Chess book selection Opinion - Chess Forums

Chess_fanatics

Mar 25, 2018

0

#1

I'm about to complete "My System " And started recently "End course by silman" doing both side by side. Endgame book is going good but I'm confused about middlegame book now. Chess praxis doesn't appeal much as compared to my system . Silman book how to reassess your chess is well above my level and exhausting.Kindly give me opinion about Ameauters mind or any other book you think which help to think chess ideas just like my system . Thanks in advance for your valuable opinions

IMKeto

Mar 25, 2018

0

#2

Opening Principles:
1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
3. Castle
4. Connect your rooks
Tactics…tactics…tactics…

Pre Move Checklist:
1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
2. Look for forcing move: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: “What is my opponent trying to do?”

Middlegame Planning:
1. Expand your position:
a. Gain more space.
b. Improve the position of your pieces.
2. Decide on what side of the board to play.
a. Queenside: a-c files.
b. Center: d-e files.
c. Kingside: f-h files.
Compare, space, material, and weakness(es)
Play where you have the advantage.
3. DO NOT HURRY. Regroup your pieces, and be patient.

Chess_fanatics

Mar 25, 2018

0

#3

What was this? . You shall expect me to know this after completing a chess positional book

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

0

#4

sahilchoudhary0609 wrote:

I'm about to complete "My System " ... I'm confused about middlegame book now. Chess praxis doesn't appeal much as compared to my system ...

One can get some idea of the lasting scope of the respect for My System by looking at:
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Still, it might be noted that My System apparently did not occur to GM Yasser Seirawan as something to include in his list of personal favorites, and Aaron Nimzowitsch was not identified by the GM as a very worthy author.

https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/an-open-letter-to-the-four-time-us-chess-champion-gm-yasser-seirawan

https://www.chess.com/blog/GMYAZ/open-letter-response-user-radovics-letter-to-me

My System has accumulated some direct negative commentary over the years.
"... I found [the books of Aaron Nimzowitsch to be] very difficult to read or understand. ... [Nimzowitsch: A Reappraisal by Raymond Keene explains his] thinking and influence on the modern game in a far more lucid and accessible way. ... The books that are most highly thought of are not necessarily the most useful. Go with those that you find to be readable; ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2010)
In 2016, IM pfren wrote:
"My System is an iconoclastic book. A lot of things in there is sheer provocation, and it does need an expereienced player to know what exactly must be taken at its face value.
I love 'My System', and I have read it cover to cover one dozen times, but suggesting it to a class player is an entirely different matter."
Also: "[Some things] ARE wrong, and it's not easy for a non-advanced player to discover those wrong claims.
Nigel Short has claimed that 'My System' should be banned. Stratos Grivas says that the book is very bad. I don't share their opinion, but I am pretty sure that there are more useful reads for class players out there."
Although he is a fan of My System, IM John Watson similarly acknowledged (2013) that:
"... Not everything in it has stood the test of time, ..."
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-108-of-eplus-books-part-2-nimzowitsch-classics
One last point to keep in mind is that, even if My System would eventually help a player, it might not necessarily be helpful to a player now.
"... Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development. ..." - Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
For those who have never seen it, a My System sample can be seen at:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/MySystem-excerpt.pdf

A Chess Praxis sample can be seen at:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/ChessPraxis-excerpt.pdf

Various samples:

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9027.pdf

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

0

#5

sahilchoudhary0609 wrote:

... Silman book how to reassess your chess is well above my level and exhausting. ...

"How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th Edition was designed for players in the 1400 to 2100 range." - IM Jeremy Silman (2010)

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

0

#6

sahilchoudhary0609 wrote:

... Kindly give me opinion about Ameauters mind ...

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094419/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ammind.pdf

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

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#7

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

0

#8

FishEyedFools wrote:

Ope ...

Feeling blue?

tipish

Mar 25, 2018

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#9

simple chess by Michael Stean?

kindaspongey

Mar 25, 2018

0

#10

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

Mar 25, 2018

0

#11

The best one is this one: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Chess-Lyudmil-Tsvetkov-ebook/dp/B074M85CVV/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1522013509&sr=1-2&dpID=41Yt4-vobwL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You can read free excerpts here: www.secretofchess.com

The most extensive chess pattern collection ever.

GM_chess_player

Mar 25, 2018

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#12

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

You say you are the best chess player?

I bet not.

You haven't even played a single game. So enough with the lies. I've had enough of that nonsense.

GM_chess_player

Mar 25, 2018

0

#13

You could lose to Magnus 100-0

Or Hikaru 50-0

Rat1960

Mar 25, 2018

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#14

The Art of the Middle Game by Paul Keres / Kotov
You cannot go wrong with Russian books if the translator is half-way decent

LouStule

Mar 25, 2018

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#15

Is “Simple Chess” a good book?

blueemu

Mar 25, 2018

0

#16

I also liked My System much more than Chess Praxis.

One book that I must recommend is Pawn Power in Chess by Kmoch.

Note that opinion is sharply divided on the value of Kmoch's book. I think he's a genius.

IMKeto

Mar 25, 2018

0

#17

kindaspongey wrote:

FishEyedFools wrote:

Ope ...

Feeling blue?

Its the Dodger fan in me :-)

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

Mar 25, 2018

0

#18

GMchess_player wrote:

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

You say you are the best chess player?

I bet not.

You haven't even played a single game. So enough with the lies. I've had enough of that nonsense.

Is not it possible that I post a single message and someone does not accuse me of lying?

The guy was interested in good positional books and 'The Secret of Chess' has the widest available pattern selection.

It has more than 300 main terms, more than a thousand, if you take the subterms into account.

Is that a lie?

It is the simple truth, just look at the TOC.

I have been 2200 OTB 12 years ago, I could very well be 2500 now, without having competed.

It is you who is obfuscated, not me.

But can not people really lead a meaningful discussion?

Say what is wrong with this book, what other books are useful for pattern recognition and why, instead of levelling endless and fully meaningless accusations.

If anyone is lying, that would be you, not me, as your accusations lack substance.

If 1 GM and 2 IMs say the book is worth it, then this must be the case.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

Mar 25, 2018

0

#19

GMchess_player wrote:

You could lose to Magnus 100-0

Or Hikaru 50-0

I have enough of agressive people too.

Hardly so, anyone will draw at least a couple of games against those.

CharlieBaileygate

Mar 25, 2018

0

#20

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov wrote:

GMchess_player wrote:

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

You say you are the best chess player?

I bet not.

You haven't even played a single game. So enough with the lies. I've had enough of that nonsense.

Is not it possible that I post a single message and someone does not accuse me of lying?

The guy was interested in good positional books and 'The Secret of Chess' has the widest available pattern selection.

It has more than 300 main terms, more than a thousand, if you take the subterms into account.

Is that a lie?

It is the simple truth, just look at the TOC.

I have been 2200 OTB 12 years ago, I could very well be 2500 now, without having competed.

It is you who is obfuscated, not me.

But can not people really lead a meaningful discussion?

Say what is wrong with this book, what other books are useful for pattern recognition and why, instead of levelling endless and fully meaningless accusations.

If anyone is lying, that would be you, not me, as your accusations lack substance.

If 1 GM and 2 IMs say the book is worth it, then this must be the case.

Please just leave chess.com. Stop with the shameful self promotion as well please.