Hi,

December 25th is right around the corner. It is once again time to update the ol' Christmas chess book wish list  .

I have spent the last hour or so looking over book reviews at Silman's site, and Hansen's column at Chess Cafe. I also looked at 2008 book releases on Quality Chess, Gambit, and Everyman.

Except for Dvoretsky's Analytical Manual (I own it), there seems to be a shortage of new, interesting, NON-opening chess books this year .

In your opinion, what have been the best chess books released this year? They can be on the opening, but since we all have so many of these, and since we do have ChessPublishing to save us, I would like something different. Personally, I prefer instructional material (the more challenging, the better), but this thread welcomes any and all ideas  .

To start: Attacking Manual 1 by Aagaard looks interesting. Silman's review (http://www.jeremysilman.com/book_reviews_js/Attacking_Manual_1.html) notes it has annoying, "Dvoretsky worship," but since I am one of those worshippers, that doesn't bother me.  

Well, sometimes you learn a lot of chess in opening books ! my favourite amongst recent books in this resepct :

- The Safest Sicilian, 2nd edition, by Delchev & Semkov. (as revealing as Kasparov & Nikitin's Sicilian with ...e6 & ...d6 in its time)
- Play 1. b3 by Ilya Odessky. (Despite the opening, if I may say)
- Khalifman's "Kramnik" update, not just moves but ideas, and honesty as far as I can see.

As a practical player (= no computer chess, and never met OTB that mythical 1900 player knowing all theory on all variations), I would be interested in books showing "little theory leading to interesting equality" rather than "big theory leading to debatable & at most short-term advantage", but perhaps this is just me.

I second the choice of Hertan's Book and also nominate Cox's Berlin Wall, which I feel is much more than just an opening manual.

I will pass on Dvoretsky's Analytical Manual because almost 90% of the book content was already published in various web sites (chesscafe.com, e3e5.com, chesspro.ru). For me this book does not contain anything new. Of course it is good to have all those articles together.
As for the best book my preference is as follows:
1) John Cox - Berlin Wall - superb book. It is not another one opening book but it is a true manual of the Berlin structures.
2) Jacob Aagaard - Attacking manual Vol.1
3) Tsermiadianos - How to beat the French Defence
3) Artur Yusupov - Build Up Your Chess Vol.1
4) Bob Rice - Three Moves Ahead - a very good reading about chess and business.

drkodos wrote on 11/20/08 at 02:07:13:



I third Hertan and second Cox's Berlin Wall.

I also would vote for Cox The Berlin wall.
But a good non opening alternative candidate is:
Muller/Pajeken How to play the endgame.

Thanks for the responses. Please keep the recommendations coming!

Despite what I said about openings, I will have a serious look at The Berlin Wall. If it is true that it is as instructional as you have all said, I'm sure I will enjoy it. I do play 1.e4 e5 sometimes as black, and having an endgame-opening handy might be an effective weapon in certain cases.  

Forcing Chess Moves also sounds like a good idea. How does it compare to Perfect Your Chess by Volokitin? I am halfway through that book and it has given me a tough time in places  .

I am also strongly tempted by Aagaard's Attacking Manual. The more exercises, the better.

I like Yusupov, but I am not sure I would learn much from Build Up Your Chess Vol.1. I am 2265 FIDE, and the sample chapter I saw looked a bit simple.

As for the How to Play Chess Endgames book, I have it and heartily recommend it to anyone, even if they do already have Endgame Manual and Fundamental Chess Endings. These make quite a nice set, and will keep you busy for a long, long time.  

Yes, i simply forgot Muller's book and it should be placed maybe before Tsermiadianos. It is really great book on endgames (and not only).