April 2008 - Book of the Month

Here is my first recommendation:

Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy - Advances since Nimzowitsch

Order your copy here today!

Having heard and read that this was "the bible" of chess literature of modern times I thought I should find out what all the fuss was about.

I have to say that I was not dissapointed - "Secrets" is written in a lucid style and maintains a clear linkage between the theories of Nimzowitsch from his masterwork "My System" of the 1930s, it shows how those theories have been applied by the World's top players since, and it then moves on to show examples of how modern chess thought has evolved in recent decades.

With the emphasis very much on "dynamism" Watson explains how modern players are far less hide-bound by either classical or hypermodern "rules" and have a keen practical eye for what will work in a given position. For example modern players are far more likely to accept doubled pawns if they can see the potential for dynamic possibilites in the position.

Watson also talks about some concepts which were new to me (+ I have read a lot of chess books!) for example I found the section on "the speeding up of the Knights" very illuminating, and this important insight - which is counter intuitive - has added a new dimension to my own play.

In short this is an excellent work, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

To order your copy of Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, or to see other chess books by John Watson, click here

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