The best chess strategy and positional play books depend on your level, what you need to improve, and whether you prefer explanations or practical exercises. This guide recommends eleven books…
The best Slav and Semi-Slav Defense books depend on your playing level and whether you're looking for an introduction or a complete repertoire. The Slav (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6) and…
The Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5) is played through distinct systems — the Leningrad, the Stonewall and the Classical — and its books are mostly written the same way, one system…
“There is more to chess than going up (or down) a few rating points each year.” – GM John Nunn. What is The Lighter Side of Chess about? The Lighter…
The Pirc (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6) and the Modern (1.e4 g6) are close relatives that often transpose, so this guide treats them together. It recommends seven books: two…
The Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) has a large literature, but few of the Italian books we assessed have independent reviews that support them on the Italian specifically.…
Choosing the best books on the English Opening starts with understanding the flexibility of 1.c4. White can keep the game in familiar English structures or transpose into queen's pawn positions,…
Best Books on Chess Sacrifices recommends six books on the chess sacrifice, chosen from those available on Forward Chess and grouped by the level each suits. By kind of sacrifice,…
“The opening is a fight for the initiative.” – Emanuel Lasker. What is My First Chess Opening Repertoire about? My First Chess Opening Repertoire by IM Christof Sielecki is a…
The Sicilian Defense is the most heavily analyzed reply to 1.e4, and the White player has to decide how to meet it before deciding what to study. That choice —…