Compare "My System" to "Simple Chess"

The other day someone told me that My System was the best book he owned.

I have also heard that Simple Chess by Steans is great.

Now my rating is a somewhat slippery 1325, and I wonder how you would compare and rate the two books for someone around that rating.

Also, which edition of My System is the one to get?

Which should I get? SC or MS? Both? Neither?

I'd like your thoughts please as I know so many of you have read these books.

Thanks.

stwils

Both are good books. I would say that My System is more advanced than Simple Chess. Simple Chess is a nice introduction to positional/strategic ideas, and is a pretty quick read. Being a Dover publication it is cheap as well, something like $9.95. 

I'm not sure which is the best edition of My System. Quality Chess recently came out with a new edition that has gotten both good and bad reviews. I believe Hays Publishing also came out with a 21st century (algrebraic) edition a while back. McKay or someone used to have a descriptive notation edition. The Quality Chess edition is a nicely put together book, but I can't speak to the quality of the translation at this point.

Thanks so much for your comments.

I wonder where I could find out about the best edition of My System?

stwils

I Haven't read Simple Chess but I have read More simple chess which, rather ironically, is quite advanced and contains some ideas I'd never encountered before. It is very well written with very good example games and I expect Simple Chess is equally good.

My System is, imo, overrated. Nimzovitsch often fails to justify his instructions which makes them useless because you can't critically examine them. the language in my edition makes in tough going as well (they may have corrected it in later editions)

Who wrote "More Simple Chess?"

stwils

I asked about My System last year.  Here's the thread: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/my-system---advice

In the end I didn't buy it but I do own Simple Chess which I recommend - it's  shorter & an easier read than My Stystem (which I have borrowed from the library).

There are actually 2 books named Simple Chess. One is the book by Michael Stean, and another is by John Emms I believe. More Simple Chess is a sequel to the work by John Emms.

Hi,

I got this edition: http://www.amazon.com/System-Chess-Classics-Aron-Nimzowitsch/dp/9197600539/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

It is a good book, but, he does litter chess with new terminologies that simply make it harder and slower to digest. If I had a copy at hand I'd give you an example - but I don't.

If your not much of a chess book person this could be a tough one to get through.

However, it is a great book to get you thinking about positional chess and you'd have to be a complete plank to gain nothing from it.

1325! Hey that's excellent progress..  well done you've certainly been working hard!

IMO, My System is not for you at this point. If you didn't like Silman's Reassess Your Chess, you aren't going to get into My System -- Reassess Your Chess is in some ways, My System-lite.

I think Simple Chess (Stean) is a wonderful book and might be right for you, now. I don't own it. I want to pick up a copy. I remember coming across it years ago and feeling like: "hey why didn't anybody put this book in my hands before, this is GREAT!"  -- This is before the internet (and I was a much weaker player), so I dunno, maybe it's not as great as I remember, but i recall I really liked it.   I like Emms' too (I've got his More Simple Chess and it's a slim but enjoyable book, with a lot to teach... but it's a little more advanced than you want right now IMO.).

Stean's book is the greatest chess book I've read and should be treated as one you can go back to every now and then to refresh your positional chess. It's pretty short, readable in less than a week. Anyone 1300-2000 can learn from it, I wouldn't recommend it to any lower though. Positional chess, comes only after you stop hanging pieces and missing easy mate-in-2s.