What do you feel are the best chess books (or the books that you find most useful to improve your game)?   (e.g. books by Lasker, Tarrasch)

Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev.

Every Move Explained...Unfortunately I couldn't read..But I heard it's famous.

Chernev's book: Logical Chess, Move By Move is a masterpiece.

All the Players will be grateful to the Grandmasters,Keres and Kotov for their masterly analysis of attack and defence in the middle game,and to Mr. Golombek for his translation.

 This book by Bobby Fischer and with introductions to each game by Larry Evans,US Grandmaster,is one of the best.Fischer's analyses should help a beginner and see how great players make their moves!A lot of psychological insights and quotes,by other players,also add to the charm of this book.

 This book by Bobby Fischer and with introductions to each game by Larry Evans,US Grandmaster,is one of the best.Fischer's analyses should help a beginner and enable see how great players make their moves!A lot of psychological insights and quotes,by other players,also add to the charm of this book.

Depends on what you want or need.  If You are reading to improve your performance I recommend.

1. Beginner                            The Game of Chess, Tarrach

2. Intermediate to Advanced - My System, Nimzowitch

3.                                          Reassess You Chess, Silman

4.                                          Think Like a Grandmaster, Kotov

5. Beginner                            Zaps and Traps, Pandolfini (two volumes

6. Intermediate to Advanced   The Starting Out Series, Various Authors, Everyman Chess

Beginner                               Endgame Move by Move, Silman (Volume 1)

I believe, as Tarrach treats chess in the first recommended book, that understanding the basic endings is the foundation.  How many times have you seen a child chase the king around the board with a rook or queen, only to draw (50 move rule), or stalemate instead of promoting his pawn?

You have to know your destination, or the best road map will not help you arrive.

I like Pandolfini's Zaps and Traps because they teach tactics in the opening, as well as the opening basics, development, and central control.  The tactics learned for the opening are applicable to the middle game, but the beginner will win and continue to win many games, right out of the opening.

The other books deal with more advanced treatment of the middlegame getting into positional considerations.  I don't list any endgame masterpieces, not because there aren't any.  There most certainly are, but they require huge investments of time to understand, and the payoff isn't as large or immediate as is the mastery of tactcs, and middle game positional play.

For sheer enjoyment, various collection of the games of great masters are great reads, but the level and quality of annotation varies greatly.  A friend and I are going over a collection of Tal's games together.  This is great fun, if you can meet with a chess mate, and refrain from setting up a board and playing.

Depends on what you want or need.  If You are reading to improve your performance I recommend.

1. Beginner                            The Game of Chess, Tarrach

2. Intermediate to Advanced - My System, Nimzowitch

3.                                          Reassess Your Chess, Silman

4.                                          Think Like a Grandmaster, Kotov

5. Beginner                            Zaps and Traps, Pandolfini (two volumes

6. Intermediate to Advanced   The Starting Out Series, Various Authors, Everyman Chess

Beginner                               Endgame Move by Move, Silman (Volume 1)

I believe, as Tarrach treats chess in the first recommended book, that understanding the basic endings is the foundation.  How many times have you seen a child chase the king around the board with a rook or queen, only to draw (50 move rule), or stalemate instead of promoting his pawn?

You have to know your destination, or the best road map will not help you arrive.

I like Pandolfini's Zaps and Traps because they teach tactics in the opening, as well as the opening basics, development, and central control.  The tactics learned for the opening are applicable to the middle game, but the beginner will win and continue to win many games, right out of the opening.

The other books deal with more advanced treatment of the middlegame getting into positional considerations.  I don't list any endgame masterpieces, not because there aren't any.  There most certainly are, but they require huge investments of time to understand, and the payoff isn't as large or immediate as is the mastery of tactcs, and middle game positional play.

For sheer enjoyment, various collection of the games of great masters are great reads, but the level and quality of annotation varies greatly.  A friend and I are going over a collection of Tal's games together.  This is great fun, if you can meet with a chess mate, and refrain from setting up a board and playing.