Books Recommended by Dan Heisman
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
Checkmate 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
Applying 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
Practical 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
100 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
The 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
50 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
Understanding 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
Thought 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
The 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
Chess 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
Rethinking the Chess Pieces
Andrew Soltis
Source: "Advanced book about the changing value of the pieces, playing imbalances, when to trade, etc." - Dan Heisman
Rapid 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
Starting Out
Chess Tactics and Checkmates
Chris Ward
Source: "There are some fairly difficult problems but most are basic and quite fundamental." - Dan Heisman
Understanding 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
The 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
Modern Chess Openings
Nick De Firmian
Source: "Every intermediate can use a one-volume tome covering all the openings." - Dan Heisman
Transpo Tricks in Chess
Andrew Soltis
Source: "Some really great practical advice about how to get the most out of many openings." - Dan Heisman
The Method in Chess
Iossif Dorfman
Source: "Not a well-written book, but some important ideas about planning and imbalances." - Dan Heisman
Chess for Zebras
Jonathan Rowson
Source: "I recommend anyone who is considering chess lessons to read the first chapter." - Dan Heisman
FAQ
Did Dan Heisman recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Dan Heisman must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Dan Heisman mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Dan Heisman is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Dan Heisman actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Dan Heisman, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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