Customer Reviews

Modern Chess Strategy

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First, to correct another review; this book was written in 1950, not the 1920s. Lasker's first strategy book, entitled "Chess Strategy" was written before World War I. The present book is an update of that timeless classic. If you have and love the first one, you still need this newer book. Lasker made corrections (rather, improvements) from the original, and he added new sections on more modern openings, such as the Indian Defenses, and there is a section on the Sicilian too, which was not in the original. Plus, there are 20 new annoated illustrative games, covering 60 pages. To this day, I have found no one who annotates a game for the intermediate player more beautifully than Edward Lasker. The only writer I can compare him too for instructional value is Jeremy Silman. Each has a unique and rare gift of being able to translate chess into ideas that are understandable to the average player. There are many chess players out there who do not know what a great and important chess writer Lasker was. His works are essential parts of my collection.

Even if you don't know the first thing about chess, this book can help you learn the fundamentals behind chess strategy and become a good player within a short period of time. The book is profusely illustrated with hundreds of diagrams and annotated games.

The author uses a clear and conversational style to clarify problems that may seem difficult or confusing for the beginner or casual player. This book is an update of a previous work by Lasker (Chess strategy) that was consider the "Chess Bible" when published many years ago.

The book is organized in two parts and five chapters as follows:

PART I - FUNDAMENTALS
- The rules of the Game.
- Elementary end-games.
- Fundamental middle-game combinations.
PART II - PRINCIPLES OF CHESS STRATEGY
- The openings.
- Middle-game and End-game.

Although an older book's claim to being "Modern" can be disputed, Modern Chess Strategy remains current because of its emphasis on ideas and principles. Using lucid prose and numerous diagrams, Lasker - a strong international master-level player in his day - teaches the newcomer the basic principles of opening development, combinations, and endgame principles. What I particularly like is the author's no nonsense approach: he doesn't dumb down nor does he attempt to overwhelm with variations. One shouldn't be put off by the book's age (I think it was written in the 1920s): You're getting first-rate, world-class instruction for a bargain-basement price.

"Modern Chess Strategy" is actually a complete rewriting of Edward Lasker's perennial classic "Chess Strategy", originally published in 1915. I suspect the author was asked by the publisher to write a new book, since the original is no longer protected by copyright. Indeed, there is a graphical e-book edition of the original "Chess Strategy", newly typeset, with modern diagrams, available as a free 1 MB download in .pdf file format, on Chesszone, and other sites (but not Gutenberg).

In recent years, the editors at David McKay (chess) division of Random House, have received poor marks for some of their chess publishings. "Modern Chess Strategy" is a case in point. It is flawed by textual errors, particularly within some variational lines. The layouts are rushed, with diagrams, for example, appearing at inappropriate points in the text, and widowed lines of text occurring under diagrams at the page bottom, leaving such lines easy to miss. But lackluster production is the least of this book's problems.

"Modern Chess Strategy" strikes me as work-for-hire, especially when compared to the original classic which was especially remarkable for its clarity and intimacy. Sadly, this new book lacks these qualities. The original's sharp focus and overall plan are noticeably absent as well, which left this reader puzzling over some passages, and flipping pages back-and-forth in an effort to comprehend.

This new book, we are told, is supposed to be an introductory text, covering the same ground as the original "Chess Strategy". Additionally, the new book sets out to include information not found in the original. I.e. it attempts to cover "modern" opening theory, whose ideas were first revealed to the chess world, in the early 20th century, by the so-called "hypermodern" school of Nimzowitsch, Reti, Breyer, and Alekhine.

When the earlier "Chess Strategy" first appeared, these modern ideas were too new, and indeed too revolutionary for Ed Lasker to fully understand and explain at that time. According to the author himself, which he later expressed in his book "Chess Secrets I Learned From the Masters", there was a wide gap between Ed Lasker's grasp of modern theory, and the profound understanding of those ideas, as explained to him in consultation with Nimzowitsch, himself.

By including modern theory, the practical utility of the new "Modern Chess Strategy" as a beginners text, is actually diminished. An introductory text on strategy ought not to burden the beginning student with modern opening theory. The level of skill and understanding needed to successfully incorporate the modern openings in one's play suggests that this material is better left for a more advanced text. Let the student first gain a firm grasp of the classical openings and the teachings of the "positional school", before attempting to teach him the rarified concepts of modern opening theory. Indeed, many students will never need to go beyond the classical ideas of Morphy, Steinitz, and Tarrasch, whose precepts are in no way diminished by the hypermodernist ideas.

For all the reasons above, let the introductory student begin with the author's first and superior book, "Chess Strategy". Once he has adopted its ideas into his play, the student will be better prepared to take on modern theory. For that, there is no substitute for the sedulous study of Nimzowitsch's "My System" (the David McKay or Tartan editions). After a thorough assimilation of "My System", the student will be well equipped to study all but the most advanced chess literature.

Of course, chess is 99% tactics. The study of tactics and tactical exercises (puzzles) ought to be taken up by every student of the game, for that is the fastest way to improve. Finally, as Nimzowitsch says in his autobiography, "let the student take a serious approach to chess." Amen, Aron!

Even if you don't know the first thing about chess, this book can help you learn the fundamentals behind chess strategy and become a good player within a short period of time. The book is profusely illustrated with hundreds of diagrams and annotated games.

The author uses a clear and conversational style to clarify problems that may seem difficult or confusing for the beginner or casual player. This book is an update of a previous work by Lasker (Chess strategy) that was consider the "Chess Bible" when published many years ago.

The book is organized in two parts and five chapters as follows:

PART I - FUNDAMENTALS
- The rules of the Game.
- Elementary end-games.
- Fundamental middle-game combinations.
PART II - PRINCIPLES OF CHESS STRATEGY
- The openings.
- Middle-game and End-game.

would be great book for anyone with yahoo 1400-1700.

only drawback is the it is written in old notation.

best parts are the annoted games and ideas explained behind

major opening lines.

exactly as described. could not asked for better. delivery very fast. will consider for more purchases and also some selling in the future.

I have started to learn chess recently.It is therefore,not my size, to comment on the technical aspects of this superb classical masterpiece.I, however wish, such books are available on CD's with which may include,but not limited to algebric notations, reader controlled analysis, side analysis (auto) as mentioned in the book, novice to expert level computer opponent, print facility.