Pachman's Complete Chess Strategy

I saw this on the NIC page today on sale for about $50. Does anyone know if these are algebraic or not?

Looking at Amazon preview, they are descriptive.

Bummer

you can find them all in certain places on the internet. of course i wouldn't be advocating the illegal downloading of chess books or anything...

I own both Modern Chess Strategy, a single volume first published in 1963 and translated in 1973 in the Dover edition, and the three volume set Complete Chess Strategy first published in 1975 and reprinted in 2012 for Ishi Press.

Although the table of contents are essentially the same, the books are clearly written independently.  In comparing the section (for example) on Minor Pieces, the annotated game examples are almost completely different between the two editions as the twelve year gap between writings would suggest.  As the 3-volume set is more recent and more comprehensive, it would be my choice.  There are PGN collections of the games for those who are challenged by the descriptive English notations.  I was "raised" on dE notation so that the factor that it may be for some.

i dont understand these ishi press guys. they seem to have reprinted quite a few old chess books but kept them in desciptive notation. i realise it is more time consuming and expensive to change them to algebraic, but i would imagine you will sell more books by doing it.

Well, Sam Sloan is involved in Ishi press, so any expectation of rational behavior is already out the window :)

I've been tempted to pick these up, but have hesitated for that reason (because of Ishi Press, not because of descriptive notation...)  

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pachman

Try saving some money at amazon and maybe you might want to buy one book first instead of all 3 (not an option with "The Complete Chess Course")  and finding out you don't like them afterwards. BTW I believe overall Pachman's books have a very good reputation. You'll also get a lot more info like better prices, user reviews and ratings etc by using a search engine and not just relying on whatever answers you get here.

BTW Who the hell is Sam Sloan?

PS: I just followed my own advice and found him using a SA

Sam is hard to describe. Let's just call him "quirky." 

What's wrong with Ishi Press books?

Sam Sloan is involved with them -- ergo they are immediately suspect. 

Sam Sloan is involved with (Ishi Press) ergo they are immediately suspect. KINGPATER

Well, Sam Sloan is involved in Ishi press, so any expectation of rational behavior is already out the window :)  KINGPATZER

I think Kingpatzer is on to something here, even if he is patzer

If half of what the Wikipedia article on him is true, he isn't just "suspect" he's a world-class dirtbag, albeit a fairly fascinating DB. For instance, he's the last layperson (ie not an atty) who argued a case in front of the US Supreme Court (in 1999) which issued a 9-0 decision - in his favor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Sloan

http://www.anusha.com/  (Sam's homepage, looks interesting)

Most of what Sloan is doing seems to be simple translations into English.  If his books are the only English source, then I have no problem obtaining one here and there.  My Pachman 3-volume series is an example as they are the only versions available that I found.  He seems to be making some older, obscure game collections available as well, so that is a legitimate profession and resource for chess players.

Not defending Sloan in any way (never met him) but Wikipedia is not always unbiased with regard to its contents.  It depends on who entered the information and whether or not it was vetted by knowledgable editors and readers.

Sam's been very involved in USCF politics for decades and his reputation has been well earned. 

Sloan isn't responsible for the translation, all he did was add his own introduction and publish.  Unfortunately he does currently seem to be the only source for the Pachman series.  

The Pachman books should also still be under copyright, so hopefully everything has been handled appropriately - not that I have any reason to believe otherwise.

Yes, True. but Descriptive Notation is very easy to learn. Anyone can teach themselves in minutes and there are still loads of good chess books out there in DN.