10 Best Books About Chess in the Philippines 2024 | Bobby Fischer, Nick de Firmian and More

Even with the rise of paperless technology, there is something special about reading from a printed book. For one, you actually feel that you are holding a book, which some people prefer.

You can manually highlight important phrases, write down notes, and personalize the book according to your preference, unlike digital copies. And most consider the acquisition of printed books to be a lifetime investment as much as it is a hobby.

However, printed books can get worn out after several years. They also take up space, which can be a challenge if you have a small living space and you’re the type who can easily get through a book in one sitting. 

Digital books offer convenience, as they can be stored on your tablet or phone. Thus, you can take them anywhere for on-the-go reading. You can even customize the font style and size and also highlight pages without compromising the quality of the book.

Moreover, E-readers allow you to store all sorts of books in one device, which lets you save space, considering you have an entire library at your disposal in a single gadget.

However, some people find it difficult to read using electronic devices, given the glare they emit. And in terms of price point, E-books pretty much cost the same as their physical counterpart, so there isn’t really much of a difference.

If you're interested in chess but don't have the faintest idea on how to play, then we suggest familiarizing yourself with the basics first. Classic chess books describe the chess pieces and their functions, basic chess moves, reaching checkmate, openings and endings, and more. 

This should give you a good grasp of how to play the game. Basically, these books cover the fundamental concepts of chess in a general manner without going too in-depth, so you are not out of your element. 

Besides the different plays and strategies, chess is also about the players who made them. That said, you could read biographical books about famous chess players and Grandmasters, which is the highest title given to a chess player.

This allows you to gain a bit of insight into their playing style as well as how their mind works during the game. And for larger-than-life figures, you would also get to know the person beyond the board.

Chess can be divided into three parts—the opening or the initial play, the middlegame, and the endgame when there are few pieces left on the board. And these stages have their own corresponding strategies and tactics. 

In this regard, you could focus on chess books depicting different techniques you could apply to these stages to improve your game. These books usually contain different patterns and positions that you could replicate or simulate to sharpen your skills.

Know the saying "we take inspiration from our past"? Well, there is nothing like reading about notable chess matches throughout history. And what better way to know more about them than to read books that recount these events?

Just like video recordings of sporting events, chess events are also recorded and published as books. This will help you visualize the matches and let you be exposed to more possible scenarios that could help broaden your perspective. 

In case you want a light read to take a break from all the seriousness, you can read fictional novels about chess. Though they're not the most historically accurate or realistic, these books depict chess in a way that makes it relatable to the readers because they humanize the game.