going down memory lane being sick and recalling the best chess books i've read, anyone have favorites? here are some of mine, wih reason. i'm not an old guy but i appreciate the classics.
 
My System --nimzowitch -- 'centralization' and 'alternation'. that's pretty much my opening theory.:P forget memorization...that's why i just 'wing it' all the time in g/2, usually while drunk! 'the seventh and eight ranks' - teaches you how to go for the kill.
 
Chess Fundamentals --capablanca --learn endgames first...pure logic.
 
My 60 Memorable Games -- fischer --reading this was a hoot (Larry evans editted)...some positions i couldn't understand, then 'oh', 'ohhhhhh', 'niceeeeeeee' :P
 
Americans In Chess -- AndySoltis ---hadto add capablanca, which made it interesting. there is the club game where the strongest player there plays capablanca as a child, gives him his queen to start as it 'wasn't fair'. capa beats him without moving his own queen for about 30 moves.....
 
Complete Chess Course -- Lev Albert. This was a good book, 2 volumes. Very fun to go through as a teenager.
 
and last but not least, my first chess book as a kid...
Chess In A Nutshell -- Renfield. Gives you the first three moves of the Sicilian. lol
 

Combinations: The Heart of Chess Chernev
 
A bunch of old fashioned a$$ whippings. It was published in the '60's I think. I reminder to me that I play this game for the fantastic, dramatic combinations, not the 3 pawn v 2 pawn endgame.
 
Honestly, I really hate endgames.
 
--SoCo

I will keep that in mind in our correspondence games :P
 
i love endgames, it's the only time when i know the game is decided. i hate openings. i think to myself there has to be a few rules to generate all the the good openings (centralization, etc), like fractal rules generating trees, etc.
 
since you mentioned tactics
 
okay a few more gems:
 
'Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess' --Fischer. traps anda lot of back rank stuff, and the 'x-ray' idea. I wouldn't underestimate this little book as its flourished with simple tactical shots in chess.
 
The Sorcerer's Apprentice -- Bronstein. Awesome book.
 
Zurich Interzonal 1953 ---Bronstein. Didn't go through all of it but it's a gem as well. Great stories ad these were the best playes. Lots of nimzo-indian defence games here.

Honestly there are not that many chess books I have gone through from
cover to cover.There are 7 which i currently own which I have made
somewhat of a dent in & enjoyed.Btw before I list them i will have
to say the book "Bobby Fischer teaches chess" is the first chess book
I made through cover to cover.As anyone who has owned it knows it is
very painless.One diagram after another where one move wins the game
(or material).I thought it was well done and I would recomend to anyone
going through their first chess book.
Here are the 7 books I mentioned earlier:
(in no particular order)
Soviet Chess Championship 1941 (even better since I won by beating
a club champion in a simutaneous exhibition...actually alot of us
did!)It has 6 players in a round robin for the championship.
In order of finish: with pts won out of 20.
1)Botvinnik 13.5
2) Keres 11
3) Smyslov 10
4) Boleslavsky 9
5) Lilienthal 8.5
6) Bondarevsky 8
I really enjoyed this book although I still haven't played
all the games in it.Notes by Botvinnik which is nice.
_________________________
How to think ahead in Chess (Horowitz)
the book I picked up the stonewall from.
________________________________
How to Play Chess Openings
Keeen & Levy (honestly just used it for a few openings but liked it)
________________________________
Pillsbury Chess Career (Sergent & Watts)
Love this book as well.Pillsbury even plays the stonewall!
__________________________________________________
Practical Chess Endings (Chernev)
fairly painless which I like!
___________________________________
Practical Chess Endings (Keres)
A very good book but abit too deep for me.
___________________________________
500 Master Games of Chess (Tartakover & Dumont)
I very much enjoy this book as well
_____________________________________
A cute Vampire got me a book I plan to go through this
summer.It is called "Chess Openings for Black Explained
(a complete Repertoire)" it is by Lev Alburt & co.
I am looking forward to it.
I have 15 other chess books but I haven't gone through them
nearly as much as the ones mentioned.
Diggy.w/luw/to/my/favorite/chess/player/V.!
 

MCO 13 Ive memorized, but it has'nt helped my rateing at all.
 
 
D

That must had been grueling!
Diggy

I have MCO 13! :P now imagine me. this book is too thick. which openings have most written about? sicilian, roy lopez, nimzoindian. avoid these.

Diggy
 
I'm glad your posting . This BB can only benefit from your amicable persona. Over the years you have been very consistant. Your imput is valued.
 
 
D

Actually,
as you know,from most of our{2min games} games. Ive looked at the flank openings from that book{MCO13} because, the chapters are thin.
 
D