[efas]

So many books! Chess becomes all about remembering similar positions - practice and study to understand. In the public domain, Lasker's Manual of Chess is a classic. I saw a study group use that as a textbook. Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals starts at a lower level, but sometimes leaves proofs to the reader - for instance, tells you to be ready to swap one advantage for another - which advantage, again? John Watson cleared the bases with "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action", which simply dumbfounded the pundits when they came out. Between them, I prodded him with an email suggesting that understanding nuances in positions, and how small differences could lead to big changes was a key. I haven't bought many chess books lately, but openings books are a dime a dozen and "Basic Chess Endings" is an updated and enduring classic.