Strategy Books - Euwe vs Pachman

Hello. I have the 3 volume "Complete Chess Strategy" by Pachman, and I also have the 2 volume "The Middle Game in Chess" by Euwe and Kramer. What are your thoughts on these books? Are they worth the time or should I read something more recent? Does anyone know which is likely to be easier?

Chess patzer has a review on his site of the Euwe book. I have the Pachman book and it's a wonderful book. I hope you have read some beginner strategy books before Pachman.

Thanks! Yes I've been playing since the late 70s so I have some idea. I'm still trying to get better though

Hmm, I can't find it @BpK0! Have you a link please?

https://patzersreview.blogspot.com/2021/09/judgement-and-planning.html?m=1

https://patzersreview.blogspot.com/2021/09/judgement-and-planning.html?m=1

Thank you! That's actually a different book - but it is one I also have on my shelf and I also haven't read it yet!

@IpswichMatt -

I own all of the books you ask about.  Collectively they are very similar in difficulty.  While they are "good" books, they are not "easy" books for lower rated players.  In my view, in terms of difficulty they are appropriate for players rated 1400-1500+ Elo.  Based on your rating I believe they would be challenging for you.  Note Pachman's books are written in the older Descriptive notation, while Euwe's are in the easier Algebraic notation.  However, the notational difference is not the primary source of difficulty - it is the level of the presentation.

The analogy I like to give is that for someone who wishes to embark on the study of mathematics and who has not yet mastered arithmetic, starting out with a book on algebra would simply be an exercise in frustration, if not futility.

If your primary concern is middlegame play (the subject, obviously, of Euwe's books), you might consider the book progression I have suggested in my article....

Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy

Otherwise, for tactics, endgame and opening play, you might checkout out my other blog articles which include book recommendations on those topics...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Thanks @RussBell!

My rating here is the default since I haven't played any games. OTB I was 1700 or so back in 2000, I haven't played competitively since and I'm trying to get back into it.

I'm also fine with both types of notation. I also own these books, but with mine the Euwe books are descriptive since they're first editions.

Ok. 

As I implied, my copy of Euwe's book is in Algebraic notation - published by (Lou) Hays. 

While I continue to stand by my previous comments, since you actually own the books you are in the best position to determine whether the books in question are appropriate for you.  

For example, for all of these books long sequences of chess notation, with no explanation, is the rule rather than the exception.  That is, more often than not it is left to the reader to understand and/or figure out why a given move was made.  If the reader is a beginner-novice or otherwise lacking in knowledge and experience, these books are very likely to be extremely challenging to read and absorb.

Nevertheless, in my view the 1st volume of Euwe's book "The Middlegame - Book One - Static Features" - is very instructive, both in content and in presentation.  I would suggest to start with it.   

Bottom line - IMO all of the books are very "good" and instructive, in terms of the topics and concepts treated.  But they are not easy reads.  The primary issue is the level of difficulty of the presentation versus the assumed prerequisite knowledge and experience of the reader.  

Thanks. Out of interest have you also read "Judgement and Planning in Chess" by Euwe?

My latest thinking is that I'm going to read it next.

I also own that book - in Descriptive notation and published in 1953.   I'll try to give a shorter answer this time. 

Max Euwe's two Middlegame volumes (published originally in 1964) cover much the same ground, and more, than his earlier work "Judgement and Planning in Chess".  My previous comments, in terms of difficulty of presentation (i.e., long sequences of unexplained chess notation), apply even more strongly to this earlier work.  If I had to choose between them, I would prefer Euwe's middlegame books (which I would also prefer over Pachman's works - which could be consulted as supplements, as desired).

Thanks - that's really helpful.