Comments on: The (F)utility of GM Writings? http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/09/01/the-futility-of-gm-writings/ Ramblings and ruminations on chess in SE Wisconsin, the USA and the World Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:15:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Administrator http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/09/01/the-futility-of-gm-writings/#comment-5501 Administrator Sun, 03 Sep 2006 00:28:07 +0000 http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/09/01/the-futility-of-gm-writings/#comment-5501 Sure thing, there are some (though I kind of wonder if you're overrating Alburt, and I, too own the entire series). You've hit on just about all of the GMs, though. Max Euwe has some, as does Znosko-Borovsky, but was the latter ever acknowledged as a GM? Then there's Purdy, and perhaps Emanual Lasker. So, out of the hundreds of GMs through history, we've come up with 8 names. We could add Fischer but I have to wonder how much of "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess was him and how much was Leslie Ault, a fairly underrated author. So, maybe if we worked really hard we could raise that to a dozen. Out of a century of chess writing. I think the point still stands. The chess author that's done the most for my game (so far) is C. J. S. Purdy. And that's because he specifically spurns the typical annotation style GMs seem attached to, and writes for the average player (and doesn't hesitate to criticize his brethren that seem unable to do so). Unlike most, he seemed to understand what the average player needed. Then there's IM Jeremy Silman. And from that stable of IM's has come as many or more valuable books than the stable of GMs, though there are three times as many GMs as IMs in the list. I guess I'm getting particular, after years of book collecting. I just pulled a few hundred off my shelves, because they were useless. I still see hundreds left, whose utility has yet to be demonstrated, at least to me. Sure thing, there are some (though I kind of wonder if you’re overrating Alburt, and I, too own the entire series). You’ve hit on just about all of the GMs, though. Max Euwe has some, as does Znosko-Borovsky, but was the latter ever acknowledged as a GM? Then there’s Purdy, and perhaps Emanual Lasker. So, out of the hundreds of GMs through history, we’ve come up with 8 names. We could add Fischer but I have to wonder how much of “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess was him and how much was Leslie Ault, a fairly underrated author. So, maybe if we worked really hard we could raise that to a dozen. Out of a century of chess writing. I think the point still stands.

The chess author that’s done the most for my game (so far) is C. J. S. Purdy. And that’s because he specifically spurns the typical annotation style GMs seem attached to, and writes for the average player (and doesn’t hesitate to criticize his brethren that seem unable to do so). Unlike most, he seemed to understand what the average player needed. Then there’s IM Jeremy Silman. And from that stable of IM’s has come as many or more valuable books than the stable of GMs, though there are three times as many GMs as IMs in the list.

I guess I’m getting particular, after years of book collecting. I just pulled a few hundred off my shelves, because they were useless. I still see hundreds left, whose utility has yet to be demonstrated, at least to me.

]]> By: Matt Schladweiler http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/09/01/the-futility-of-gm-writings/#comment-5500 Matt Schladweiler Sat, 02 Sep 2006 22:19:20 +0000 http://www.thechessmill.com/2006/09/01/the-futility-of-gm-writings/#comment-5500 You are true in many retrospects. There are a few gems for the beginning player though. If I may start up a list here: Logical Chess: Move by Move: Every Move Explained - Irving Chernev is amazing well written considering it introduces many concepts and explains every move as if you were just starting out playing chess Winning Chess Series - Yasser Seirawan - I have found this series to be great for the younger audience who wants to learn chess. The examples are clearly defined and the way he has written the books comes out in an almost Childish Nature Comprehensive Chess Course - Lev Alburt - If you have been in the chess world for any period of time, you know that Lev Alburt is by far one of the best teachers of chess in the world. Personally I almost own the entire series. Art of Attack in Chess - Vladimir Vukovic - I read only the first part of the book, and I found my attacking ability to increase greatly. Not for the beginner player though. If you do decide to pick up this book, I suggest you at least have all your basic endgames, tactics, and strategies down. Those are probably the most well known books. Add to this list if you may! You are true in many retrospects. There are a few gems for the beginning player though. If I may start up a list here:

Logical Chess: Move by Move: Every Move Explained - Irving Chernev is amazing well written considering it introduces many concepts and explains every move as if you were just starting out playing chess
Winning Chess Series - Yasser Seirawan - I have found this series to be great for the younger audience who wants to learn chess. The examples are clearly defined and the way he has written the books comes out in an almost Childish Nature
Comprehensive Chess Course - Lev Alburt - If you have been in the chess world for any period of time, you know that Lev Alburt is by far one of the best teachers of chess in the world. Personally I almost own the entire series.
Art of Attack in Chess - Vladimir Vukovic - I read only the first part of the book, and I found my attacking ability to increase greatly. Not for the beginner player though. If you do decide to pick up this book, I suggest you at least have all your basic endgames, tactics, and strategies down.

Those are probably the most well known books. Add to this list if you may!

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