Chess Books for Improvement. Do You Read Any? Any Recommendations?

My Top Three and Only Recommendations:

1. Fundamental Chess Openings - Paul Van Der Sterren (For Openings)
2. Pump Up Your Rating - Axel Smith (For MiddleGames)
3. Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual 4th Edition - Mark Dvoretsky (For Endgames)

Reasses Your chess by SIlman

Books are somewhat overrated. Read „Move First Think Later“ and you know what‘s wrong with Silman & Co. ;)

@Sarg0n

Yessir I'll check it out.

I'm quite skeptical about books in general as they teach you "how to think like a GM or a certain way" without actually increasing your playing strength.

Or when a book teaches you "how to beat the French" and 98% of your opponents never play the French, then you're in deep water.

I'm no GM, but from experience I find that your strength increases if you can find the rationale for your moves based both on theory and personal application. Pattern recognition is key IMO.

I like Yusupov's 9 book series - www.qualitychess.co.uk/docs/14/artur_yusupovs_awardwinning_training_course/

(there is now a 10th book which I don't yet have: www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/272/revision_and_exam_1_by_artur_yusupov/)

@FletchMK64

Thanks! Yusupov is a reputed trainer. Stuff of legend status? I'll check them out.

@Sargon thx for the recommendation (the one time you randomly get a useful info from surfing in random forum threads). The samples presented in the reviews got me interested to say the least.
Then again, it's a book (as you previously said ;) )

@roni_chessman - I don't know about the French comment. It's not too bad to take a detailed look at an important opening (don't believe the 2% frequency unless you're REALLY good). The French is also "not T1-sound" in the sense that you can often find lines where black has to be quite precise or you confuse the black player straight away;)

If I'd spend a lot of time and ressouces / choose the book as my weapon - it depends. Can't say that my white rep. is in great state (playing good lines vs some major openings..not so much vs other) and can understand your dilemma there

@SnackYourPawn

Hmm. Actually let me refine that “French” comment. I meant to say that for three reasons.

1. The majority of club players have sub 2200 playing strength, meaning that simply memorizing lines in Winawer French or so will not increase your tactical/positional/endgame skills.

2. I have avoided people’s favourite lines and found that in general people depend so much on “muscle memory” that their middlegame ability is very questionable in uncharted waters.

3. Someone else out there handles multiple French Defense variations than you do out of sheer research and study. So, buying a book so highly specialized on one opening will not increase your general strength as a player. Hence why I am skeptical of highly specialized books (How to beat so and so defense)

@SnackYourPawn

Also, if you go and join a classical tournament with at least 4 or 5 games, and in only one of those games is the French Defense employed because you’re up against D4, English, sicilian, ruy lopez/italian players...its a little tricky no?

Opening books are a waste of time. They do not make you any stronger.
Most middle game books are wrong. The best middle game books are tournament books and match books.
All endgame books benefit you and make you stronger. The Dvoretzky book is certainly good, but other are fine as well.