Chess: How can I improve my game? Chess books or Chess software/engine?

Question

I'm just your average player . Do I need to have one of those chess engines to improve my game? Or should I read and understand from some 'good' chess books?

Since I do not have a chess software I'm wondering if it's necessary to have one to improve. I do not want to get one if I can significantly improve from reading some books on chess and applying in the game.

Answer 1

Some people learn fast from books while others on videos and software, but I would suggest that go with the books, many great players like Kasparov and Fischer learned from books. If you will buy a chess book, I would suggest these books, many like and learned from these books.



For Strategy try, Winning Chess Strategy by Seirawan.

For Tactics try, Chess Tactics for Champion by Susan Polgar.

For endgame, try Comprehensive Enggame Course by Silman



Additional good superb books.



Best Lessons of a Chess Coach.

Understanding Chess Move by Move by Chernev.

Answer 2

If your rating is like 1400, you can try Chessmaster 11000 AKA Grandmaster Edition in which there is an academy of Josh Waitzkin. That is one of the best tutorials I have ever seen. And of course, practice makes perfect. Play chess regularly and also you can play online chess for free at FICS (www.freechess.org). Speaking of books, they are quite boring to read and needs lots of patience. But yes, they help too. Start with some endgame books. And playing with human is much better than playing with engine. If you want to play in your PC only, try online chess in FICS. There are lots of players there with all quality. Cheers.

Answer 3

Google "matrix chess" and Bernard Parham"

Answer 4

The best engine is the brain inside your head you don't need software to learn start studying chess by beginning with the endgame 85% of beginners think all of their games will be decided in the middle game and the opening or they learn the absolute bare minimum of endgame theory but never really master the material they need to know by going over them again and again and again big mistake!



http://www.chesscentral.com/The_Game_of_Chess_p/1269794.htm



The game of Chess by Siegbert Tarrasch this is what I recommend to beginners when they want to start studying the game it's written by a legendary Grandmaster who's writing style is clear he uses the intuitive method to teach the fundamentals starting with the elements, the endgame, the middle game and the opening last it's not an exhaustive book but for building a base or solid foundation this is good stuff!



How to play Chess Endgames by Karsten Muller



http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Chess-Endings-Tournament-Players/dp/0713481897/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298214167&sr=1-1



Great follow up book by two modern German Gm's covers all you need to know about the endgame including the golden rules and rules of thumb.



http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Chess-Workout-puzzles-Everyman/dp/1857445325/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298216630&sr=1-1



The Complete Chess Workout by Richard Palliser



You need board vision and tactical skills to play well and the only way to get them is to solve lots and lots of problems in large quantities the best way to study problems is directly from a book don't set them up on a board or on a computer monitor this way you train yourself to solve problems with your minds eye.



http://www.amazon.com/Chess-5334-Problems-Combinations-Games/dp/1579125549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298217269&sr=1-1



Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games by Laszlo Polgar



Monster book of problems that can help your board vision.



http://www.amazon.com/FCO-Fundamental-Paul-Van-Sterren/dp/1906454132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298217495&sr=1-1



FCO Fundamental Openings by Paul Vander Sterren



One of the the best books to get on openings for players starting out learning the game



Learning from books is one thing it's quite another when you're sitting all alone across a real chess board (not online) facing a serious or very dangerous player one day who means business and wants to win:



http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/pics/lasker2a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/disorder.html&h=482&w=458&sz=58&tbnid=nE3y2h_INhdGSM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Demanuel%2Blasker&zoom=1&q=emanuel+lasker&hl=en&usg=__DoQNC38Mx1IfBXHz0JgY29h6F-4=&sa=X&ei=ejxhTcSwLsK78gaQsaHuCw&ved=0CEQQ9QEwBA



The only way to get experience and learn is by constantly practicing and playing against people who can play really well and have good playing habits and form.



I recommend playing slow standard chess at least 2 or 3 times a week 60.0, 35.0, 90.0 the longer the time control the better not too much blitz that's how you'll learn the art of planning!



Correspondence Chess is great too it's a slower paced game without the pressure of a clock:



http://www.e4ec.org/chess.html

http://www.chessbymail.com

http://www.plasticbishop.com



Good luck learning Chess!

Answer 5

I suggest you to train on this site



http://www.ideachess.com/



checkmates, tactics and endgames.