Minakhi Misra

Chess Journal

Grandmaster games I study

Miniatures to Memorise

Books I love

Books by World Champions and other chess legends
  • Deep Thinking: Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins by Garry Kasparov (2017) – A reflection on the match between Kasparov and Deep Blue, discussing the implications of AI in chess and beyond.
  • My Great Predecessors series by Garry Kasparov (2003-2010) – Analyses games and provides historical context about world champions.
  • Mind Master by Vishwanathan Anand (2019)
  • Karpov on Karpov: Memoirs of a Chess World Champion by Anatoly Karpov: This memoir describes Karpov’s early start in chess, his world championship win at twenty-four, his rivalry with Garry Kasparov, and his encounters with Bobby Fischer.
  • Kramnik: My Life & Games by Vladimir Kramnik (2000): An autobiographical account from the former World Chess Champion, offering insights into his career and games.
  • Tal-Botvinnik 1960: Match for the World Championship by Mikhail Tal (1961) – An account of Tal’s championship match, providing insights into his strategies and thoughts.
  • My System by Aron Nimzowitsch (1925): A foundational text on positional chess.
  • Chess Is My Life: Autobiography and Games by Viktor Korchnoi (1978): A personal account from one of the most famous chess defectors, detailing his life in chess and beyond.
  • Pal Benko: Life, Games, Compositions by Pal Benko (2003): An autobiography that includes personal stories, games, and compositions from the renowned chess player.
  • Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 by David Bronstein (1954) – A detailed account of one of the most famous tournaments in chess history.
  • The Art of Chess Analysis by Jan Timman (1998) – Discusses how to analyze chess positions effectively.
  • Life at Play by Lubomir Kavalek: A memoir by American-Czech Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek (1943-2021) about his life, career, and experiences with chess greats. The book also includes Kavalek’s chess games.
Biographies of Chess Masters
  • Endgame by Frank Brady: A revealing biography, it traces the rise, triumphs, and enigmatic decline of one of chess’s greatest and most troubled champions, offering insight into Fischer’s genius and personal struggles
  • Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin: This memoir follows Fred Waitzkin and his prodigious son Josh as they navigate the intense world of competitive chess, exploring the bonds of family and the lasting shadow of the elusive Bobby Fischer.
  • Mortal Games: The Turbulent Genius of Gary Kasparov by Fred Waitzkin: This elbow-side vivid profile of the world champion delves into the drama of the 1990 Kasparov-Karpov matches, painting a multifaceted portrait of chess’s most incendiary talent, and the disintegrating Soviet Union that produced them.
  • Aron Nimzowitsch: On the Road to Chess Mastery, 1886-1924 by Per Skjoldager and Jørn Erik Nielsen: This biography explores the life, education, tournament games, and contributions of Aron Nimzowitsch to hypermodern chess. It includes nearly 450 games and covers Nimzowitsch’s life from 1914 to 1924.
  • George H. Mackenzie: A Chess Biography with 1,272 Games by John S. Hilbert (2023): A comprehensive biography that brings the life and achievements of George H. Mackenzie to the forefront, covering his family life, military career, and impact on the chess community.
  • Black & White: The Rise and Fall of Bobby Fischer by Julian Voloj & Wagner Willian (2023): A graphic novel that chronicles the life of Bobby Fischer, detailing his rise to fame and subsequent struggles.
  • “Emanuel Lasker: The Life of a Chess Master” by Edward Winter (1976): A detailed exploration of the life of Emanuel Lasker, who was World Champion for 27 years.
  • Chess Greats by David Petrozzi (2023): Covers the lives and games of thirteen legendary chess players, aimed at beginner and intermediate players.
  • Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess by David Lawson (1976): A biography that chronicles the life and legacy of Paul Morphy, one of the greatest chess prodigies.
Books to improve your chess
  • Think Like a Grandmaster by Alexander Kotov (1974) – Offers insights into the thought processes of top players.
  • Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957) – Analyzes classic games move by move for educational purposes.
  • How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman (1993) – Focuses on improving middlegame strategies and understanding imbalances.
  • Chess for Zebras by Jonathan Rowson (2005) – Explores the psychological aspects of chess and improvement strategies.
  • Chess for Tigers by Simon Webb (1999) – Focuses on aggressive play and psychological tactics in chess.
  • The Complete Chess Course by Fred Reinfeld (1957) – A comprehensive guide covering all aspects of chess from basics to advanced strategies.
  • The Chess Player’s Bible by James Eade (2005) – An extensive reference covering rules, tactics, and strategies.
  • Endgame Strategy by Mikhail Shereshevsky (1996) – A guide to understanding and mastering endgame techniques.
  • The Seven Deadly Chess Sins by Jonathan Rowson (2005) – Examines common mistakes players make and how to avoid them.
  • Understanding Chess Move by Move by John Nunn (2004) – Breaks down modern chess games with a focus on strategic understanding.
  • Practical Chess Exercises by Cheng, L. (2012) – Contains exercises designed to improve tactical skills through practice.
  • The Art of Chess Composition by David Hooper (1990) – Focuses on the creative side of chess through composition.
Novels on Chess
  • The Defense by Vladimir Nabokov (1930):
  • Chess Story or The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig (1943):
  • The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis (2003): This acclaimed novel follows the life of Beth Harmon, an orphan who discovers her extraordinary talent for chess while growing up in a Kentucky orphanage. The story explores her rise to become a chess champion, alongside her struggles with addiction and personal demons.
  • Unsound Variations by George R. R. Martin (1982): A novella that delves into the psychological impact of a single chess move on a team, presenting themes of competition and consequence.
  • Pawn to Infinity (1982): A collection of short stories by various authors, including George R.R. Martin and Roger Zelazny, each tale is inspired by chess themes and showcases different aspects of the game.
  • The Chess Garden by Brooks Hansen (1996): This narrative blends fantasy and reality as it tells the story of a man in a concentration camp who writes letters to his wife, describing a world where chess pieces live and engage in philosophical debates.
  • The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon (2007): Set in an alternate history where Alaska serves as a Jewish homeland post-World War II, this novel features a detective story intertwined with chess elements that reflect the complexities of identity and survival.
  • The Squares of the City by John Brunner (1992): This novel uses chess as a metaphor for manipulation and control within society, where characters represent chess pieces in a larger game.
  • Alekhine’s Anguish by Charles D. Yaffe (1999): A fictionalised account of the life of Alexander Alekhine, one of the greatest chess champions, exploring his career and personal struggles.
  • The Bishop Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine (1922): A classic detective novel featuring a murder mystery that revolves around chess, showcasing the game’s strategic depth.
  • The Eight by Katherine Neville (1988): A historical thriller that combines elements of chess with adventure as characters seek an ancient chess set linked to Charlemagne.
Chess in the 21st century
  • Game Changer: AlphaZero’s Groundbreaking Chess Strategies and the Future of Chess by Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan (2019) – This book explores the revolutionary chess strategies developed by AlphaZero, an AI developed by DeepMind.
  • The Silicon Road to Chess Improvement by Matthew Sadler (2020) – Focuses on how modern chess engines and AI can be used to improve chess skills and preparation.
  • Chess and Artificial Intelligence: A Survey of the Current State of Research by various authors (2020) – A comprehensive overview of how AI has influenced chess research and development.
  • The Future of Chess: A Study of Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on the Game by various authors (2021) – Examines how AI is reshaping the landscape of competitive chess.
  • Chess for Life by Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan (2019) – Discusses how chess can enhance life skills and mental agility.
  • The Science of Chess by David Levy and David R. Wilkins (2011) – Explores the intersection of chess and science, including artificial intelligence applications in the game.
  • AlphaZero: Shedding New Light on Chess by Jonathan Rowson (2019) – Analyzes how AlphaZero has changed the understanding of chess strategy and tactics.
  • The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World by Pedro Domingos (2015) – While not exclusively about chess, it discusses algorithms that can be applied to various fields, including chess.
  • Artificial Intelligence: A Guide to Intelligent Systems by Michael Negnevitsky (2005) – Provides insights into AI systems, including applications in games like chess.
  • How Computers Play Chess by David Levy (2003) – Discusses the development of computer chess programs and their impact on human players.
  • Chess: The Art of Logic by David Smerdon (2020) – Explores logical thinking in chess, including insights from AI approaches.

Online Resources I use

Play online
  • Chess.com
  • Lichess.org
  • Internet Chess Club
  • FIDE Online Arena
  • Take Take Take App
Learn and improve chess skills
  • Chess.com
  • Lichess.org
  • Opening Tree
  • Chessable
  • Chessify
  • Chess24
  • ChessBase
  • Chess Puzzle Net
  • ChessMood
YouTube channels