When I started posting on Instagram regularly, so many people asked me about calculation books and suggestions. They want to improve their calculation and speed.
Personally, I feel that calculation is based on talent. If a person is more talented, they are better at calculation, tactics, and combinational vision.
There are different types of calculation, but we are mainly going to focus on combinational vision, tactics, and long calculation involving something direct.
Never worry about studying tactics below your current level. Most of you will encounter such positions. There is no point in solving positions that are too difficult.
Let us start.
Note that I am suggesting the books that I generally recommend to my students.
1400-1700 Rating Range
I feel that many players lack simple calculation techniques. Even though they are rated players, they often miss mate in two, simple tactical patterns, and simple calculations. For this rating range, it is more important to avoid simple blunders and catch blunders made by your opponents.
Calculation is a key topic that will help you move beyond your current level.
1. Checkmating Pattern Manual (Recommended for 1400-1550)
This is a Chessable course, not a book suggestion. It is based on a very fundamental approach and might be easy for some players. But I highly recommend that you do it.
2. 1001 Deadly Checkmates by John Nunn (Recommended for 1400-1600)
A very old and nice chess book. Again, it is based on checkmating patterns, and I suggest it to everyone who asks me.
3. 1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners by Roberto Messa (Recommended for 1400-1600)
This is the first part of a three-book series, and it is highly recommended for players.
4. 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players (Recommended for 1500-1800)
This is the second part of a two-book series. It is targeted more at higher-level players and is perfect for players in the 1550-1800 rating range who have not done it before.
Winner – 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players
Read More: Endgame Book Suggestions: A No-Nonsense Guide for Every Rating Range (1400-2300+)
1700-2000 Rating Range
1. Forcing Chess Moves (Recommended for 1800-2100)
A great chess book that I highly recommend to all of my students. It will teach you forcing chess moves, as the name suggests.
2. 1001 Chess Exercises for Advanced Club Players (Recommended for 1700-1900)
This is the third part of the book series. It is recommended for those who are still making major blunders or are weaker in tactics. It is a book you can study while travelling or in your free time.
3. Anthology of Chess Combination 3 (Recommended for 1700-2100)
Nowadays, it is difficult to get this book. This book helped me improve a lot, and you will see this recommendation from me in many of my blogs.
4. Improve Your Chess Calculation by Ramesh (Recommended for 1700-2000)
It is not a pure puzzle book, as he also explains some techniques. This book is recommended for players at multiple levels. It is a good book if you have already completed most of the books mentioned.
5. Woodpecker Method 1 (Recommended for 1600-2100)
A great chess book that has been one of the bestselling chess books for years. I am not a big believer in the method, but you can do it once. It is a great book.
6. Invisible Chess Moves (Recommended for 1900+)
A very unique set of positions that helps with creative thinking and overall brain development. It is not recommended before a tournament. It is a different book and can change your way of thinking, as you have to find moves that are not so normal.
Winner – Forcing Chess Moves and Woodpecker Method
2000-2300+ Rating Range
There are a lot of calculation and tactics books for this rating range too. The list is long, as I have personally worked through many of them and also suggest them to my students.
1. Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation (Recommended for 2200-2400+)
One of the greatest chess books ever made. Once you cross the 2100-2200 rating range, you must study this book. You will gain a lot of knowledge.
2. Perfect Your Chess (Recommended for 2100-2400+)
Written by Andrei Volotkin, this book helped me cross the 2200 rating mark. I did only the FM-level puzzles and the initial 20-25 positions. There are 20-25 positions at the start of each chapter, followed by 100 exercises, with the first 40 for FM level, the next 40 for IM level, and the final 20 for GM level.
3. Calculation by Sam Sankland (Recommended for 2000+)
This is a relatively new book and a difficult one. It starts with easy puzzles, but then the difficulty level increases.
4. Finding Chess Jewels (Recommended for 2000-2400)
A classic book by Micheal Krasenkov. It contains more than 200 positions to solve and is based on tactics.
5. Grandmaster Preparation: Attack and Defense (Recommended for 2200-2400+)
Another great chess book by Aagaard. It contains a lot of chess puzzles. The positions are difficult and mostly recommended for highly rated players, particularly IM aspirants.
6. Recognising Your Opponent Resources (Recommended for 2100-2400+)
My friend recommended this book. It is very useful if you struggle somewhat with finding ideas for your opponent. I really liked the chapters on prophylaxis and traps in this book.
7. Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play (Recommended for 1900-2300)
This book is very recent, and I purchased it from Chessable. It is a great book, especially if your positional play is weak or you do not know how to plan effectively.
8. Magic Chess Moves (Recommended for 2250+)
This book contains lots of mixed chess puzzles, including studies, great tactics, and calculation exercises. It is a great mix targeted at higher-level players.
Additional Books
Endgame Labyrinth
A great book with lots of endgame studies.
1000 Chess Problems
Mate-in-two and mate-in-three puzzles that will give you a headache.
The series by Artur Yusupov
A great chess book series and a must-have set at home. It contains especially nice material for chess coaches.
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