Let the Voting Begin
by Mark Donlan
ChessCafe.com 2014 Book of the Year
Round One
It is time to begin the first round of voting for the ChessCafe.com 2014 Book of the Year. Voting in this round will remain open until January 18, when the three highest vote-getters will advance to round two.
Round two will then be open for voting from January 19 until February 1. The title then receiving the highest number of votes will be the ChessCafe.com 2014 Book of the Year. The winner will be announced February 2, 2015.
You can vote for one of the titles listed below or nominate a title that you feel deserves to be on the list. The three highest vote-getters will advance to round two. Nominees will be updated throughout the week.
Email your vote or nomination to info@chesscafe.com. Comments for or against a particular title may be written below.
First Round Nominees to Date
(Nominees will be updated throughout the week.)
100 Chess Master Trade Secrets by Andrew Soltis
Bologan’s Black Weapons in the Open Games by Victor Bologan
Bent Larsen’s Best Games by Bent Larsen
Carlsen’s Assault on the Throne, by Vassilios Kotronias & Sotiris Logothetis
The Classical Era of Modern Chess, by Peter J. Monté
Finding Chess Jewels, by Michal Krasenkow
For Friends and Colleagues Volume 1 by Mark Dvoretsky
A Game of Queens, by Judit Polgar
Grandmaster Preparation: Endgame Play by Jacob Aagaard
Johannes Zukertort: Artist of the Chessboard, by Jimmy Adams
John Nunn’s Chess Course, by John Nunn
Mannheim 1914 and the Interned Russians, by Anthony Gillam
Mikhail Botvinnik: The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion, by Andy Soltis
The three titles receiving the highest number of votes will advance to round two. Email your vote or nomination to info@chesscafe.com. Comments for or against a particular title may be written below.
Previous ChessCafe.com Book of the Year Winners
2013
Pump Up Your Rating
by Axel Smith
Quality Chess
2012
Aron Nimzowitsch, 1886-1924
by Per Skjoldager and Jørn Erik Nielsen
McFarland
2011
Invisible Chess Moves
by Yochanan Afek & Emmanuel Neiman
New In Chess
2010
Chess Duels
by Yasser Seirawan
Everyman Chess
2009
Chess Strategy for Club Players
by Herman Grooten
New In Chess
2008
Forcing Chess Moves
by Charles Hertan
New In Chess
2007
Silman’s Complete Endgame Course
by Jeremy Silman
Siles Press
2006
Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics
by G.C. Van Perlo
New In Chess
2005
Learn from the Legends
by Mihail Marin
Quality Chess
2004
Pal Benko: My Life, Games and Compositions
by Pal Benko & Jeremy Silman
Siles Press
2003
Chess Strategy in Action
by John Watson
Gambit Publications
2002
Excelling at Chess
by Jacob Aagaard
Everyman Chess
2001
Understanding Chess Move by Move
by John Nunn
Gambit Publications
2000
Shady Side: The Life and Crimes of Norman Tweed Whitaker
by John S. Hilbert
Caissa Editions
All previous reviews are available in the ChessCafe.com Archives. ChessCafe.com members enjoy access to the Checkpoint column in which IM Jim Rizzitano reviews the newest opening books and more. Also, be sure to vote next week in the first round of the 2014 ChessCafe.com Book of the Year award!
© 2014 ChessEdu.org. All Rights Reserved.
My choice is Mannheim 1914. This is a remarkable book that does not come along every year. A slice of little known chess history was brought to life. The other books are great, outstanding additions to any library. But we get books like that every year. – John Kato
I would like to nominate Carlsen’s Assault on the Throne, by Vassilios Kotronias & Sotiris Logothetis. Great annotations coupled with tournament background, highlights, interviews and venue details make it a must own. It captures a decisive moment in World Championship history and stays very relevant, as Carlsen proved (in 2014 as well) that he is no flash in the pan and is in for the long haul. Belongs to the league of great championship books (like New York 1924 and San Luis 2005)! – Eswara
100 Chess Master Trade Secrets by Andrew Soltis: Despite many excellent books being released this year, this January release – which may have slipped under many a radar or been mistaken for a 2013 book – was hands down the best in terms of instruction. I think it offers more than any other book out this year. I would seriously recommend others check it out who have not heard of it.
My vote for book of the year goes to: Mikhail Botvinnik: The Life and Games of a World Chess Champion, by Andy Soltis. Soltis’ previous work on the Soviet School of Chess was outstanding, and I’m happy to see this in-depth study of such a pivotal chess figure. As usual, McFarland and Co. publishes beautiful books.