How important is "My System"? - Chess Forums - Page 3

Andnar · 2015-07-05T16:00:14-07:00

I am rated 2200 USCF, and I have never read "My System" - is it still worthwhile to read? I've read that 9/10 Grandmasters have read this book, and that it is really good- but I don't know if it is still beneficial for me since I have already gone up a lot. Any feedback welcome, I

penandpaper0089

Sep 24, 2017

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#41

aschess77 wrote:

i do not care if seirawan dont like...mark dvorestsky like,and he is much more great than seirawan...is is a fact!

Dvoretsky was a great trainer but Seirawan is a GM and was the US #1 at one time.

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#42

BobbyTalparov wrote:

Having read both "My System" and "Lasker's Manual of Chess", I found the latter to be far superior, and much less dogmatic. Bear in mind that "My System" was mainly written as an insult to Tarrasch, and if you read it knowing that, it makes much more sense, but does not increase its instructional value.

Really, that's interesting. At the risk of sounding uneducated, I actually hadn't heard of Lasker's manual before I'll have to go check it out. Most of my reading so far has been post computer era

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#43

penandpaper0089 wrote:

aschess77 wrote:

i do not care if seirawan dont like...mark dvorestsky like,and he is much more great than seirawan...is is a fact!

Dvoretsky was a great trainer but Seirawan is a GM and was the US #1 at one time.

I think at this point I should probably just go back over it myself. At the time of its publication there were very strong opinions on My System, and I think it's telling how people still feel very strongly one way or the other about that book- Nimzowitsch was a genius, no doubt.

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#44

BBasamanowicz wrote:

Thank you -- I dove into My System a few weeks ago -- spent a few hours haven't gotten very far . Fun book, sometimes difficult to understand the writing . Very direct (sometimes too direct ) but disciplined style of writing . I feel the German matter of fact-ness and efficiency. He doesn't really coddle the reader too much, but if I concentrate I can usually follow the discussion.

I follow along using the sample set up board (fishbone engine??) at chess.com . Sometimes I'll go off on my own little experiments and use the computer to help evaluate ideas . It really slows down the progression of the book lol. Meanwhile also working my way through Silman's Complete Endgame Course.

Silman's Endgame Course is an excellent book- I would recommend it to anyone. There's one position I liked a lot out of My System, I don't remember if this was the exact position but it was something like this

White to play and win

EDIT: one pawn ruined the old puzzle, had to change

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#45

Derekjj wrote:

sparxs wrote:

The algebraic version is available as a free pdf file. Have a look before buying it, if it tackles your fancy.

There is no free pdf. You have to buy the book

What's the point of buying the book if Nimzowitsch is already dead? I don't understand this line of thinking when it comes to deceased individuals.

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#46

DeirdreSkye wrote:

CoachGunnar wrote:

Derekjj wrote:

sparxs wrote:

The algebraic version is available as a free pdf file. Have a look before buying it, if it tackles your fancy.

There is no free pdf. You have to buy the book

What's the point of buying the book if Nimzowitsch is already dead? I don't understand this line of thinking when it comes to deceased individuals.

Nimzowitch is dead but the publisher alive and kicking.

Oh okay, the book is also in a way the book of the publisher who has printed and translated his works as well- that makes sense. At the time of posting this thread, I had purchased My System roughly 3 years prior.

kindaspongey

Sep 24, 2017

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#47

Derekjj wrote:

... I can't find the thread where he mentioned [My System], ...

See post #6 in this thread for some quotes of IM pfren.

kindaspongey

Sep 24, 2017

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#48

CoachGunnar wrote:

... At the risk of sounding uneducated, I actually hadn't heard of Lasker's manual before ... Most of my reading so far has been post computer era

A review of Lasker's Manual of Chess:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104828/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review658.pdf

FM Andnar

Sep 24, 2017

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#49

kindaspongey wrote:

CoachGunnar wrote:

BobbyTalparov wrote:

Having read both "My System" and "Lasker's Manual of Chess", I found the latter to be far superior, and much less dogmatic. Bear in mind that "My System" was mainly written as an insult to Tarrasch, and if you read it knowing that, it makes much more sense, but does not increase its instructional value.

Really, that's interesting. At the risk of sounding uneducated, I actually hadn't heard of Lasker's manual before I'll have to go check it out. Most of my reading so far has been post computer era

A review of Lasker's Manual of Chess:
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104828/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review658.pdf

Cool, thanks. I'll give it a look one of these days, currently reading Shershevsky's "Strategic Endgame" as well as "Collection of Chess Studies" by Troitzky (for tactics)- so quite busy at the moment.

kindaspongey

Sep 24, 2017

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#50

Derekjj wrote:

sparxs wrote:

The algebraic version is available as a free pdf file. Have a look before buying it, if it tackles your fancy.

There is no free pdf. You have to buy the book

A My System sample can be seen at:
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/MySystem-excerpt.pdf

kindaspongey

Sep 24, 2017

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#51

BarronBrowne wrote:

aschess77 wrote:

another book i want read is ZURICH INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT 1953 by David Bronstein...but do not have this book

the tournament book by nadjorf is considered better by many, but yes, i enjoyed the bronstein version. keep in mind that the analysis is pre-computer, which means long variations are occasionally just wrong.

"... I began doing interviews of chess players and personalities on my ICC/ChessFM online radio show, ... one of my questions was always: 'What are your favourite chess books?', ... Zurich 1953 was often one of their choices. Most of the time this referred to Bronstein's book ... but surprisingly often, my guests ... would ... explain that they weren't referring to Bronstein's work, but rather to Miguel Najdorf's 1954 book ... [As an aside, I should mention that two guests referred to yet a third book about this event as a favourite: Euwe's Schach-Elite im Kampf, written in Dutch] ... Frequently, ... the reader [of Bronstein's book] is given an unrealistic and often simplistic view which neglects the richness of positions, and passes over important turning points. ..." - IM John Watson (2013)
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-106-zurich-1953-by-najdorf

"... [Bronstein's] incredible annotations ..."
http://exeterchessclub.org.uk/content/review-zurich-1953-bronstein

"... ONE SINGLE PAGE of [Bronstein's Zurich 1953 book] is worth more than everything Watson has ever written. Especially the last Watson works, ..." - IM pfren (May 10, 2016)

aschess77

Sep 24, 2017

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#52

yeah,i am learn a lot :)

abhayszambare

Sep 24, 2017

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#53

ya you can use it

.

MorphyChess

Sep 24, 2017

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#54

Aaron Nimzovitsch's My System is among the best produced works on chess that can take a beginner from his level of tactical knowledge to getting exposed to strategies in chess.

----

Online chess coaching offered from beginner level onwards. Contact squares64@gmail.com or ph +91 9176195928 or Skype "chessplayer2014"

torrubirubi

Sep 24, 2017

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#55

I don't like chapter one, but from chapter two on the book is very useful for me. I am reading the digital version of Forward Chess. I guess everybody below GM level would learn from it, but you have to accept his humour, analogies, and old fashioned style (which is even more difficult to digest in the German editions). As a weak player I got already more skilful on the use of open lines and the use of rooks just from reading chapter two. A digital version is helpful to save time.

chessletsplayer

Sep 25, 2017

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#56

The best System is the London SYSTEM!!!!!!

Leole

Oct 6, 2017

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#57

My System becomes a good book only if you read it with the right attitude. I, personally, tried hard to forget much of I heard in this book.

I think this book's concept is just too extreme and dogmatic: one cannot explain a game with theories. Chess laws are there to be broken. However, when reading the book if your goal is to challenge Nimzowitsch, then you can learn a lot from the book: Nimzowitsch is a very very strong practical player. You will be able to distinguish dogmatic explanation and real wisdom in the book.

And also, it will be much better to read this book together with Chess Praxis, and after you have read the text and analyzed the game carefully, turn on your computer to check both your and the author's conclusion.

Leole

Oct 6, 2017

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#58

So all in all, a very good book but one must read it with great caution!

torrubirubi

Oct 8, 2017

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#59

After working with some chapter I began to change positively my concepts on the importance of passed pawns, outposts and rooks on open lines and 7th rank. If the book is good enough for uncountable strong players, IMs, GMs and super GMs, it is good enough for me 😎

kindaspongey

Oct 8, 2017

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#60

"... 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
A My System sample can be seen at:
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/MySystem-excerpt.pdf