Books on chess composition published by commercial publishers are rare.
Most problems books are published by small specialist publishers and are
not to be found in mainstream bookshops. Many are out of print, and
consequently acquiring problem books, especially older ones, can take some
work. Some, however, can be downloaded from the web, and the website of
Czech composer
Václav Kotěšovec
is a goldmine for older material.
Personal collections of British composers
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The Chessboard Adventures of Norman Macleod, edited by John
Rice. Editions FEE-NIX 1997; 308 pages.
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A collection of the work of Norman Macleod (1927-91), the most
versatile British composer of his time. It includes a biography,
tributes and obituaries, and a selection of lectures and
articles by the late composing GM.
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Chess problem spectrum by John Rice Editions FEE-NIX 2003 358 pages.
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A collection by Britain’s leading all-round contemporary
composer, who holds the title of GM for composition. It covers
his first 50 years of composition.
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Selected chess problems of Colin Sydenham. Lulu Press 2014,
229 problems, ISBN 9781326450618.
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Colin Sydenham is one of the finest British composers of the
last 40 years, active in a number of genres.
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Mostly Three-Movers: Collected chess problems 1939-93 by
R. C. O. Matthews Editions FEE-NIX 1995; 184 pages.
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Robin Matthews (1927-2010) was one of the world’s leading
composers of three-movers. This volume contains all of his
published problems up to 1993.
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B. P. Barnes His collected problems by Barry Barnes. 522
diagrams. Privately published 2017.
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The author’s complete output.
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Complete Mansfield. The collected chess problems of Grandmaster
Comins Mansfield MBE in three volumes Vol 1 1911-1930, Vol 2
1931-1962, Vol 3 1963-1984.Annotated by Barry Barnes.
Waterthorpe 1996, 1997, 1999. 731 problems in total.
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Comins Mansfield (1896-1984) is widely regarded as one of the
greatest ever composers of two-move problems. This
three-volume collection was assembled from his personal
records.
Genres
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Black to play by C.J.Feather 1994, revised version, downloadable
from the
Julia’s Fairies website
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As essential work for fans of the helpmate. The only general
introduction in English, it is written in a questioning and
sometimes subversive style, challenging the solver/reader to
look deeper into the workings of the hundreds of examples
shown.
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Das Matt des weissen Konigs by Friedrich Chlubna, Vienna 1995.
ISBN 3 9500310 3 0; 160 pages, in German.
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An instructive introduction to selfmates which illustrates the
wide variety of ideas characteristic of the genre. Also
includes chapters on the selfmate maximummer and the reflexmate.
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Endgame magic by John Beasley & Timothy Whitworth.
Dover 2017 ISBN 0-486-81934-4; Second Edition. 192 pages.
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An excellent introduction to studies by two experts in the
genre.
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Endgame challenge by John Nunn, Gambit 2002. ISBN 1 901983 83 8; 256 pages.
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A collection of the author’s choice of the best 250
studies ever composed, fully analysed.
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The art of the endgame by Jan Timman New in Chess 2011. ISBN 978 90 5691 369 4.
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An entertaining personal collection by the famous Dutch player,
who has been a very active study composer in recent years.
General
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The Encyclopaedia of Chess Problems: Themes and Terms (Chess
Informant 2012, 520 pages, hardback) by Milan Velimirović and
Kari Valtonen.
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The most comprehensive guide in English to problem terminology.
Fully illustrated with example problems.
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Schach fur Nussknacker by Friedrich Chlubna, Vienna 1994.
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‘Chess for nutcrackers’ is a general guide to chess
problems, written not for problem experts but for over-the-board
players, to demonstrate the beauties of ‘chess without a
partner’.
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Adventures in Composition by Comins Mansfield. Overbrook Series 1944.
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A classic volume by Britain’s first composing Grandmaster,
which sets out to teach the reader how to compose two-movers.
Downloadable from Václav Kotěšovec’s website.
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Solving in style by John Nunn, Gambit 2016. 320 diagrams.
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Kindle edition of a book originally published in 1985.
A thorough guide to the techniques of solving chess problems
by a three-times solving World Champion.
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Secrets of Spectacular Chess by Jonathan Levitt and David Friedgood 2nd edition.
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A highly original and thought-provoking work in which the
authors expound their theory of chess aesthetics. They discuss
the elements of chess beauty and offer a wide range of examples
of spectacular chess from games and various types of composition
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Chess Problems: Tasks and records by Jeremy Morse 3rd edition
2016. 478 pages, 969 diagrams. ISBN 978 1785891 434.
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The chess problem equivalent of the Guinness Book of Records!
Task problems are positions which feature maximum effects, and
Sir Jeremy Morse was the world’s leading expert on the
subject. A thorough survey of two-move tasks, with
supplementary chapters on other genres.
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Miniature chess problems by Colin Russ. St.Martin’s Press, New
York 1981. ISBN 0 312 53370 5; 262 pages.
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Miniature compositions (using 7 or fewer pieces) are a great
favourite with both solvers and composers, and this volume
containing 400 directmates of all lengths is one of the most
entertaining collections.
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Pick of the best chess problems, compiled by Barry Barnes.
Revised edition, Elliot Right Way books 1991.
ISBN 0 7160 2002 5; 158 pages.
White to play and mate in two, compiled by Barry Barnes.
Elliot Right Way Books 1991. ISBN 0 7160 2001 7; 156 pages.
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Two collections of Meredith two-movers (using from 8 to 12
pieces) containing 200 and 150 problems respectively, fully
explained in light-hearted style by the compiler.
History
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The chess problem by H. G. M. Weenink Christmas series 1926.
318 pages, 374 diagrams.
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Another classic, which remains essential reading for anyone
interested in the history of the chess problem. Downloadable
from Václav Kotěšovec’s website.
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Versunkene Schatze: Problemkunst von 1891-1913, by Friedrich
Chlubna. Vienna 1998. ISBN 3 9500310 6 5; 160 pages, in German.
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The ‘Sunken treasures’ are 350 chess problems from
the period 1891 to 1913 which deserve to survive. The period
before 1914 is poorly documented in modern chess problem
literature, so this book fills a gap!
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A Cleric’s Idea, which made History. The new German chess
problem, origin, basic principles and concepts. By Herbert Grasemann Editions FEE-NIX 2014. 200 pages.
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A reprint of Grasemann’s 1981 book, with additional
material by Hans Peter Rehm and Stephan Eisert. A comprehensive
history and explanation of the values of the New German School
of composition.