Understanding Chess Middlegames

The Seventh Rank

The first example of good use of the seventh rank is a rapid game won by Alexei Shirov in Warsaw 2008:

Here's the same game with computer analysis:

The second example is Dmitry Svetuskin vs Vladimir Baklan in 2009

Outposts

The first example is Leko - Navara, Dresden Olympiad 2008

The second example is Kasimdzhanov - Megaranto, also at Dresden Olympiad 2008

The Dominant Knight

Nunn says it can be worth sacrificing material in order to get a knight onto the sixth rank. We see an example of this in the game by Sergei Azarov and the book studies the moves from starting with move 24:

Azarov - B.Socko, Ostrava 2009

Nunn says "A stable knight outpost on the fifth rank may not be as devastating as one on the sixth, but its still a major asset"

As an example it looks at moves 18 onwards in this game:

Svidler - E.Berg, European Clubs Cup, Plovdiv 2010

Misplaced Piece

"One Badly Placed Piece can sink an entire position"

Malakhatko - Ovechkin, Vornezh 2008

This game is shown from the first move.

Grishchuk - Gelfand, Nalchik 2009

Looking at move 18 onwards:

I don't have this Nunn book, but neither the games, explanation or themes look very beginner level. Thanks for posting. 

I have heard 1700+ level. It is difficult for beginners but not completely insurmountable for players over 1000 level.

A couple of middlegame books that are useful to read first are Pandolfini's Weapons of Chess, and Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Strategies.

Both of those books are simple enough for beginners to understand and also contain advice useful to intermediate players.

Didn't know that one... Looks dense.

I like Nunn's books. The only trouble is that they all basically have the same title. Someone should tell him...

I know you posted that 1st post a long time ago, but, oof, you're lucky you didn't get Grandmaster Preparation: Strategic Play by Aagaard. That's an extremely difficult book meant for very strong players. He's not joking around with the beginning part of the title with that book. "Grandmaster Preparation: positional play" is the only 'easier' one and is my favourite book. My worst decision ever was to get that as paperback...Fantastic series, but very advanced.

Based on my experience I'd say first one or two years of chess experience stick with beginner level middlegame books like Pandolfini's Weapons of Chess, and Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Strategies.

Then spend several months going over Nunn's book. Only think about Aagaard books after Nunn's advice is fully understood and practiced in your own games. 

I will be posting more games from this Nunn book over the next several months.

I guess I don't need to buy the book since you guys went over every chapter and verse

I think Aagaard himself recommends reading "Thinking inside the box" first, which actually was last of series to comeout. It gives a rundown of whole series, and it gives idea areas need to work on first.  It is not exactly easy either though, and probably I would do better working on Yusopov one first. It more appriopriate for my level.

No, I respect Nunn's copyright. There is plenty more to the book than what I post here. I just post the games as they happened, not the analysis.

Good and Bad Bishops

Looking at move 15 onwards:

Elianov - Malakhov, World Cup 2009

Nijboer - Yakovenko, Spanish Team Championship 2008

To be found

When a Bad Bishop is Good

FIDE Grand Prix 2010

Looking at the position at move 25 onwards

Kuzubov - Ulybin, Trieste 2010

To be found

In John Nunn's own words:

John shows a game illustrating the common mistake "underestimating an attack", Hamdouchi v Zhigalko, Spanish Team Championship 2010, a Sicilian Najdorf game.

Arguably it is too advanced for me, but at 2100 rapid level it's certainly not too advanced for you.

Quite a few of the games are analysised in other books, especially the more modern games are treated in even more complicated fashion than Nunn. Will have to consider getting this one, have Nunn's earlier Middlegame books, were definitely pitched at level club player could understand.

In due course (likely 2023) I will post the rest of the games from this book. However I will not be including Nunn's analysis, as you need the book for that.