5 grandmaster-recommended must-read books on chess
If The Queen's Gambit (Netflix) or Gukesh's historic win over Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess 2025 has you either dusting out your old chess sets or downloading an app on your phone, these five books—recommended by grandmasters—will sharpen your skills and deepen your understanding of the game.
Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, these books will elevate your game. Start with Fischer or Tal for inspiration, then dive into Dvoretsky for technical mastery.
Garry Kasparov, one of chess's greatest minds, dissects the games of past world champions in this legendary series. Blending historical context with razor-sharp analysis, Kasparov reveals how chess evolved from Steinitz to Fischer. It's a masterclass in strategic thinking—perfect for players who want to understand the foundations of modern chess.
Why it's essential?
Kasparov's insights help bridge the gap between classical and hypermodern play. Magnus Carlsen himself called it 'pretty good,' while young stars like Duda credit it for strengthening their intuition. Whether you're an intermediate player or an advanced competitor, this series will reshape how you approach the game.
Best for: Players who want a deep dive into chess history and elite-level strategy.
2. Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual – Mark Dvoretsky
Endgames win tournaments, for which this book is the gold standard. Dvoretsky's masterpiece breaks down essential endgame principles with crystal-clear explanations and challenging exercises. From basic king-and-pawn endings to advanced rook maneuvers, it's a must for serious players.
Why it's essential?
Not without reason,Garry Kasparov, called it his 'favourite chess book' at beginning of the 21st century. Gukesh's win over Carlsen proves that endgame resilience separates champions from contenders.
Best for: Playerslooking to turn draws into wins and losses into saves.
3. My 60 Memorable Games – Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer's legendary book is a masterclass in clarity and aggression. His self-annotated games reveal his razor-sharp calculations and uncompromising style. The commentary is succinct yet packed with wisdom—ideal for learning how to attack with precision.
Why it's essential? Levon Aronian and Yasser Seirawan swear by it.
Best for: Players who love tactical brilliance and want to think like a world champion.
4. Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 – David Bronstein
Far from a mere games collection, the book provides a gripping narrative. Bronstein's discriptive annotations capture the drama, psychology, and creativity of one of history's greatest tournaments.
Why it's essential? Peter Svidler and David Navara adore it for its storytelling. This book demonstrates chess is as much about nerves as moves.
Best for: Players who enjoy rich, humanised chess analysis.
5. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal – Mikhail Tal
Tal, the 'Magician of Riga,' reveals how he conjured miracles on the board. His daring sacrifices and intuitive play make this one of the most entertaining chess books ever.
Why it's essential? Tal's fearlessness is a lesson for every player.
Best for: Players who want to embrace creativity and unpredictability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ishaan Khatter reveals clashing with The Royals makers over objectification in the show: 'I could have worn a shirt in certain scenes'
Ishaan Khatter is making waves internationally, balancing performance with principle. He challenged objectification in 'The Royals,' advocating against unnecessary shirtless scenes, and underwent a significant physical transformation for Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound,' shedding muscle to portray a relatable character. 'Homebound' premiered at Cannes, earning a nine-minute standing ovation and boasting Martin Scorsese as executive producer. Ishaan Khatter is steadily carving a niche for himself on the global stage—not just with his performances, but also with the principles he brings to his craft. From his attention-grabbing Hollywood debut to standing ovations at Cannes, the young actor is unafraid to speak up, even when it means challenging creative decisions. He recently opened up about pushing back against objectification in The Royals, and undergoing a dramatic physical transformation for his next film, Homebound. Speaking to Mashable India, Ishaan shared that while the character he played was written as someone who rarely wore a shirt, he did push back during filming. He explained that he had discussions with the makers on certain days, insisting that being shirtless wasn't necessary for some scenes. Despite the creative ways the team tried to justify it—like casually using a blanket during sleep sequences—Ishaan admitted he stuck to his commitment but made sure to voice his discomfort. Ultimately, he said he enjoyed the experience, even with those moments of disagreement. The Royals featured a star-studded cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea , and Milind Soman. Despite facing negative reviews from critics—who slammed the show for its shallow plot and underwhelming performances—it managed to become one of Netflix's most-watched shows, proving that star power and glossy appeal still draw in viewers. For his role in The Royals, Ishaan underwent intense training to build muscle and maintain a sculpted physique for his shirtless scenes. However, his next project demanded a complete physical transformation. For Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, Ishaan had to shed all that muscle to portray an everyday, relatable character. He revealed that the director specifically asked him to lose the bulk and look "normal" for the role. Committed to the part, Ishaan dropped 8 kilos to fit the vision. Neeraj Ghaywan's second feature film, Homebound, had its world premiere at the recently held 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a remarkable nine-minute standing ovation. The film is co-produced by Karan Johar , with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese on board as executive producer—adding significant weight to its global appeal. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Ishaan Khatter says he fought with makers over shirtless scenes in The Royals: ‘Iss scene mein kya zarurat hain?'
Actor Ishaan Khatter went shirtless in quite a few scenes for his last release, The Royals, which hit Netflix last month. The actor's washboard abs were the talk of social media for a few days. But did the actor feel there was a tinge of objectification that had slipped into the show? In an interview with Mashable India, Ishaan said that he committed to the project, but even then he 'fought' with the makers over those shirtless scenes. (Also read: Ishaan Khatter says Neeraj Ghaywan told him to lose his muscles for Homebound: 'Don't want to see a single sinew') During the interview, Ishaan said: "It's that kind of character… jo shirt nahi pehenta hai. Usko nahi jamta (He doesn't like wearing a shirt, as simple as that). To be honest, now it will look like… but since I had committed, I went for it, but I did fight with them on certain days that 'Iss scene mein toh shirt pehen sakta hain. Iss scene mein kya zarurat hain (He can wear a shirt in this scene. It doesn't require him to be shirtless)!' They had very interesting ways to put this into the script, like I can put on a blanket while sleeping… but I had fun doing it.' Ishaan went on to add that he did a proper training for the scenes in the film, where he had to do horse-riding. Ishaan added that horse-riding was not as scary as it seemed. He also shared that he had to lose all his muscle mass for Homebound. He said, ''You got to lose the muscles!' I was like, yeah, I can do that, it is easier for me to look like that, and he (director Neeraj Ghaywan) was like, 'No, no.. Ishaan please! I don't want to see a single sinew on your body!' I had to lose about 8-10 kilos again!' The Royals received mixed reviews upon release. Many critics criticised the poor screenplay and the lack of chemistry between Ishaan and Bhumi Pednekar's characters. The show also starred Nora Fatehi, Sakshi Tanwar, Dino Morea, and Zeenat Aman in key roles. Despite mixed reactions, Netflix renewed the show for a second season.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Dibakar Banerjee's ‘Tees': A muted masterpiece?
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 9, 2025)It had all the makings of a triumph—an acclaimed director, a powerhouse cast, and a standing ovation at the film's first Indian screening at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF) last year. Dibakar Banerjee's Tees drew cinephiles from across the country. Yet, the celebration carried the weight of heartbreak. In 2023, Netflix—the platform that had commissioned Tees in 2019 and to whom Banerjee delivered it in 2022—had quietly pulled the plug on its release, effectively locking away a film that deserved to be by Naseeruddin Shah, Manisha Koirala, Huma Qureshi, Shashank Arora, Zoya Hussain and Divya Dutta in pivotal roles, the 55-year-old filmmaker's triptych of stories follows three generations of a Kashmiri Muslim family. Across three different timelines—political unrest in 1989 Srinagar, communal violence in 2030 and censorship in 2043—Tees unfolds as its protagonists grapple with their identity, voice and systemic excision in an increasingly dystopian the film's commercial release in limbo, Banerjee spent the months since its DIFF premiere hosting private, non-ticketed screenings across India. Yet, it's not something he has done by choice. 'The screenings are a way of generating commercial and critical interest in the hope that somehow Tees lives by being seen,' Banerjee tells india today. Otherwise, unplayed, sitting on a hard drive, the film is as good as extinct. 'In such a situation, an audience connecting deeply with the film is gratifying and saddening. You love the fact that it moves someone but rue the fact that it can't move more.'advertisement To explore Tees's complex themes—rising communalism, generational trauma and queer marginalisation under a surveillance state—Banerjee, who co-wrote, directed and produced the film, pulled from both the personal and the political. This included memories from his childhood and neighbourhood, Indian television epics like Hum Log and Buniyaad, Ashapurna Devi's Prothom Protishruti trilogy and Robert Harris's speculative historical novel Fatherland, which he claims influenced him 'subconsciously'. But the film's urgency came from the filmmaker watching young couples, especially Muslims, trying to rent a flat in Mumbai and from the murder of Gauri Lankesh. SPANNING GENERATIONS |Naseeruddin Shah in a still from Tees Banerjee has been making Hindi movies for nearly two decades—boasting an oeuvre that is both distinct and impossible to replicate. He debuted with Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), a sharp satire about middle-class aspirations; helmed Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), a found-footage style anthology; and went on to direct a segment in Netflix-backed anthologies Bombay Talkies (2013) and Lust Stories (2018). In many ways, the expansive ambition of Tees was meant to be a culmination of Banerjee's evolution as a filmmaker. But with Tees buried, he became the very figure his film mourns: an artist muted by the between, the filmmaker kept busy, directing a short film and releasing a potent sequel to Love Sex Aur Dhokha. Yet, Banerjee still found himself grappling with waves of anger and frustration. Navigating the emotional toll of the film's shelving while continuing to move forward as a filmmaker was a 'gradual' process—one he credits to therapy and a drive for inventive solutions. 'Choosing your workmates well is virtually half the battle won,' adds disappearance of Tees may be best understood in the context of the controversy that surrounded Tandav (2021), the Prime Video series that drew right-wing ire for its portrayal of dissent and religious imagery. Despite edits, legal cases mounted, and fear took hold. It sent a clear warning to streamers, who became increasingly cautious about supporting projects that might provoke similar backlash. In such a fragile climate, films like Tees have arguably become collateral to Banerjee, filmmaking is an expensive art form that demands 'mediated investment' but which become an easy target because of its ability to reach out to a massive audience. Suppressing art that focuses on truth-telling, questioning and challenging narratives is a surefire way to condition audiences in the practice of distraction. 'A generation growing up on moving images can be better controlled if cruelty, misogyny and empty spectacle are provided through films regularly,' he by existing, Tees defies that conditioning. Invisibilising it makes clear exactly which stories are unwelcome in India today. And yet, its disappearance has only amplified the urgency of what it had to to India Today MagazineMust Watch
