Listmania!
The Chess Tales 'must have' books
Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge (Cadogan Chess & Bridge Books)Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge (Cadogan Chess & Bridge Books) by IU. Averbakh
Buy new: £7.65 / Used from: £3.92
covers all the basic endgame theory that every chess player should know; essential... yes!
Dvoretsky's Endgame ManualDvoretsky's Endgame Manual by Mark Dvoretsky
Buy new: £13.99 / Used from: £13.01
harder work, but the next step after you've mastered Averbakh's book
Endgame Strategy (Cadogan Chess)Endgame Strategy (Cadogan Chess) by M.I. Shereshevskii
Buy new: £8.91 / Used from: £8.44
the best guide to strategic endgame concepts and practical play
Mastering the Endgame: From the Open and Semi-open Games v. 1 (Pergamon Russian Chess)Mastering the Endgame: From the Open and Semi-open Games v. 1 (Pergamon Russian Chess) by M.I. Shereshevskii
Buy used from: £34.82
wonderful book that will improve your understanding and planning throughout the whole game
Mastering the Endgame: Closed Games v. 2 (Pergamon Russian Chess)Mastering the Endgame: Closed Games v. 2 (Pergamon Russian Chess) by M.I. Shereshevskii
Buy used from: £25.68
wonderful book that will improve your understanding and planning throughout the whole game
Practical Chess Endings (Batsford Chess Book)Practical Chess Endings (Batsford Chess Book) by Paul Keres
Buy used from: £11.95
the best endgame reference and readable guide
From Beginner to Expert in 40 Lessons (Batsford Chess Book)From Beginner to Expert in 40 Lessons (Batsford Chess Book) by Aleksander Kostyev
Buy used from: £2.50
shortlisted on Chess Tales
Pawn Power in ChessPawn Power in Chess by Hans Kmoch
Buy new: £7.14 / Used from: £1.76
highly recommended
The Art of the Middle GameThe Art of the Middle Game by Paul Keres
Buy new: £5.45 / Used from: £1.99
classic but relevant; middlegame choice on Chess Tales
Modern Chess StrategyModern Chess Strategy by Ludek Pachman
Buy new: £6.39 / Used from: £3.26
another classic; shortlisted on Chess Tales
Understanding Chess Move by MoveUnderstanding Chess Move by Move by John Nunn
Buy new: £9.42 / Used from: £5.88
30 great recent games; perfect for study
How to Reassess Your Chess: The Complete Chess Mastery CourseHow to Reassess Your Chess: The Complete Chess Mastery Course by Jeremy Silman
Buy new: £10.49 / Used from: £73.78
controversial; fans report huge gains in rating points, but some find it unreadable
Secrets of Chess TacticsSecrets of Chess Tactics by Mark Dvoretsky
Buy used from: £15.99
Dvoretsky's masterpiece. Hard work; for the strongest players
Think Like a Grandmaster (Algebraic Classics)Think Like a Grandmaster (Algebraic Classics) by A.A. Kotov
Buy used from: £122.95
legendary middlegame book
Manual of ChessManual of Chess by Emanuel Lasker
Buy new: £8.99 / Used from: £3.30
highly regarded by the Soviet Chess schools
Simple ChessSimple Chess by Michael Stean
Buy used from: £4.00
a 'hidden gem' still in print 30 years later
International Chess Tournament 1953: ZurichInternational Chess Tournament 1953: Zurich
Buy new: £11.69 / Used from: £5.00
the first book on anyone's list; Bronstein's masterwork
My 60 Memorable Games, Selected and Fully Annotated.My 60 Memorable Games, Selected and Fully Annotated. by Bobby Fischer
Buy used from: £21.39
Fischer's famous collection
Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors: Pt. 5 (My Great Predecessors)Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors: Pt. 5 (My Great Predecessors) by Garry Kasparov
Buy new: £18.49 / Used from: £14.95
Kasparov's deep study of Karpov and Korchnoi
Art of Chess Analysis (Cadogan Chess Books)Art of Chess Analysis (Cadogan Chess Books) by Jan Timman
Buy new: £14.99 / Used from: £5.94
Timman's choice of 24 great games from the 70's