My System: A Chess Manual on Totally New Principles (Chess Classics) [Paperback]

Aron Nimzowitsch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Chess Classics | Publication Date: March 2007

For the first time, an English-speaking audience can appreciate the true nature of this famous, classic chess book as this brand-new translation recreates the author's original intention. Not to have read "My System" is regarded as a shocking gap in a chess player's education, but English speakers had only poor translations that toned down or even deleted many passages because the translators feared Nimzowitsch's famous biting wit would be controversial. Nimzowitsch's ideas about how to play better chess have had a profound influence on modern chess thinking. It is commonly agreed that almost every chess master in the world has studied Nimzowitsch's work. This is the first new English translation in decades. This is the first new English translation in decades and, unlike previous translations, does not censor or dilute the author's writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the most stimulating books ever written on chess."

-- Reuben Fine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

For many years, Nimzovich was known as the "Stormy Petrel" of the chess world. Today, his profound theories of positional chess are accepted as a matter of course, and a knowledge of them is essential to every player who wants to improve his game.

My System describes a theory of chess; it also describes the character and genius of its author. It is a very readable book, for Nimzovich's methods sparkle with humor, pungent originality, and witty explanations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Quality Chess (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9197600539
• ISBN-13: 978-9197600538
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Chess

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 137 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of The Three Best Chess Books in The World, February 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: My System: 21st Century Edition (Paperback)

I have a chess library that contains several hundred dollars worth of books. And looking at them there are three that I have learned more from than all the rest: MY SYSTEM by Aron Nimzowitsch, IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS by Reuben Fine, and COLLE SYSTEM by George Koltanowski. To do justice to this book, and to understand what Nimzowitsch is saying in it, will require a commitment of both time and effort from the reader. Don't pick this book up and expect to polish it off in a weekend 'cause this book is to The Chess World what Chemistry 101 is to Science. An aspiring chess player won't get anywhere without Nimzowitsch's concepts of: overprotection, centralization, open lines, surrender of the center, pawn structure, attacking strategies, defense strategies. Many International Grandmasters admit to cutting their teeth on this book. Nimzowitsch's concepts on middlegame play are the bedrock upon which solid, effective chess skills are made. He instructs the reader on sound opening play and then moves into the middlegame and endgame phases in greater depth than does Fine (see above book). His approach to chess could be called scientific: his analysis of a position by its strong and weak points allows the reader to understand what to strive for and what to plan for when moving the pieces from one square to another. Moves are made for a reason; Nimzowitsch teaches those reasons. This book won't make you a World Champion, but you won't become one without it. This is a must-have book

102 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic with shortcomings, May 25, 2001

By 

Dr. J. Sarfati (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My System: 21st Century Edition (Paperback)

Nimzowitch was probably in the top five in the world in the late 1920s, and an original thinker. This book presents a number of important strategical ideas that all chessplayers should know, e.g. blockade, weak colour complexes. Nimzo had a number of catchy terms which help people remember them, e.g. a passed pawn's lust to expand, absolute 7th rank. The book also contains instructive annotated games.

But there are a few problems, some of which are pointed out in John Watson's fine book "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy: Advances since Nimzowitsch":

Nimzo's tempo counting lessons are the height of naivety -- Watson showed simple ways for black to get a good game despite being many tempi down.

Nimzo's idiosyncratic lines of the advance French give Black an easy game as Watson shows, by a well-timed ...f6. As Watson also points out, this attack at the head of the pawn chain is effective quite often, despite Nimzo's counsel to attack pawn chains at the base. To be fair, this is often the right strategy.

Overprotection has never gained the support of most grandmasters.

Nimzo's famous dxc5 in the advanced French against Salwe is alleged to be revolutionary and contrary to the alleged dogmatism of the Tarrasch school, and even Watson concurs. But they both overlook that Tarrasch himself had pointed out that this gives white a good game, which is why he played ...cxd4 against Paulsen many years before. Nimzo even presents this game in a fairly favorable light.

Overall though, this is a very handy book for club players up to say 1800-2000, although it's debatable whether this is better than the Euwe/Kramer two volume set or Pachman's trilogy.

57 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book, but beginners should look elswhere..., July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: My System (Paperback)

My copy of My System has been around. It is dog-eared, the pages have yellowed a bit and the price on it is marked $2.95. I recall many years ago that I had put a great deal of time into this book, but I'm not sure that I got a lot out of it then. Despite the smothering praise for this book given below, it is not without its flaws. Firstly, the book is not easy reading. The formal and stodgy early twentieth century prose makes one feel as if he is wading through molasses just to get to the point. The writing is unnecessarily wordy -- younger readers will have a tough time with the vocabulary. My System was revolutionary in its day but there are several newer books that I feel have ecclipsed it. Ludek Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy is an excellent book as is Jeremy Silman's How to Reassess Your Chess. If a "C - B" strength player were to ask how to get to 2000, I'd have him start with either of those first. Other excellent books of this genre are Lar! ry Evans' New Ideas in Chess, Michael Stean's curiously misnamed Simple Chess and almost any of Max Euwe's books. That said, this is a great book to browse through. If I were planning to study isolated queen pawn positions, for instance, I would get out Nimzovich, Pachman, et al, and go through each chapter on the IQP in succession. The areas where there was common ground would serve to reinforce the learning and the areas where there were differences would broaden it -- a win-win situation. Buy this book, but don't buy the "greatest chess book ever" hype.