess
Cadogan Chess - London 1996
✭✭✭✭
Viacheslav Eingorn, Decision-Making at the Chessboard
Gambit – London 2003
This is actually a cross-over between a collection of Eingorn’s games (with a few classical games by famous players thrown in) and a book about middlegame topics. Highly instructive through Eingorn’s critical and self-critical analysis of his thoughts and motivations.
✭✭✭✭
Max Euwe, Judgement and Planning in Chess
Batsford – London 1998
✭✭✭
Jerzy Konikowski/Pit Schulenburg, Fischers Vermächtnis
Beyer-Verlag - Hollfeld 1992
✭✭✭✭
Hans Kmoch, Die Kunst der Bauernführung
Das Schach-Archiv - Hamburg 1967
✭✭✭
Alexander Koblenz, Schachstrategie
Falken-Verlag - Niedernhausen 1982/1985
✭✭
Alexander Kotov, Spiele wie ein Großmeister
Edition Olms - Zürich 1986
✭✭
Alexander Kotov, Denke wie ein Großmeister
Edition Olms - Zürich 1986
✭✭✭
Aron Nimzowitsch, Mein System
Das Schach-Archiv - Hamburg 1965
Ludek Pachman, Modern Chess Strategy
Dover - New York 1971
✭✭✭✭
Fred Reinfeld, 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations
Wilshire Book Co. - Hollywood, CA, n.Y.
✭✭✭✭
Andrew Soltis, Pawn Structure Chess
McKay Chess Library 1995
✭✭✭✭✭
Michael Stean, Simple Chess
Dover – New York 2002
✭✭✭✭✭
John Watson, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
Gambit - London 1998
✭✭✭✭✭
John Watson, Chess Strategy in Action
Gambit – London 2003
✭✭✭✭
Alexander Yermolinsky, The Road to Chess Improvement
Gambit - London 1999
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✭✭✭
André Chéron, Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele I-IV
Das Schach-Archiv - Hamburg 1960-1970 (4 volumes)
✭✭✭✭
Karsten Müller/Frank Lamprecht, Fundamental Chess Endings
Gambit - London 2001
✭✭✭✭
Karsten Müller/Frank Lamprecht, Secrets of Pawn Endings
Everyman Chess - London 2000
✭✭✭
John Nunn, Taktische Schachendspiele
Falken Verlag - Niedernhausen 1987
✭✭✭✭
Ludek Pachmann, Endspielpraxis im Schach
Heyne - München 1986
✭✭✭✭✭
Michail Schereschewski, Strategie der Schachendspiele
Sportverlag Berlin 1985
✭✭✭✭
Theo Schuster, Das Endspiel im Schach
Schach bei Franckh - Stuttgart 1980
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✭✭✭
Lew Polugajewski, Aus dem Labor des Großmeisters 1+2
Walter Rau Verlag - Düsseldorf 1983
✭✭✭✭
Siegbert Tarrasch, Das Schachspiel
Rowohlt - Reinbeck 1973
One of my very first chess books, which I bought in the summer of 1981 (at the ripe age of 17 - talk about starting out late!). And I could have done worse - this book is a real classic. Despite Tarrasch's reputation of being dogmatic and what else, this book is still one of the best introductions to chess for a beginner (In that regard I rate it higher than Lasker's Manual). A curious detail of this edition are the diagrams (see example):
✭✭
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, Lasker's Manual of Chess
Dover - New York 1960
✭✭
Richard Réti, Modern Ideas in Chess
Dover - New York 1974
✭✭
José R. Capablanca, Letzte Schachlektionen
Walter Rau Verlag 1985
✭✭
Kurt Richter, Einfälle, Reinfälle
Walter de Gruyter - Berlin 1967
✭✭✭
Anatoli Mazukewitsch, Verflixte Fehler
Sportverlag Berlin 1985
✭✭
Robert Hübner, Fünfundfünfzig feiste Fehler
Ernst Vögel - Stamsried 1990
✭✭✭
Emil Gelenczei, 200 Eröffnungsfallen
Sportverlag Berlin 1983
✭
Yves Kraushaar, Bobby Fischer heute
usus-Verlag - Schwanden 1977
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