Whether you want to put together a reasonably priced yet high-powered chess library, or you already collect chessbooks and want to pick up some new additions at your local used bookstore (or, in some cases, from Amazon.com), it’s very important to know what’s hot and what’s not. The following list is a guide for the humble chess shopper who loves looking for low-priced chess classics; these great books have been forgotten by most, and are literally waiting for your quivering hands to take them down from their shelved graves and given renewed life and purpose in your home.

BEGINNER BOOKS

Looking for a cheap and easy way to learn the game? Here are your best choices.

PLAY WINNING CHESS by Yasser Seirawan (Microsoft Press, 223 pages). This book can often be found in used bookstores. In my opinion, it’s the best beginner’s book available. See the main review index for an in-depth review.

OPENING

Opening books become dated rather quickly, but there are a few oldies but goodies that retain their charm and/or usefulness.

CARO-KANN by Schwarz (Hamburg 1966, 264 pages, hardcover). The old Schwarz series is still very much worth buying if the price is reasonable. Lots of rare games are given, and the coverage of each opening is extremely in-depth. Though extremely dated, a better “complete” book on the Caro-Kann has never been written.

FLANK OPENINGS by Keene (BCM, LTD., 176 pages). One of Keene’s very best efforts. An exceptionally instructive book that should be in every chess library.

The rest of the books mentioned are from the famous Batsford series (dated, but well worth owning), featuring deep analysis, good layout, and a serious effort from the authors. Here are just some of the titles that Batsford produced during this period:

THE CLASSICAL DUTCH by Bellin (Batsford, 183 pages, hardcover). A thorough treatment of all Classical Dutch lines. A useful reference book for stronger players.

ENGLISH III: …PQB4 by John Watson (Batsford, 319 pages, hardcover). A near legendary series on the English by America’s #1 chess author. Dated, but so stuffed with new ideas and original analysis that you should grab it if this rather rare book turns up.

ENGLISH 1…P-K4 by John Watson (Batsford, 243 pages, hardcover).

ENGLISH 1…N-KB3 Systems by John Watson (Batsford, 111 pages, hardcover).

ENGLISH: FRANCO, SLAV AND FLANK DEFENCES by John Watson (Batsford, 113 pages, hardcover). The final book in Watson’s study of the English Opening. Grab it if the chance arises.

THE FRENCH DEFENCE, MAIN LINE WINAWER by Moles (Batsford, 258 pages, hardcover). Published in 1975, this impressive book is literally packed with great stuff on the Winawer!

FRENCH WINAWER: MODERN AND AUXILIARY LINES by Moles and Wicker (Batsford, 263 pages, hardcover). Published in 1979, much of the analysis is still relevant to this day.

THE GRUNFELD DEFENCE by Hartston (Batsford, 192 pages, hardcover). A thorough treatment of all Grunfeld lines. A useful reference book for stronger players.

THE ITALIAN GAME by Harding and Botterill (Batsford, 136 pages, hardcover).

THE LENINGRAD DUTCH by Harding (Batsford, 179 pages, hardcover).

THE MODERN DEFENSE by Keene and Botterill (Batsford, 168 pages, hardcover).

THE SICILIAN SOZIN by Harding, Botterill, and Kottnauer (Batsford, 192 pages, hardcover).

THE SICILIAN RICHTER-RAUZER by Harding and Markland (Batsford, 146 pages, hardcover).

MIDDLEGAME

This genre offers lots of interesting choices that will pad your shelf, and your understanding of chess, quite nicely.

THE ART OF CHESS COMBINATION by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky (Dover, 212 pages). I read it when I was 13 years old and gained hundreds of rating points as a result.

THE ART OF DEFENSE IN CHESS Chess by Soltis (David McKay Company, Inc. 260 pages). One of the best books ever written on defense.

THE ART OF THE MIDDLEGAME by Keres and Kotov (Penguin, 238 pages). This has been reprinted by other companies a few times (see review index for more details), but old editions can be found for next to nothing. An amazing little book that has long been one of my all time favorites.

THE ART OF SACRIFICE IN CHESS by Rudolf Spielmann (David McKay Company, Inc., 198 pages). I picked up a lovely hardcover edition for $10.00, and used paperbacks are far less. A very nice book.

COMPLETE CHESS STRATEGY (three volumes) by Pachman (Doubleday & Company, Inc.). Extremely instructive! The third volume, published by a different company, is quite rare.

PAWN STRUCTURE CHESS by Soltis (David McKay Company, Inc., 300 pages). A classic on the subject that still holds up today.

PAWN POWER IN CHESS by Hans Kmoch (David McKay Company, Inc., 304 pages). Instructive but inadvertently funny—poor Kmoch tries to name the different formations and, in doing so, goes completely berserk!

THINK LIKE A GRANDMASTER by Alexander Kotov (Chess Digest, Inc., 200 pages). A classic that’s both fun to read and instructive.

ENDGAME

For those that enjoy this kind of book, there are some particularly interesting deals lurking in the shadows.

ANALYSING THE ENDGAME by Jonathan Speelman (Arco Publishing, 144 pages). An advanced, but very interesting look into the world of endgames.

THE BEST ENDINGS OF CAPABLANCA AND FISCHER (Chess Informator, 135 pages). No words, but lots of clear, instructive endgames by two of the best technicians of all time.

ENDGAME PREPARATION by Speelman (Batsford, 177 pages). Like his Analysing the Endgame, Speelman takes us on a tour of his endgame laboratory.

THE ENDINGS IN MODERN THEORY AND PRACTICE by P. C. Griffiths (Scribner’s, 176 pages). Endgame basics presented in a clear and enjoyable manner. I’ve always been very fond of this book.

LEHR UND HANDBUCH DER ENDSPIELE, books one through four by Andre Cheron (Berlin Frohnau, hardcover. Book one: 354 pages, book two: 468 pages, book three: 342 pages, book four 328 pages.). Written in German, this famous set of books is a collectors’ item. Very hard to find, and well worth buying if the price suits your wallet.

PRACTICAL ENDGAME PLAY by Reinfeld (Pitman Books, 177 pages). A wonderful and completely forgotten little hardcover book that is clearly written and highly instructive. Surprisingly good!

GAME COLLECTIONS

This kind of used chessbook offers the chess student some of the most compelling deals available.

ARON NIMZOWITSCH: A REAPPRAISAL by Keene (David McKay Company, Inc., 334 pages). This highpoint of Keene’s writing career is a true classic. The paperback reprint, and the original McKay hardcover can still be found if you patiently search for it.

THE ART OF CHESS ANALYSIS by Jan Timman (R.H.M Press, 216 pages). A classic. Very deep annotations to some incredible games.

MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS 1905-1954 by S.G. Tartakower (Dover, two volumes bound as one). Tartakower’s writing style is absolutely marvelous! If you find the original two hardcover editions, grab them!

CAPABLANCA’S HUNDRED BEST GAMES OF CHESS by Golombek (Harcourt, Brace And Company, 332 pages, hardcover. The new paperback Batsford Edition, 288 pages, goes under the title: Capablanca’s Best Games). Easy to understand notes to the games of one of the great chess legends.

CHESS PRAXIS, THE PRAXIS OF MYS SYSTEM by Nimzovich (Dover, 369 pages). I’ve always preferred this to Nimzovich’s My System. For around $5.00 you simply can’t go wrong.

DEVELOPMENT OF A CHESS GENIUS, 100 INSTRUCTIVE GAMES OF ALEKHINE by Reinfeld (Dover, 277 pages). Very inexpensive and entertaining.

GLIGORIC’S BEST GAMES 1945-1970 by David Levy (R.H.M Press, 192 pages). A great introduction to the life and games of this wonderful player.

THE IMMORTAL GAMES OF CAPABLANCA by Reinfeld (David McKay Company, Inc., 239 pages). You’ll get a lot of bang for a buck or two. A cheap, painless way to enjoy the games of the great Cuban.

LESSONS FROM MY GAMES By Reuben Fine (David McKay Company, Inc., 225 pages). Long ago, Fine was number one or two in the world, so his games deserve close study.

MARSHALL’S BEST GAMES OF CHESS by Marshall (Dover, 242 pages). One of my early favorites. Reading about Marshall’s life fascinated me, and his games taught me a lot about attack and tactics. A real gem!

MIKHAIL TAL’S BEST GAMES OF CHESS by P. H. Clarke (David McKay Company, Inc., 195 pages). The first book I ever bought on Tal’s games, and still one of my favorites. It’s been reprinted, but if you look around, you can buy the hardcover for less than the newer paperback!

MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS, 1908-1923 by Alekhine (Many available editions, old and new). I grew up with this wonderful book. A true classic.

MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS, 1924-1937 by Alekhine (Many available editions, old and new). I grew up with this wonderful book. A true classic.

MY BEST GAMES OF CHESS 1935-1957 by Smyslov (Dover, 154 pages). The best book available on Smyslov’s games.

NIMZOVICH THE HYPERMODERN by Reinfeld (David McKay Company, Inc., 221 pages, hardcover). Only $2.00 when it came out in 1948, I paid a whopping $20.00 for it recently simply because I’m spoiled. If you keep your eyes open, you might luck out and find it for a more reasonable in-between price.

ONE HUNDRED SELECTED GAMES by Botvinnik (Dover, 272 pages). This book made me a fan of the legendary Botvinnik. A must own!

PAUL MORPHY THE PRIDE AND SORROW OF CHESS by David Lawson (David McKay Company, Inc., 424 pages, Hardcover). Hard to find, but if you are looking for just one book on Morphy, this should be it.

RETI’S BEST GAMES OF CHESS by Reti and Golombek (Dover, 173 pages). A quality book for, hopefully, a very low price.

RUBINSTEIN’S CHESS MASTERPIECES/100 SELECTED GAMES by Hans Kmoch (Dover, 192 pages). I loved this book as a kid and I still love it today.

TIGRAN PETROSIAN, HIS LIFE AND GAMES by Vasiliev (247 pages, hardcover, Batsford). One of my all-time favorite books. If this doesn’t turn you into a fan of Petrosian, nothing will.

CHESS TO ENJOY

These are the kinds of books you enjoy by a warm fire with a box of cookies by your chair. All can be read sans chessboard!

CHESS FOR FUN AND CHESS FOR BLOOD by Edward Lasker (David McKay Company, Inc., 224 pages). I own the hardcover, but many paperback editions are also possible for next to nothing. A very fun read.

DECISIVE GAMES IN CHESS HISTORY by Pachman (Dover, 259 pages). Read the incredibly fun buildups and look at the games another time. For more information, check out the review index.

THE GREAT CHESS MASTERS AND THEIR GAMES, THE HUMAN SIDE OF CHESS by Reinfeld (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 302 pages). This hardbound masterpiece was “given” to me for $5.00. It’s nothing less than awesome!

THE WORLD’S GREAT CHESS GAMES by Rueben Fine (Crown Publishers, Inc., 287 pages). I “stole” the hardcover for $6.00. Just a great book.