69 Books recommended by Dan Heisman

Applying Logic in Chess
Author :Erik Kislik

"Covers the entire gamut: how and what to study, how to use engines, analyzing your own games, and much more." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Secrets
The Giants of Strategy
Author :Neil McDonald

Dan Heisman recommended this book in his blog. [Source]

The Reassess Your Chess Workbook
Author :Jeremy Silman

"How to use imblances to figure out what to do." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Encyclopedia of Chess Openings
Author :Zdenko Krnic

"Five volumes to cover in more detail than NCO." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids
Author :Jeff Coakley

"Don't be fooled by the titles! [This book is a gem]." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Practical Chess Endings
Author :Irving Chernev

"An excellent collection of endgame problems covering most practical ideas." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Chess Tactics Workbook
Author :Al Woolum

"Somewhat similar to Bain's book but with more problems overall and more mate problems, but less single motif problems." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Kaufman Repertoire for Black and White
A Complete, Sound and User-friendly Chess Opening Repertoire
Author :Larry Kaufmann

"Probably the best opening repertoire book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Winning Way
The How What and Why of Opening Strategems
Author :Bruce Pandolfini

"Similar to another classic, Winning Chess Traps by Irving Chernev." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Sacrifice and Initiative in Chess
Seize the Moment to Get the Advantage
Author :Ivan Sokolov

"Another advanced follow-up [to Art of Attack in Chess] book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Modern Chess
Move by Move
Author :Colin Crouch

"Bridges the gap between Logical Chess Move by Move and Understanding Chess Move by Move." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Training Pocket Book
300 Most Important Positions
Author :Lev Alburt

"The 300 most instructive positions needed to get to a rating of 1800." - Dan Heisman [Source]

It's Your Move Improvers
Author :Chris Ward

"50 problems on finding the right plan." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Rules of Thumb
Author :Lev Alburt

"These ideas are so important they are part of my 'Big Five' things you should learn first." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Learn Chess Tactics
Author :John Nunn

"Superb descriptions of how each tactic works." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Grandmaster Secrets Endings
Author :Andrew Soltis

"A gem of a book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Winning Chess Strategy for Kids
Author :Jeff Coakley

"Highly recommended for basic tactics AND strategy." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Pandolfini's Endgame Course
Basic Endgame Concepts Explained by America's Leading Chess Teacher
Author :Bruce Pandolfini

"Straightforward examples of basic ideas." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Exam And Training Guide
Rate Yourself And Learn How To Improve
Author :Igor Khmelnitsky

"A book of excellent test problems." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Seven Deadly Chess Sins
Author :Jonathan Rowson

"A book on thinking - psychological aspects - avoiding time trouble, etc." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Pawn Power in Chess
Author :Hans Kmoch

"How to use pawns in chess. This subject is a must for any serious player." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Amateur's Mind
Turning Chess Misconceptions Into Chess Mastery
Author :Jeremy Silman

"Examines faulty thinking processes." - Dan Heisman [Source]

50 Essential Chess Lessons
Author :Steve Giddins

"Positioned as a more modern, slightly more advanced than The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Endings
Essential Knowledge
Author :Yuri Averbakh

"This small book contains all the basics for chess endgames." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Practical Chess Exercises
600 Lessons from Tactics to Strategy
Author :Ray Cheng

"An interesting idea with 600 positions from games where all you are given is that there is a best move." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Studying Chess Made Easy
Author :Andrew Soltis

"Chock full of practical advice." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess for Tigers
Author :Simon Webb

Dan Heisman recommended this book in his blog. [Source]

Understanding Chess Move by Move
Author :John Nunn

"Sort of a modern MUCH more advanced version of Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Judgment and Planning in Chess
Author :Dr. Max Euwe

"Chess planning is a difficult subject. This is one of the few advanced books on the subject." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Logical Approach to Chess
Author :Max Euwe

"Very logical (!) and somewhat basic, but also lots of good general knowledge/principles for beginner/intermediates." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Author :Bobby Fischer

"A programmed study of back rank and related mates." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Joys of Chess
Heroes, Battles and Brilliancies
Author :Christian Hesse

"It's 'just' a fun book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Art of Planning in Chess
Move by Move
Author :Neil McDonald

"Even better (and more advanced) than his good anthology The Art of Logical Chess Thinking." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess for Zebras
Author :Jonathan Rowson

"I recommend anyone who is considering chess lessons to read the first chapter." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Understanding Chess Middlegames
Author :John Nunn

"Another good one from the doctor, with 100 different middlegame issues and two sample games/snippets of each." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Art of Attack in Chess
Author :Vladimir Vukovic

"Advanced attacking techniques." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Strategy for Club Players
The Road to Positional Advantage
Author :Herman Grooten

"A 'more advanced' strategy book with lots of games examples." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Modern Chess Openings
Author :Nick De Firmian

"Every intermediate can use a one-volume tome covering all the openings." - Dan Heisman [Source]

100 Endgames You Must Know
Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player
Author :Jesus de la Villa

"Every time I read this book I like it more. It's advanced, but seems to have its pulse on just what it claims." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Starting Out
Chess Tactics and Checkmates
Author :Chris Ward

"There are some fairly difficult problems but most are basic and quite fundamental." - Dan Heisman [Source]

How to Reassess Your Chess
Chess Mastery Through Chess Imbalances
Author :Jeremy Silman

"How to use imblances to figure out what to do." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Rethinking the Chess Pieces
Author :Andrew Soltis

"Advanced book about the changing value of the pieces, playing imbalances, when to trade, etc." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Secrets
The Giants of Power Play
Author :Neil McDonald

Dan Heisman recommended this book in his blog. [Source]
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
Advances since Nimzowitsch
Author :John Watson

"The most advanced positional book - great." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games
Author :John Nunn

"The 100 best games of all-time, as analyzed by computer and authors down through the ages." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Tactics for Students
Author :John A. Bain

"Learn motifs (pins, removal of guard, double attacks, back-rank mates, etc.)" - Dan Heisman [Source]

Winning Chess Exercises for Kids
Author :Jeff Coakley

"Possibly the best 'intermediate' book to test the tactics for players of all ages!" - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Method in Chess
Author :Iossif Dorfman

"Not a well-written book, but some important ideas about planning and imbalances." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Curiosities
Author :Tim Krabbé

"Another 'fun' book that's really a great trip." - Dan Heisman [Source]


Power Chess for Kids
Learn How to Think Ahead and Become One of the Best Players in Your School
Author :Charles Hertan

"A helpful book about how to find basic forcing moves." - Dan Heisman [Source]

A First Book of Morphy
Author :Frisco Del Rosario

"A basic game book showing many basic principles via Morphy games." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Workbook for Children
The Chess Detective's Introduction to the Royal Game
Author :Todd Bardwick

"Excellent workbook at a young beginner level." - Dan Heisman [Source]

How To Choose A Chess Move
Author :Andrew Soltis

"Another good general book, this time on thought process, by the GM." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Thought and Choice in Chess
Author :Adriaan de Groot

"The definitive book analyzing how strong chessplayers think. Warning! Reads like a PhD thesis, not a chess book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Logical Chess
Move By Move
Author :Irving Chernev

"A classic which explains each move in excruciating detail!" - Dan Heisman [Source]

Inside the Chess Mind
Author :Jacob Aagaard

"A collection of 'think out loud' protocols from titled players over 12 positions." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Wisest Things Ever Said About Chess
With over 250 annotated positions
Author :Andrew Soltis

"288 principles with examples. Just terrific stuff and very practical." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Comprehensive Chess Course
Volumes I & II in One
Author :Lev Alburt

"Based on the official Soviet training method!" - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Art of Checkmate
Author :Georges Renaud

"Mostly a great book about checkmate pattern but lots of problems, too." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Success
Planning After the Opening
Author :Neil McDonald

"The third book in this 'Chess Secrets' series." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Transpo Tricks in Chess
Author :Andrew Soltis

"Some really great practical advice about how to get the most out of many openings." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Silman's Complete Endgame Course
Author :Jeremy Silman

"Great book." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Rapid Chess Improvement
Author :Michael De La De Maza

"An expanded version of his '400 Points in 400 Days' article on how to improve your game." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Square One
A Chess Drill Book for Beginners
Author :Bruce Pandolfini

"A book to teach young beginners how to play." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Chess Strategy Workbook
A Blueprint for Developing the Best Plan
Author :Todd Bardwick

"Has basic ideas but not all problems are easy." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played
62 Masterpieces of Chess Strategy
Author :Irving Chernev

"A book of games, each with an individual idea." - Dan Heisman [Source]

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess
Author :Patrick Wolff

"Covers not only how to play, but many of the same tips I give my students." - Dan Heisman [Source]

Checkmate for Children
Mastering the Most Important Skill in Chess
Author :Kevin Stark

"A modern book covering checkmate patterns - one of the best I have ever seen at just this particular issue." - Dan Heisman [Source]
FAQs
Q1: What books has Dan Heisman recommended?
Dan Heisman has recommended numerous books geared towards beginner chess players, including Chess for Dummies, Ultra Chess for Kids, Moves and Countermoves, and Go Big! Chess.
Q2: Why has Dan Heisman recommended particular books?
Dan Heisman has recommended these particular books because they are geared towards beginner chess players, and provide a strong foundation for those wanting to learn the game. He believes it is important to understand the basics in order to become a successful chess player.
Q3: What other resources does he provider to his readers?
Along with book recommendations, Dan Heisman also offers a variety of helpful resources on his blog and website. These include articles, posts, podcasts, instructional videos, and a newsletter.
Q4: Where can readers find Dan Heisman's books?
Dan Heisman's books and other resources can be found on his main website, https://www.danheisman.com/books as well as major online retailers.