My coach does not like Jeremy Silman...

Isnt that stating the obvious, that imbalances will only take you so far?  Just like openings will only take you so far, just like K+P endings will only take you so far, just like weak pawns/weak squares will only take  you so far.

Yes it is...and that's what you get more of in Silman's book than other educational books. It's his baby and he rides it for all it's worth.

I think I'll give Silman's "Reassess . . ." a try. I'm hoping it'll give me just that little bit of a nudge in positional insight to get me past my current hump.

And if it doesn't, that's okay, too. The world won't end if it doesn't. :D

You do that...it's a perfectly good book for someone of your level...or what it sounds like your level may be. I have #1, #2 and #4.

In the preface to #4 Silman says that "As my ideas changed, expanded, and matured, and I improved each subsequent eidition with new material that reflected this shift in perspective. This growing process continued and it became clear  to me that a vast overhaul in my chess teaching philosophy necessitated a final edition"

That's an interesting way to put it. It essentially says that he has realized that he...kept missing the mark.

He reiterates in the preface that he..."tossed out anything and everything that I felt distracted from the book's real purpose: mastering the imbalances and allowing them go guide you to the correct plans and moves in most positions"

A one trick pony...but it's a pretty decent trick.

Youre missing the point, but im not going to get caught up in an online debate.

I spend a lot of time on this site so I guess I'm accustomed to it but this thread has to be the nerdiest thing I've ever read lol. Can't believe it's still going

The worst part for me is that I've not read a single one of the books mentioned.. Maybe I'm masochistic haha

Yeah, chess mentor got me to 3200+ in just a few months, crazy how people still think they need books eh?

Yeah I'm just kidding haha. I own a whopping 3 books on chess but I've not opened them in a while. I don't much enjoy studying chess just to improve so if I get bored, I stop

... One has to put forth more effort...

...he's for weak players. ...

... by 'weak', I essentially mean people who have not achieved...oh, lets say a title, like maybe IM or GM. ...

I suspect that while "analysing" the game he was busy milking an unsuspected pupil via skype.

And if you havent, then so be it.  I have flipped through his books and they seem like thye can help players get better.  I have gone through a big portion of his endgame book, and really like it.  I liek his honesty as to why he doesnt include how to mate with a B+N.

I already posted here what really improved my game.  Those crazy Igor Smirnov courses, then chess mentor, and tactics trainer.

You mean this?

https://www.ichess.net/shop/grandmaster-secrets-igor-smirnov/

Yep...thats one of them.

You do that...it's a perfectly good book for someone of your level...or what it sounds like your level may be. I have #1, #2 and #4.

In the preface to #4 Silman says that "As my ideas changed, expanded, and matured, and I improved each subsequent eidition with new material that reflected this shift in perspective. This growing process continued and it became clear  to me that a vast overhaul in my chess teaching philosophy necessitated a final edition"

That's an interesting way to put it. It essentially says that he has realized that he...kept missing the mark.

He reiterates in the preface that he..."tossed out anything and everything that I felt distracted from the book's real purpose: mastering the imbalances and allowing them go guide you to the correct plans and moves in most positions"

A one trick pony...but it's a pretty decent trick.