Like it or not, the holiday gift-shopping season is upon us, at least according to the ubiquitous shopping calendar.
Instead of being trampled by unruly bargain seekers at big box retailers, you can shop online and still get something thoughtful for the chess beginner on your list.
You are reading: Chess books for beginners
For our list, we surveyed the chess.com content team to choose the best chess books for beginners.
let us know which beginner books you recommend in the comments and on facebook.
1. chess 101 by dave schloss
selected by im daniel rensch.
Author Dave Schloss describes Chess 101 as a self-contained chess course for beginners.
The book offers everything a complete beginner needs to know to play, from topics as basic as the board and pieces, to the structure and rules of chess tournaments.
also includes sections on how to study chess and tips for winning your first games.
“the moment i opened chess 101, i knew dave had accomplished something great: a really simple guide to learning and enjoying the game,” said im daniel rensch, who selected this book.
“many attempt this feat, but few beginner chess manuals really manage to keep things simple while highlighting the best parts of the chess game,” said rensch.
2. bobby fischer teaches chess by bobby fischer and stuart margulies
selected by im daniel rensch.
This paperback, also recommended by im rensch, is one of the best-selling chess books of all time.
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fischer’s beginner’s book focuses on teaching tactics through “programmed instructions”, which ask the student to actively answer questions on each page.
Bobby Fischer teaches chess with so many tactical positions in the course that when you think you’ve reached the end, you can turn the book over and read back to front to see more tactical problems printed on the facing pages.
“This book was one of the first experiences I had learning the game of chess,” said im rensch.
“Then,” Rensch said, “I realized that it was truly one of a kind, as it was the first ‘beginner’s book’ written by a world champion. fischer’s approach is simple, yet innovative and profound. take the right steps to build the foundations of a strong chess player!”
3. winning chess strategies for kids by jeff coakley
selected by fm mike klein.
Designed for ages 7-13, Winning Chess Strategy is part of a series of beginner workbooks by Jeff Coakley.
The workbook begins with the rules of chess and quickly progresses to strategic ideas such as opening principles and piece development.
also includes sections on tactical combinations, endgame technique, and middlegame planning.
“nothing beats jeff coakley exercise books,” according to mike klein, who said they were “used a lot” when teaching kids chess.
4. the step method by rob brunia and cor van wijgerden
selected by cm peter doggers.
The Step Method is really a complete beginner’s chess course, including six training manuals and 20 workbooks. the course and books were developed from material from two Dutch chess teachers.
The steps have been used primarily in Europe to teach children how to play, but the course is “gaining popularity around the world,” according to its publisher. of the total of 27 books available in the course, 26 have been translated into English.
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The course is obviously based on a step-by-step program to build a level of chess learning on previously mastered material. the books urge teachers not to move on to the next lesson until “the student can use the material in their games regularly.”
cm peter doggers, also from the netherlands, recommends the course, calling it “pretty good stuff”.
5. beginner chess by bruce pandolfini
selected by pete.
National Master Bruce Pandolfini is a columnist for chess.com and chesskid.com, but is also known for his bibliography of chess books aimed at beginning and intermediate players.
Chess for Beginners includes an introduction to the rules of the game before moving on to its core material, over 300 chess instructional problems.
pandolfini offers a student scoring system, which can rank your progress and results on a graduated scale of categories from beginner to masterclass.
In my opinion, the best part of starting to play chess is how easy it is to learn and solve some problems without taking a lot of time to sit down and study. is the perfect book for busy beginners who want to improve in their spare time.
free bonus: chesskid.com resume
Unlike the books listed above, the chesskid syllabus is completely free: simply download and start reading, or print the lessons for easy reference.
Designed by Im Daniel Rensch, the curriculum includes diagrams, worksheets, and mini-games to teach chess concepts through practice.
The syllabus also offers tips for coaches or parents on how to teach their students chess most effectively.
what are your favorite beginner chess books? let us know in the comments.
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