Did Nimzo ever authored a book under that title? I strongly doubt it...
My System, sorry.
My System is definitely worth reading.
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
What do you recommend?
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
About time someone says it. Although a historically important text, I think there are many other better chess books for learning positional nuances and pawn structure planning/ideas than My System.
"... I found [Nimzowitsch's] own books very difficult to read or understand. ... [Nimzowitsch: A Reappraisal by Raymond Keene] explain's Nimzowitsch's 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)
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
What do you recommend?
Reti's "Masters of the Chessboard" is an ideal start to serious study.
Masters of the Chessboard by Richard Reti
http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2012/4/1/book-notice-richard-retis-masters-of-the-chessboard.html
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
These are the contents of My System.
[PART 1 - THE ELEMENTS PAGE
CHAPTER 1. ON THE CENTER AND DEVELOPMENT 1
CHAPTER 2. ON OPEN FILES 13
CHAPTER 3. THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH RANKS 23
CHAPTER 4. THE PASSED PAWN 31
CHAPTER 5. ON EXCHANGING 53
CHAPTER 6. ELEMENTS OF ENDGAME STRATEGY 57
CHAPTER 7. THE PIN 69
CHAPTER 8. DISCOVERED CHECK 81
CHAPTER 9. THE PAWN CHAIN 87
PART 2 - POSITIONAL PLAY
CHAPTER 10. POSITIONAL PLAY AND THE CENTER 103
CHAPTER 11. THE DOUBLED PAWN AND RESTRAINT 121
CHAPTER 12. THE ISOLATED d-PAWN AND ITS DESCENDANTS 137
CHAPTER 13. THE TWO BISHOPS 147
CHAPTER 14. OVERPROTECTION 153
CHAPTER 15. MANEUVERING AGAINST WEAKNESSES 159]
When you say "others are plain wrong" - can you name just one of "Others"? Just one would be enough.
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
HAHAHAHHAAHHAHHAAHA
Post #95 [in the LOL at the Sicilian thread] You say Mr. Reynolds is selling something.
Well it is far better to be a sales man than a shoveler.
You are trying to shovel nonsense down peoples throat.
Advicing people to not read a Fine Classical piece of chess literature.
Shame on you!
Advicing people to not read a Fine Classical piece of chess literature.
Shame on you!
I have my copy of My System right besides my toilet - just in case.
I found "my system" to be borderline unreadable. but do be sure to read Watson's "modern chess strategy" after, it's a real gem.
"... Not everything in [My System] has stood the test of time, but even that is a reason to read this masterpiece. ..." - IM John Watson (2013)
http://www.theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-108-of-eplus-books-part-2-nimzowitsch-classics
You are trying to shovel nonsense down peoples throat.
Advicing people to not read a Fine Classical piece of chess literature.
Shame on you!
Several Senior Trainers, e.g. Grivas, are way more dismissive than I am of the book. I am no Senior Trainer yet, so I guess it comes with time...
Nigel Short says My System is rubbish. Sometimes boldly, some other times "subtly":
My System is not exactly fun, is it?
(a recent tweet of his).
For the record, Short is also a very fine trainer, I guess a wee bit better than mr. Reynolds... Pentala Harikrishna is his most reknown pupil.
On the other hand I’ve never liked Nimzovitsch's My System that much, finding it to be a tough read and rather convoluted in its thinking.
(GM and Chess Author Nigel Davies)
GM Spraggett claims in his blog that Davies is rather too keen on Nimzo, and the book is way too convoluted.
And so it goes...
Now- may I ask you who are you to put others in shame, mr. Grandpatzer?
My System is interesting, provocative and outdated. Some of the things in it are classical wisdom, while some others are plain wrong.
I'd rather advice you reading something else instead, especially if you take everything at face value.
If you have some time Pfren, I would be interested in which parts you think are wrong. I suppose Nimzo's idea that you should only attack the base of the pawn chain.(eg c5 in the French as opposed to f6) might be on the list.
Many years ago I worked through My System. I found it required a disciplined approach and was hard work. I have heard that the English translation doesn't do the original justice.
I suppose many teaching books have flaws because they deal with general ideas when IMHO excellent chess requires exceptional thinking. When I first studied "Logical Chess" by Chernev I greatly improved, but for years wouldn't move my pawns forward from the castled postion to "kick" a piece since I had learnt from Chernev this invited piece sacrifices - the antidote to this was of course analysing the position. I don't know about anyone else but my major chess weakness is laziness in analysing. I want to play the game armed with a lot of patterns, strategies and rules etc and often fail to analyse the position properly.
Watson's book "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" discussed various topics of "My System".
I have three copies of "My System" in my library. One of them is priceless, I bought it in a Rusian old bookstore for quite some $$ thirty years ago. It's the first Russian edition (1930) printed in 10,000 copies, and authored by Maizelis. A rare copy, that is, which becomes more precious due to erratic page binding.
But leaving archival purposes aside, it's not hard to find something more useful to read...
There are other classics, e.g. Pachman's "Complete Chess Strategy" which are still a terrific read.
NIgel "the womanizer" Short not liking a book is quite an accolade. The guy's a complete goof. I suppose "trainers" like Nigel Short and Grivas dislike My System for the same reason I like it, it makes their services unnecessary.
GM Alexander Grischuk, who is the best French Advance player in the world with the White pieces, said that Nimzowitsch influenced him the most of any player and that he had intensely studied his books. Results speak for themselves. My System was also top of John Watson's list when asked about his favorite chess books.
So let's see, whose opinion carries more weight, GM Grischuk who is frequently in the top ten players in the world for any given month, or forum troll Pfren who spends his days smoking cigarettes and calling users "patzers" on chess.com. Pfren, by smoking cigarettes you've illustrated to us that you make horrendous decisions, and your decisions about chess books are continuing in this trend.
Have you applied for tobacco police? I guess you would make a bright career.
Wannabe trainer Short (never was a good player as well, the most he could achieve was playing a WC final) had the aforementioned 2700+ GM as a pupil, and Grivas, many- last one being the former World Junior Champion Alexander Ipatov. I guess both are not good enough for talents like you...
Or- may I ask what YOU are smoking?
Did Nimzo ever authored a book under that title? I strongly doubt it...