Customer Reviews

Play the Nimzo-Indian Defense

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Play the Nimzo-Indian Defense may seem a bit dated as opening theory evolves so quickly in age of the internet, but this book stands the test of time. Gligoric does not try to give a quick variation for every possible move. He annotates complete games, explaining what each side is trying to strategically accomplish. The games chosen are excellent as they tend to show the best possible play for each side instead of lopsided battles that look pretty but do little to instruct. The chapters are laid out to show the historical evolution of the ideas which helps you built up a real understanding of why you are making a certain move. If you want the latest trend for the Nimzo-Indian, than look elsewhere, but if you want to understand this opening, then this is a fantastic book.

Gligoric has produced a master piece on the subject of the Nimzo-Indian Defence! This is one of the most complete referenced on the subject of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. The Book is sectioned into three parts, covering "27" variations!!! Each variation is represented by an incredible amount of Grandmaster games ranging from the 1930's to the 1980's! With deep annotations for each game and variations of play from the main line. The author has given the reader a large selection of high quality games covering wins for Black and White, with deep detail of information for both sides. The book is in algebraic notation so it is easy to follow and each variation is presented with some history on the player and the variation. If you are looking for the most complete reference to the Nimzo-Indian Defence then look no further, this is as good as it gets!

If you're looking for a book on the Nimzo-Indian defense, Svetozar Gligoric has written *the* book. Gligoric traces the development of the defense, using the games of top-level GM's throughout the book. Every variation of the defense is touched upon.

If you only read the first few pages of this book you would think that you were going to get in depth patient explanations. You for example, would see some diagrams showing that, for example, with 1. d4 NF6 hits E4 and then a little discussion of indirect control of E4. You would say, ok, that is too basic for me, but looks like there will be lots of quality explanations as we get more in depth. The promise of that introduction is not fufilled. The chapters on each variation have extremely minimal explanations. The style of the book is 100% grandmaster games -- there is no pure opening analysis. As a result, variations are dealt with either by other games or by footnotes. You really have to work quite hard to extract an overall understanding. Just the other day I was struggling to understand the varation with 4. F3 from the meager introduction and 3 provided games.

Its helpful to have complete games to see the middle game themes, but to have 100% complete games means that short shrift is given to exploring, and more importantly discussing, various variations and plans. (Why don't more books combine the approaches? Most use complete games or variation analysis...so few use both in the proper mix.)

Its a bit dated if you look at a database, but that is to be expected. While it does cover all major variations that occur at the GM level, it certainly doesn't attempt to cover moves that under 2000 white players might try on you. Take 4. Bd2. Its not a try for advantage. But its quite common at lower levels for the same reasons that the exchange French is common, and there is nothing terribly wrong with it. GM's have faced it. Put it into Fritz and Fritz will say that white still has a tiny edge. Yet its not even mentioned in the book. The organization of the book also leaves something to be desired..want to find the 4. F3 variation? You better remember what its called!

You might want to pick this up if you are over 1800 USCF and already have and have digested a more basic book on the Nimzo like the "Easy Guide" or "Starting Out" books. This is NOT a book for low rated players or a good first book on the Nimzo for anyone. (I'm 1913 USCF). At the present moment I am not aware of a book more advanced then "easy guide" or "starting out" books that is also comprehensive. So this book still has a place, much as one could wish for a better comprehensive book on the subject.

I have read "I play against pieces" by Gligoric and thought that his Nimzo book would be at the same gold standard. It is not. The startegic ideas are not very detailed, and in return you get "variations".
Definetely not happy!