Chessreads is a collection of chess book reviews written by chess players of varying strength, from beginner to master. Our goal is to help every chess player find out which books they should read based on their rating, weaknesses and ambition.
Chessreads is accompanied by a YouTube channel where we post reviews in video format, interviewing authors, and recommending reading lists for players of different ratings.
If you have any feedback or suggestions ask on Discord or contact us via email [email protected]
FAQ
How are reviews organized?
They are organized into categories; opening, middlegame, endgame, etc., by author, and by rating, in ranges of 200 points. You can also sort them by readability (how desperately you need a chess board while reading), and by usefulness. There are three main filters:
On the home page you can fill in 4 fields – current rating, playing style, biggest weakness, and target rating. When you do, the grid below will display recommended books just for you!
This is the most detailed filter on Chessreads. It allows you to sort books by every parameter; category, rating, author, year, and more.
The filter on the openings page allows you to sort books by color, first move, and specific openings. You can, for example, select “1.d4” and “Black”, and it will display defensed to d4!
How do I know which reviews and which books to read?
The filter on the home page allows you to input your rating, weakness and style. It will automatically recommend books once you fill it out. Alternatively, you can sort the books by category or rating to find out which would suit you.
Do you sell books?
We don’t.
A book I like isn’t on Chessreads. How can I ask you to add it?
Email us at [email protected] or write on Discord. We will add the book!
Are the ratings on Chessreads FIDE, lichess, chess.com?
The ratings above 1400 refer to classical FIDE ratings. Those below 1400 refer to chess.com ratings.
I found a bug, can you fix it?
We’re constantly working on improving Chessreads, adding new features and improving existing ones. If you have a suggestion or if there’s something you think should be fixed, email us at [email protected] or write on Discord. We will get back to you and fix it.
I don’t understand the readability score
Readability signifies how difficult it is to read the book without using a board. A book with 10/10 readability is a bedtime story, a book with 1/10 is a puzzle book full of variations. Readability doesn’t represent the quality of the book.
What is the usefulness score each book has assigned?
Usefulness is a measure of how useful the book is for chess improvement within the topic it covers. Books with a high usefulness score should help you improve quicker than those with a low score.
I have a question you haven’t answered
Contact us via email or on Discord. We will answer it and add it to the FAQ list!
