Dan Heisman is a prominent chess instructor and author specializing in educational chess materials. His works, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess and Chess Tactics for Students, have introduced thousands of learners to the game's strategic principles. He has contributed significantly to making chess instruction approachable for beginners and young players.
68 Books Recommended by Dan Heisman
Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess
Covers not only how to play, but many of the same tips I give my students.
Chess Tactics for Students
Learn motifs (pins, removal of guard, double attacks, back-rank mates, etc.)
Winning Chess Strategy for Kids
Highly recommended for basic tactics AND strategy.
Starting Out
There are some fairly difficult problems but most are basic and quite fundamental.
Checkmate for Children
A modern book covering checkmate patterns - one of the best I have ever seen at just this particular issue.
The Chess Tactics Workbook
Somewhat similar to Bain's book but with more problems overall and more mate problems, but less single motif problems.
A First Book of Morphy
A basic game book showing many basic principles via Morphy games.
Winning Chess Exercises for Kids
Possibly the best 'intermediate' book to test the tactics for players of all ages!
Practical Chess Exercises
An interesting idea with 600 positions from games where all you are given is that there is a best move.
Chess Training Pocket Book
The 300 most instructive positions needed to get to a rating of 1800.
The Art of Checkmate
Mostly a great book about checkmate pattern but lots of problems, too.
Rapid Chess Improvement
An expanded version of his '400 Points in 400 Days' article on how to improve your game.
Modern Chess Openings
Every intermediate can use a one-volume tome covering all the openings.
Practical Chess Endings
An excellent collection of endgame problems covering most practical ideas.
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played
A book of games, each with an individual idea.
50 Essential Chess Lessons
Positioned as a more modern, slightly more advanced than The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played.
Modern Chess
Bridges the gap between Logical Chess Move by Move and Understanding Chess Move by Move.
Pawn Power in Chess
How to use pawns in chess. This subject is a must for any serious player.
The Logical Approach to Chess
Very logical (!) and somewhat basic, but also lots of good general knowledge/principles for beginner/intermediates.
Inside the Chess Mind
A collection of 'think out loud' protocols from titled players over 12 positions.
The Art of Planning in Chess
Even better (and more advanced) than his good anthology The Art of Logical Chess Thinking.
Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids
Don't be fooled by the titles! [This book is a gem].
The Wisest Things Ever Said About Chess
288 principles with examples. Just terrific stuff and very practical.
Chess Rules of Thumb
These ideas are so important they are part of my 'Big Five' things you should learn first.
Chess Strategy for Club Players
A 'more advanced' strategy book with lots of games examples.
The Seven Deadly Chess Sins
A book on thinking - psychological aspects - avoiding time trouble, etc.
Chess for Zebras
I recommend anyone who is considering chess lessons to read the first chapter.
Understanding Chess Move by Move
Sort of a modern MUCH more advanced version of Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move.
Understanding Chess Middlegames
Another good one from the doctor, with 100 different middlegame issues and two sample games/snippets of each.
100 Endgames You Must Know
Every time I read this book I like it more. It's advanced, but seems to have its pulse on just what it claims.
Sacrifice and Initiative in Chess
Another advanced follow-up [to Art of Attack in Chess] book.
Judgment and Planning in Chess
Chess planning is a difficult subject. This is one of the few advanced books on the subject.
Thought and Choice in Chess
The definitive book analyzing how strong chessplayers think. Warning! Reads like a PhD thesis, not a chess book.
Applying Logic in Chess
Covers the entire gamut: how and what to study, how to use engines, analyzing your own games, and much more.
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy
The most advanced positional book - great.
Rethinking the Chess Pieces
Advanced book about the changing value of the pieces, playing imbalances, when to trade, etc.
How To Choose A Chess Move
Another good general book, this time on thought process, by the GM.
The Method in Chess
Not a well-written book, but some important ideas about planning and imbalances.
The Kaufman Repertoire for Black and White
Probably the best opening repertoire book.
The Joys of Chess
It's 'just' a fun book.
Chess Curiosities
Another 'fun' book that's really a great trip.
Transpo Tricks in Chess
Some really great practical advice about how to get the most out of many openings.
The Winning Way
Similar to another classic, Winning Chess Traps by Irving Chernev.