Hypermodern Chess: As Developed in the Games of Its Greatest Exponent, Aron Nimzovich [Paperback]

Fred Reinfeld (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1958

58 games, profoundly annotated, reveal how Nimzovich applied his own revolutionary principles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; annotated edition edition (June 1, 1958)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486204480
• ISBN-13: 978-0486204482
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nimzovich the Dramatic, February 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Hypermodern Chess: As Developed in the Games of Its Greatest Exponent, Aron Nimzovich (Paperback)

I give this book a 4 star for anyone who wants to be introduced to Nimzovich. What I like best about the book is that Reinfeld introduces Nimzovich not simply as a grandmaster, but also as an artist. What kind of artist was he? The majestic flowing, classical beauty ala Rubinstein wasn't his. Dramatic is the keyword. His temperment was stormier and more impulsive, more Beethovenian, if you will. He loves to "build", to gather the stormy clouds. That is why his games are seldom short.
Yet Reinfeld wrote in the introduction he wanted "short, sharp, witty encounters which make their point in an unforgettably drastic manner." He mainly avoids the games in My System and when he doesn't he seeks to vary the notes and viewpoint.

What kind of chess player was Nimzovich? A cross between Steinitz and Chigorin. The former because of he prefered cramped positions and difficult defensive games. The latter because of his boldness, imagination and love of knights. Nimvozich subtle handling of knights is enchanting. Other expertise goes with it. His mastery of blockage, subtle details of pawn formations, weak color complexes and evolving powerful attacks from cramped positions. Another favorite quality of Nimzovich, to quote Reinfeld, is" his uncanny ability to infuse tension, uncertainty and ambiguity into postions which were inherently colorless." Not a bad compliment from a big Alekhine fan!

This, of course, is not chess suited for everyone. That is why I recommend this book to the average player who wants to know Nimzovich and learn something from him but knows they aren't going to play like him. It is not [pricey] and he is a figure which no serious student ignores. As a personal note, for those who, like myself, like knights at least as much as bishop, this book is for you!

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor attempt at describing Nimzowitsch, January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hypermodern Chess: As Developed in the Games of Its Greatest Exponent, Aron Nimzovich (Paperback)

Fred Reinfeld wrote A LOT of chess books. For this he was roundly condemned in many quarters. I have not held to that view: have found his writing to be articulate and, at times, quite sparkling. In this book however he drops the ball. He really does not understand Nimzowitsch, and relies on rehashes of familiar games. You cannot do better than Nimzo's own books - Blockade, My System and Chess Praxis. The only modern author who got to the real core of Nimzo was R D Keene in Nimzowitsch:A Reappraisal.