I remember a chess book that had some popularity back in the 70s.  It had the intention of presenting a "secret" winning opening system as scientifically proven as the best for white to attack.  Generally, pawns on e4 and d4, bishops on c4 and f4, knights on c3 and f3 and so forth in the standard style of the 19th century.  I think it was written by an American.  Was wondering if anyone remembers the book?  The writer had a typical anglo-U.S. name. 

I don't know, but it certainly couldn't have been very secret if it was in a popular book.

Actually that sounds like a pretty decent book, I would like to read it. 

Is this possibly "White to Play and Win" by Weaver Adams?

I think it was a different book.  It had old, not algebraic notation and antique looking chess diagrams.

Antiquated*. 

*until

IF YOU FIND THE NAME OF THE BOOK E-MAIL ME

Not interested in your nonsense Bankwell, sorry if you wanted a flaming partner.  

The unusual thing about the book was that various terms were given for all the opening piece alignments, like "right tactical blah, blah".  I remember that the author did something I had never seen elsewhere, a formulaic pattern-based piece set-up as you would have in four nights and related openings.  I don't think the author cared much for fianchettos.  All the diagrams were those old nineteenth century diagrams, early 20th century book diagrams.

Actually I get tickled when a flame-artist gets flamed...

It sounds like it might have been something by Franklin K, Young, a writer who attempted to use the language of late 19th century military science to describe chess tactics and strategy. 

Sounds familiar.  I will do a search.

The Major Tactics of Chess

http://www.amazon.com/Major-Tactics-Chess-Franklin-Young/dp/0882540343

Plus we have plenty of overused words in the English language like "interesting", "basically" and so forth. 

You have to love English.  It applies very strict rules to all of its exceptions.

Well that's a good thing anyway, being as how they are the work of the devil. I am liking this book more and more. 

Hans Berliner, The System. Takes eighteen replies? Guys you gotta know your classics

Thanks heinzie. 

I find it interesting how the usual suspects such as Silman, Watson all criticize and dismiss the book.... and the book is mysteriously hard to get a hold of... almost as if they didn't want this material to get out and be known...

Franklin K. Young had several books on these patterns, including the Major Tactics of Chess, Minor Tactics of Chess, and Chess Strategetics Explained, I think.

He gave many pawn structures detailed names like "Major Right Oblique" or "Grand Left Oblique, en Appui" etc.

All a bunch of hooey, but an amusing concept.

What do you bet that a chess teacher will come along and present FK Young's system as the end all and be all to beating your opponent, when the students are teenagers, how many of them would be able to know that this is hooey?