Book Recap #18- Discussing Aron Nimzowitsch's My System with IM Christof Sielecki (aka ChessExplained)
08/20/21 • 76 min
This month on Chess Books Recaptured I am joined by renowned Chessable author, IM Christof Sielecki, to discuss what may be the best known chess book of all time. Aron Nimzowitsch’s My System. There was a time when My System seemed to be universally recommended as an indispensable manual for newer chess players, but in recent years, with so many excellent learning resources, it has often been criticized as well. Christof and I try to contextualize the good and the bad of My System. We discuss everything in the book from Nimzo’s famous quotes to his “dad jokes”, to what does, and does not hold up to the scrutiny of modern chess analysis. Whether you love or hate this book, we hope that this podcast can help you decide if this book is worth (re)visiting. Please read on for timestamps and relevant links.
0:00- Why is My System so famous? Why are there so many versions of it?
Mentioned: Episode 6 with IM Christof Sielecki, Episode 153 with IM Christof Sielecki, Quality Chess’ Edition of My System, also available on Forward Chess, Chess Metrics, Chess24’s Top 50 Player of All Time Series with GM Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Heine Nielsen
8:30- For what rating range or audience would this book be most helpful?
Mentioned: GM Yasser Seirawan, Episode 239 with GM Jan Markos
16:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.
New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com
Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:
16:30- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
17:00- How is the book structured?
Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, GM John Shaw, IM John Watson’s Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy , Johner vs. Nimzowitsch 1926
36:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com
They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
37:00- How would we describe Nimzowitsch’s writing style?
Mentioned: John Watson’s Review of My System, Lou Hays’ Edition of My System, Siegbert Tarrasch, Rubinstein-Duras (1908), Winning Pawn Structures by GM Alexander Baburin,
54:00- What books might we recommend as instructional substitutes for My System?
Mentioned: THe Neal Bruce Pawn Book Championship is coming August 24!, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios, Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean, IM Jeremy Silman’s Books,
This month on Chess Books Recaptured I am joined by renowned Chessable author, IM Christof Sielecki, to discuss what may be the best known chess book of all time. Aron Nimzowitsch’s My System. There was a time when My System seemed to be universally recommended as an indispensable manual for newer chess players, but in recent years, with so many excellent learning resources, it has often been criticized as well. Christof and I try to contextualize the good and the bad of My System. We discuss everything in the book from Nimzo’s famous quotes to his “dad jokes”, to what does, and does not hold up to the scrutiny of modern chess analysis. Whether you love or hate this book, we hope that this podcast can help you decide if this book is worth (re)visiting. Please read on for timestamps and relevant links.
0:00- Why is My System so famous? Why are there so many versions of it?
Mentioned: Episode 6 with IM Christof Sielecki, Episode 153 with IM Christof Sielecki, Quality Chess’ Edition of My System, also available on Forward Chess, Chess Metrics, Chess24’s Top 50 Player of All Time Series with GM Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Heine Nielsen
8:30- For what rating range or audience would this book be most helpful?
Mentioned: GM Yasser Seirawan, Episode 239 with GM Jan Markos
16:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.
New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com
Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:
16:30- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
17:00- How is the book structured?
Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, GM John Shaw, IM John Watson’s Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy , Johner vs. Nimzowitsch 1926
36:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com
They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
37:00- How would we describe Nimzowitsch’s writing style?
Mentioned: John Watson’s Review of My System, Lou Hays’ Edition of My System, Siegbert Tarrasch, Rubinstein-Duras (1908), Winning Pawn Structures by GM Alexander Baburin,
54:00- What books might we recommend as instructional substitutes for My System?
Mentioned: THe Neal Bruce Pawn Book Championship is coming August 24!, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios, Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean, IM Jeremy Silman’s Books,
Previous Episode
EP 239- GM Jan Markos
Our guest today is the three-time champion of Slovakia, the highest rated player in his country and an award-winning author! Jan Markos’ 2018 book Under the Surface has been recommended on this show many times and was the winner of the ECF book of the year this year. He is out with another offering, The Secret Ingredient. Jan's new book is co-authored by GM David Navara and is also Quality Chess books. Both of Jan’s works are fantastic books which display an accessible writing style and a breadth of knowledge that extends far beyond the chess board. In our conversation, we discuss many of the ideas presented in these books, as well as a bit about Jan’s own competitive career, his advice for improvers, and his busy life away from the chessboard. Please read on for more details and relevant hyperlinks.
3:00- We discuss a question raised in Under the Surface. “What do Grandmasters see that club players do not?”
Mentioned: Thinking Fast and Slow, JJ Lang, GM Jesse Kraai
9:30- Patreon mailbag question- “How did GM Markos come up with so many metaphors to describe chess thinking in Under the Surface?”
14:30- Listener question- “Why do adults find improvement so challenging?”
Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Secrets of Practical Chess, Street Smart Chess by GM Axel Smith
18:00- Twitter Question: “Who is the intended audience for Jan’s book?”
20:00- Twitter Question: “Was Jan inspired by Aron Nimzovich’s My System?”
Mentioned: Patzer’s Review Blog Review of Under the Surface
22:00- Twitter Question: “Are there new chapters Jan would add to Under the Surface today?”
24:00- Twitter Question: “Why do we tend to notice mistakes just as we make a move, and not before we make a move?”
Mentioned: Jan’s game where he hung a mate in one is here:
Manage Your Favourite Games (chessbase.com)
26:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com
They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
27:00- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
30:00- We discuss The Secret Ingredient. How can adult chess players learn to translate chess knowledge into skills?
39:00- Why is trying to “get your openings down first” before tackling other aspects of the game often a “Sisyphean task”?
41:30- What advice can Jan offer on managing one’s time during a chess game?
Mentioned: GM Alexander Grischuk, GM Daniel Fridman, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk, Episode 08 with GM Sam Shankland
48:30- What should you do when confronted with an unknown idea in the opening?
50:00- How should chess improvers allocate their chess study time?
Mentioned: Episode 237 with GM Vladimir Kramnik
54:00- Can online games be adapted so that they more resemble tournament chess?
58:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.
New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com
Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:
Next Episode
EP 240- "Pawn Book Championship" Special Episode with Neal Bruce
This week’s Perpetual Chess is the much anticipated “Pawn Book Championship” with popular adult improver Neal Bruce. Neal learned chess from scratch after the age of 40, and has been consistently studying and using flashcards to improve his skills in the last handful of years. In the past year, Neal has turned his attention to better understanding pawn play and positional chess, and he has read 6 (!) different books in order to facilitate better chess understanding. We Perpetual Chess listeners are very fortunate that Neal has offered to do a podcast crowning the “champion” of the pawn books, and has also agreed to give his honest assessment of the other books. When not working on his chess game, Neal is the Chief Product Officer of a software startup and a father of 3, so we greatly appreciate his taking the time for this large project. Please read on for more details and relevant links.
0:00-
- The transcript of episode 237 with GM Vladimir Kramnik is here
- If you would like to subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Patreon page, you can do so here.
4:00- Other podcasts to hear Neal Bruce:
Book Recap 6- Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement
Book Recap 11- Winning Chess Strategies
Dojo Talks #24 with Neal Bruce
5:00-
Which books are entrants in Neal’s “Pawn Book Championship,” and how and why did he choose them?
Small Steps to Giant Improvement by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1700-2400 FIDE)
Small Steps 2 Success by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1800-2400 FIDE)
Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)
Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)
The Power of Pawns by GM Jorg Hickl’s (Most appropriate for those 1200-2000)
Pawn Power by IM Hans Kmoch (Not recommended for any rating range)
22:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.
New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com
Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:
23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com
They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
24:00- Hans Kmoch Pawn Power
30:30- GM Andy Soltis’s Pawn Structure Chess
34:00-GM Sam Shankland’s Small Steps 2 Success
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