As you may know by now, Daniel Naroditsky is one of my favorite chess YouTube teachers. Recently, I came across a 3-year-old YouTube clip where he discussed some great chess books that can help you improve your game. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate player, Naroditsky’s thoughtful recommendations cater to a wide range of chess enthusiasts. Here are the books he suggests and why they might be a perfect fit for your chess journey.
Chess Strategy for club players by Herman Grooten
- Who it’s for: Club players in the 1400-1500 Elo range.
- Why Naroditsky recommends It: This book offers a comprehensive deep dive into positional chess. Grooten, an experienced international master from the Netherlands, provides detailed, easy-to-understand lessons that cover key strategic concepts. It’s a thick, content-packed guide perfect for players who want to refine their positional play.
Mastering positional chess by Daniel Naroditsky
- Who it’s for: Players aiming to strengthen their positional understanding.
- Why Naroditsky recommends It: Though modest about his own work, Naroditsky includes this book as a tool for those looking to build on their knowledge of positional chess. It’s written in an accessible style and offers plenty of examples to guide readers through various strategic ideas.
The complete manual of positional chess by Konstantin Sakaev and Konstantin Landa
- Who it’s for: Advanced club players or those looking for a more detailed study of positional chess.
- Why Naroditsky recommends It: This two-volume series is essentially an encyclopedia of positional chess concepts. Naroditsky loves how it balances theory and practicality, covering the opening, middle game, and topics like prophylactic thinking and schematic thinking. It’s more engaging than a dry textbook, making it easier to absorb.
Improve your chess pattern recognition by Arthur van de Oudeweetering
- Who it’s for: Players of all levels.
- Why Naroditsky recommends It: Naroditsky appreciates this book for its focus on pattern recognition—a crucial skill in chess. The author, a respected Dutch international master, lays out a wealth of instructive examples to help players recognize recurring patterns in games. It’s especially useful for those looking to sharpen their tactical awareness.
My system by Aron Nimzowitsch
- Who it’s for: Advanced players seeking a challenge.
- Why Naroditsky recommends It: This is a classic in chess literature, but as Naroditsky puts it, it’s not a book to rush through. He compares reading My System to savoring “black caviar”—you need to go slow and absorb the lessons. It’s dense but incredibly rewarding for those willing to put in the time.
A final thought on reading chess books
Naroditsky emphasizes that no single chess book will magically elevate your play overnight. Instead, success comes from engaging deeply with the material. He advises readers to use a physical or virtual board while reading, take notes, and reflect on the concepts in practice. Whether it takes weeks or months to work through a book, the key is to internalize the lessons, not just rush through the pages.
By following Naroditsky’s recommendations and his approach to studying chess, players of all levels can significantly improve their understanding of the game and take their play to the next level.
