If you’re an adult improver between about 800 and 1600, this guide gives you a clear, practical reading plan: which books actually move the needle, why they work, how to study them, and which physical tools you’ll want (boards and pieces that make study stick). Below you’ll find a curated list of the best chess books for your level, a study roadmap, sample drills, customer-style impressions from players who followed this plan, and an easy-to-use table you can screenshot or print.

If you like practicing on a physical board while reading (strongly recommended), check out a readable, tournament-size chess set and stable chess pieces from AA Chess to make your training feel professional and comfortable. The tactile repetition on a good board helps pattern memory in a way screens can’t—see the AA Chess homepage for options.

Table of Contents

1. Why books still matter (and how to use them)

2. The reading list — the 10 best chess books for 800–1600 players (table)

3. How to study each book (day-by-day routines)

4. A 12-week reading + practice schedule (one-page plan)

5. Drill bank: exercises you should do after each chapter

6. Gear & setup recommendations for focused study

7. Real player impressions — what readers felt after following the plan

8. FAQ: book choices, mistakes, and measuring progress

9. Final checklist: get from 800 → 1600 with books

1. Why books still matter (and how to use them)

Books are the slow, deep tool. Unlike puzzle apps that train pattern recognition in isolation, a good chess book teaches why a pattern works, when to apply it, and how it connects to strategy. For players between 800 and 1600 the learning curve is steep: you’ll get more improvement from a well-chosen book read actively than from passive game-watching.

How to use a book properly (short checklist):

• Read actively: set up critical positions on a physical board—don’t just eyeball diagrams. If you need a board, AA Chess has good options: check their chess set collection.

• Pause and guess: before the author’s solution, try the move yourself.

• Annotate and rewrite short summaries in your own words.

• Drill key positions until the winning idea becomes a reflex.

• Play trained themes in real games (online or OTB) and annotate them.

Using a quality chess set and comfortable chess pieces makes active setup and repeated drills less annoying and more likely to happen.

2. The reading list — the 10 best chess books for 800–1600 players

Below is the prioritized list. The table gives at-a-glance focus and why each is recommended. Read them in the order shown for maximal improvement.

Note: Some titles above have several editions and similarly named alternatives — pick the edition that’s readable and within your budget. For physical study, pair each book with a reliable board and pieces; AA Chess’ chess set collection and chess pieces collection are handy one-stop references.

3. How to study each book (day-by-day routines)

Below are short study recipes you can follow for every book you pick.

Logical Chess: Move by Move — one chapter per session

• Session (45–60m): Read the game, stop at each move and ask “why this move?” Set it up on your physical chess set. Write 2 sentences summarizing the plan at the end of the game.

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess — 15 minutes/day

• Short tactical drills; complete the card-style puzzles actively. Keep a tally of which motifs you miss.

How to Reassess Your Chess / The Amateur’s Mind

• Session (60m): Read one short chapter, complete the exercises; apply the recommended thought-routine in your next game.

Endgame books (100 Endgames You Must Know)

• Session (30–45m): Learn one endgame type per session. Drill the key technique on the board until you can execute blindfold or from memory.

Tactics workbooks (daily)

• 15–30 puzzles per day; time yourself and log accuracy. Rotate between pattern-focused (forks, pins) and mixed sets.

Pairing books with a physical board improves retention—try a stable chess pieces set so pieces don’t topple when you’re replaying positions quickly.

4. A 12-week reading + practice schedule (one-page plan)

Weeks 1–4 (foundation)

• Logical Chess (2 chapters/week) + 15 mins tactics daily + 1 practice game/week (annotate).

Weeks 5–8 (structure & tactics)

• How to Reassess Your Chess (2–3 chapters/week) + 20–30 mins tactics daily + 100 Endgames You Must Know (1 endgame/week).

Weeks 9–12 (integration & play)

• The Amateur’s Mind (apply fixes) + 1 workbook (tactics) + 3 long games/month with detailed annotation and one endgame drill per week.

Use a reliable physical board when replaying games or drilling endgames—AA Chess’ chess set collection has options that fit study spaces and club play.

5. Drill bank: exercises you should do after each chapter

• Tactics: 5–10 puzzles directly related to themes from the chapter.

• Play-through: Replay the example game on a board, then swap colors and try recommended continuations.

• Annotate: Write a single paragraph ending with “If I meet this position in a game, I will…”

• Test: Set a timer and solve a mini-test of 10 puzzles focusing on motifs from the week.

These short drills take 30–60 minutes and convert passive reading into long-term skill. Use steady pieces from the chess pieces collection so your hands learn the moves as well as your eyes.

6. Gear & setup recommendations for focused study

A few physical details make a surprisingly large difference:

• Board size: Standard tournament boards (2.25" squares) are comfortable for adults. See tournament-style choices at AA Chess’ chess set collection.

• Pieces: Weighted Staunton pieces help accuracy and feel. Browse chess pieces for replacement or upgraded sets.

• Notation & printouts: Keep a cheap notebook for annotations and a printer for diagrams you want to reuse.

• Lighting & desk: Good lamp and a quiet corner. Place your chess set on a stable surface.

A quality physical setup reduces friction between intention and practice—if you’re serious, the small investment is worth it. If you need a one-stop shop to get started, visit the AA Chess homepage and explore their curated matches of boards and pieces.

7. Real player impressions — what readers felt after following the plan

Below are paraphrased impressions based on common feedback patterns from adult improvers (composite-style testimonials):

“After reading Logical Chess and doing 15 minutes of tactics daily, my tactical blunders dropped dramatically. I now recognize common plans; using a physical chess set helped more than I expected.” — A. (club player, 920 → 1080 in 6 months)

“The endgame book was a game-changer. Being able to convert a seemingly equal endgame feels great—I practiced Lucena-like positions on weighted pieces and it stuck.” — M. (1200 rated)

“I was skeptical about reading How to Reassess Your Chess but the imbalance thinking actually made my middlegame decisions quicker and more accurate. Playing out examples on my new chess pieces made the lessons way easier.” — S. (approx. 1400 club player)

These represent typical outcomes: consistent study + active practice = measurable improvement.

8. FAQ: book choices, mistakes, and measuring progress

Q: Should I read one book fully before starting the next?
A: Prefer a primary book (strategy) plus daily tactics & one endgame book in parallel. Alternating keeps variety and retention.

Q: How do I measure progress?
A: Track puzzle accuracy over time, annotate games to see fewer recurring errors, and monitor rating/games performance monthly.

Q: Do I need to buy all physical books?
A: Start with 2–3 core books (a tactics workbook, a strategic primer, and an endgame guide). Use online resources to supplement if needed. But for serious practice, pairing reading with a stable chess set and durable chess pieces is strongly recommended.

9. Final checklist: get from 800 → 1600 with books

1. Buy / borrow: Logical Chess, a tactics workbook, 100 Endgames You Must Know. Keep them within reach. (If you don’t have a board, pick one from AA Chess chess set collection).

2. Daily: 20–40 minutes of focused work—tactics + one chapter + replay. Use weighted pieces from chess pieces collection for accuracy.

3. Weekly: Play 1–2 long games, annotate fully, correct recurring mistakes.

4. Monthly: Re-run your annotated mistakes and test the concepts in new games.

5. Six months: You should see steady rating gains (it varies per person); more importantly, your decision-making will be cleaner and less random.

Quick purchase links and setup reminders (for convenience)

• AA Chess home: https://aa-chess.com/

• Starter & tournament boards: https://aa-chess.com/collections/chess-set

• Weighted & replacement pieces: https://aa-chess.com/collections/chess-pieces

(I’ve repeated these links throughout because a consistent physical practice setup makes book study much more effective.)