© 2015 Jonathan Whitcomb
Chess Books
Popular Chess Books Written by Grandmasters
This chess book was written
by a *tutoring-expert who
teaches chess beginners
(*rather than a master)
The author of How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, Murray Chandler,
is a grandmaster from New Zealand. He was something of a child
prodigy, born in 1960 and yet winning the New Zealand chess
championship in 1975–76. Chandler qualified as an International
Master in 1977.
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess appears to be one of the best of
the thousands of chess books that can benefit mid-level players.
For the raw beginner, however, the player who is not yet able to
look more than one move ahead, this book is far from ideal; it
requires imagining several moves into the future.
Grandmaster
Authors
How to Beat Your Dad at
Chess - by M. Chandler
Written by a non-grandmaster
Back cover of the chess book by
grandmaster Murray Chandler
Susan Polgar, co-author of Chess Tactics for Champions, born in Hungary in
1969, was a child prodigy of the game. She was the Women’s World Chess
Champion from 1996 to 1999. When Polgar was active in competition, she
attained a FIDE rating of 2577, probably placing her at around the 300th
highest ranked chess grandmaster in the world (male and female).
The Amazon page of Chess Tactics for Champions says, “Polgar gives insight
into the kind of thinking that chess champions rely on while playing the game,
specifically the ability to recognize patterns and combinations.” This chess
book may greatly benefit the average club player or intermediate tournament
competitor, but it’s not for the novice (the player who is just getting started).
Chess Tactics for Champions
by Susan Polgar and Truong
John Nunn became a grandmaster in 1978 and became the
British champion two years later. In January of 1989, he was
ranked at a tie for ninth place among the world’s highest
rated grandmasters.
The Amazon page for Learn Chess says, “Starting with the
very basics, this book tells you everything you need to know
to become a successful chess-player.” Yet one comment from
a reader suggests this book is not ideal for the raw beginner
who needs an easier introduction to how to win at chess:
“Not that great if you have never played chess before.”
