in my efforts to improve in chess i have sometimes spent money. was it worth it? well, let's see. i have bought a few books:
1) Nunn's chess openings by John Nunn et al.
2) The seven deadly chess sins by Jonathan Rowson
3) Think like a grandmaster by Alexander Kotov
4) Play the open games as black by John Emms
5) Chess for zebras by Jonathan Rowson
6) Endgame tactics by G.C. van Perlo
7) A spanish repertoire for black by Mihail Marin
Ok, here's a very fast and quite superficial review:
1) i think that intermediate strength players don't need this. it's essentially a list of opening variations with symbolic notation. i'm sure it's useful for many chess players - but at our level, i suggest to pick some openings you like and learn them in-depth.
2) this was an ambitious book, very different to others that we can buy. i really enjoy Jonathan Rowson's style of writing and his approach to the game of chess. for example, he devotes some time to talking about the situation when you have a promising position, then you go and play a bad move and are grovelling for a draw. come on! tell me you haven't been in this situation! rather, than getting all grouchy and annoyed (my instinct), Jonathan says that now is a time to draw a line between the moves played and the moves that will be played. there is a new objective: "draw the game". achieving this goal should bring rewards because it shows that we can adjust to, and achieve, new aims. this is just an example of the ideas in his book - but it made a lasting impression on me. i don't know whether it's connected to his endevours outside of chess (e.g. chess teacher and academic philosopher) but i think he has a very positive approach to the concept of competition.
3) i think i bought this book too early. i honestly thought that if i read it then i would think like a grandmaster. ok, i should sue the publisher! but life isn't like that. i struggle to find words for this book. in parts it is superb, it is always gritty, but if you are rated 1500-1800 then there is much of it that will remain mysterious.
4) i've already mentioned this in a previous post. it's opening specific. if you plan to play 1.e4 or to counter it with 1...e5 then i recommend it.
5) Rowson gives us another endearing book touching on our prejudice about having the black vs. white pieces and (of particular interest to me) why it's difficult for adults to improve. He combines chess examples with an overall view to chess psychology and aspirations. until you read one of his books you might be mistaken for thinking that you're not supposed to enjoy trying to improve.
6) Van Perlo's endgames is a treat. i'm terribly unmotivated to set up positions with the kings + 1 or 2 other pieces and many endgame resources are of the "spectacular but it's never going to happen" variety. this book only contains positions that actually occurred in serious play. they are grouped in a thematic way. i only find time to read one position per week, but i still think it's helpful. we intermediates have a tendency to be very "orthodox" in the way we view endings. Van Perlo shows that some imagination and lateral thinking can turn a 1/2-1/2 into a 1-0 (or vice versa!)
7) i just bought this book. given that i always play 1.e4 and always counter it with 1...e5 then you'd think that i knew something about the Ruy Lopez - but i don't. i'm planning to heal an old wound here. i've only read the first chapter but i like it. i find that i don't need a board. the diagrams plus explanations make this a book something you can learn from while travelling.
i've also spent money to join the internet chess club (see previous post "game of the day / week") which i am very happy to do. i once took some internet lessons from an IM from Finland. i wasn't too impressed with these but i think that internet coaching can work with the right rapport and goals. i used to be a member of cambridge city chess club, uk. at the time there was an FM called Andrew Greet. he and I would go to the same tournaments, and when i drove us there he would pay me the petrol by giving me chess lessons. these were really superb (i only regret that there weren't more). Andrew has now progressed to an IM and has written a number of well-received chess books.
for me, spending money on chess is an indulgence so i want to do it right. do you have any do's and don'ts about how to spend your money improving your chess?
