Would You Recommend How to Reassess Your Chess by Silman?

Working hard reaps most benefits, no doubt about that. But we are talking here about a book being easy vs difficult to read. Making a book harder to read doesn't automatically translate to an increase in benefit, because there comes a point where the reader gives up trying to understand what the author is trying to convey. Should I be reading those (allegedly) excellent chess books in Russian? Sure, it will be difficult work, because I will need to learn some Russian, but that means I will learn the most from doing so, right?  No, I think the best teaching books are ones that are easy to read in addition to presenting the right material in the right way. (Obviously, what makes for an easy read and what is "right" depends to some extent on the reader.)

OK, obviously this is a tactical puzzle of some sorts.  My guess is a mate in 2...

I understand your point. I wouldn't go as far as to read a book in a language not native to my own, but there are some books that are, in fact, excellent -- The Art of Attack in Chess to name one -- that are pretty difficult to read. The point is it's dense with variations and he can't explain them all. Dense equals ugly, but the truth is, working through the ugliness is what will really help you. If you can understand the ten variations that cover a single page, you might learn more than 30 pages of "soft" prose.

In a way it makes sense: chess is a complicated game, so you have to expose yourself to complicated stuff in order to play such a complex game well.

Some of the best books I have are written by Andrew Soltis, probably one of the most prolific American writers. His "Pawn Structure Chess" and "Turning Advantage into Victory" are classics, in my opinion. He was the US Champ sometime in the 70s I believe, and wrote a lot of lightweight (by today's standards) opening pamphlets, but also some really good titles such as the above.  He has a straightfoward style and is actually a good writer, which I appreciate.  He also kept fairly active in tournaments for several years.  " Turning Advantage into Victory" is a textbook with lots of quizzes on various aspects of chess technique, which is essential to be a consistent player.  In other words, how to bring home the point when you have what should be a winning advantage. Mostly aimed at 2000 plus players.

Oh, 10 was just an example. By variations I don't mean there are 10 alternatives on one move . But maybe there are 3 candidate moves, and each of those have two or three alternatives somewhere in the variation, and then those have a few "trap" variations etc. That can typically multiply to around 10 depending on the book.

Just study "the facts of chess", then you can come up with your own opinions.

1. I love the study of positional chess, and have a few books on the subject, as well as books and DVD's on opening theory, which I also enjoy. The FCO - Fundamental Chess Openings is my current favorite, because the author, GM Paul van der Sterren has a great writing style and makes the study of openings interesting.

My two favorite books on positional chess are The Elements of Positional Evaluation by Dan Heisman and My System by Aron Nimzowitsch - New Translation, published by Quality Chess. Get the one published by Quality Chess. All other publications are not worth having, and I have one of them.

But, reading these books did not increase my rating. My rating only took a jump after a study of tactics and checkmates.

Endgame study helps at my level

If I ever reach Class C, I doubt that my study of opening theory and positional chess will help. However, endgame study works!

Silman's Complete Endgame Course helps a lot at my level, and I've gone through part one, endgames for beginners (unrated-999) and part two, engames for Class E (1000-1199). There is a ton of material for Class D, and Class C has the most material in the entire book. It's crazy long and hard. Silman made it that way for a reason, "this rating group represents the average tournament player" and "because a quantum leap in endgame understanding is necessary if one wishes to be a solid class 'C' player who has aspirations for advancement".

2. You don't need to know positional chess to win at my level, because tactics are always present. I usually have the better position out of the opening, with a solid lead in development and good center control. But my lead in development and center control does not decide games. It always comes down to a tactic.

Well, every positional build-up needs to be culminated tactically, unless the opponent voluntarily collapses completely (which at lower levels like mine is not so uncommon), and from there you usually have to grind your advantage with proper endgame technique -- oftentimes you only win a pawn from a strong position. There are no real exceptions to this. Even the most hideous isolated pawns can often be defended directly -- you attack it four times, he defends it four times. The method to actually beating an opponent with an isolated pawn is often taking advantage of the awkwardness in the opponent's setup -- one that may allow a tactic -- but you have to find that tactical way. Otherwise, you will never make progress as you certainly can't capture the pawn directly.

Considering that you can be dominated for 40 moves but eventually capitalize on a blunder or two from the opponent, Tactics are just so much more fundamental. I learned the hard way, losing many won positions -- I didn't learn this from Silman's books but instead with lost points.

Instead of How to... I would recommend Search for Chess Perfection by Purdy, the first world correspondence champion.I thought it was much better.

You are right about that there are just too many chess books out there now so the older titles are out of print and almost forgotten.  I did have to pay $40  to get "Turning Advantage into Victory" after someone stole the copy from the local library.  The publishers just want to sell books on a mass scale, the quality is often secondary nowdays.  I wonder if you can still buy chess books from Dover, which at one time was the major source? Lots of great game collections written in the old style- usually English style notation.

Sadly, I couldn't find a source online that didn't cost an arm and a leg.  I will just have to keep an eye open for it in the used bookstores.

These re great books also.

Has anyone commented on the HTRYC 4th edition?  This has computer-checked examples, numerous pearls, and best of all, lots of practice questions/positions with computer-checked answers (this is absolutely essential and few strategy books have this).  People may hate Silman for many reasons but what about the content of his MOST RECENT edition of HTRYC.  I am not pro or anti Silman...I just hear people say things negative about him kind of like when one says "I only like their old stuff" regarding Led Zeppelin, Boston, The Eagles or whoever...

Errors in analysis in his old editions shouldn't count too much against him when evaluated by computer analysis that can beat any superGM today.  Silman is an IM and he is showing you how he approaches a position in his books.  Otherwise, you could fault any non-GM coach/author for not being "perfect" when they try to show you something (except tactics and endgames).   

I still believe books are overrated and overemphasized. Pardon the rather weak analogy, but you don't learn how to ride a bicycle by reading a book. There are many chess players with a wealth of knowledge that don't play particularly well. Books have their purpose and can be very enjoyable, but the best way to improve is not reading per se, but playing, practicing, and analyzing (with tournament like conditions). There is a subtle but extremely important difference between practical skills and knowledge. Books can only indirectly effect things like fighting spirit and concentration.

The classic works of literature are usually cheap at the used bookstore because they have been reprinted in such huge numbers.  By your logic, all the great novels are crap because they can be bought cheaply.

I am dead sure you are right. Books can still play a useful role - e.g. Dan Heisman's A Guide to Chess Improvement: Best of Novice Nook has a lot of valuable stuff about exactly the things you mentioned: playing, practicing and analysing - but have limited value by themselves in developing chess skills.

For my own part, I get a great deal of pleasure reading chess books quite independent of playing.

Price is a complex relationship between demand and supply. Soltis's books are expensive because there is a very limited supply, not because the demand is high. If the demand was higher, for example in the thousands like Silman (a guess), then the book would be reprinted. 

Well, I must admit that I made a move recently in a Turn-based game here based on my understanding of a positional concept - space. My pieces now enjoy greater mobility and my opponent's position is cramped.

I don't know what to say. Will the outcome of this game be decided by what I did in the early stages, or will it be decided as usual, for example, by one of us missing a tactic, like a discovered attack? It will be interesting to see how it turns out in the end.

I have the Black pieces and have the advantage, by my own assessment, not by a chess engine, so I could be wrong. I can't check with a chess engine until the game is over.

Like I said before, I study positional chess, but I have yet to see it make a difference in my Live Chess rating. It may make a difference in my Turn-based rating, as I have much more time to analyze a position, looking at the elements of space, time, mobility, etc.

The study of tactics made a significant change in my Live Chess Blitz rating, from  800 to 1000.