It is now seventy years since Nimzowitsch wrote his monumental work My
System. While it remains a fundamental work on chess strategy, the way
chess positions are handled has changed greatly since Nimzowitsch's
time - both refinements to existing ideas, and completely new concepts.
John Watson's book fulfils the need for a thorough, profound work on the
modern handling of chess positions, and how Nimzowitsch's theories -
still controversial and revolutionary at the time My System was
written - have been refined and used alongside classical concepts.
The first section of the book investigates the development of classical
themes, such as pawn majorities, the centre, and structural weaknesses.
Watson then moves on to discuss new concepts, including the willingness
of modern players to accept backward pawns in return for dynamic play,
the idea of a good 'bad' bishop, knights finding useful roles at the
edge of the board and the exchange sacrifice ideas that became prevalent
with the post-war Soviet champions. This profound yet thoroughly
practical work is rounded off with sections on prophylactic thinking,
dynamism, modern concepts as they apply to the critical contemporary
opening systems, and some thoughts on the future of chess.
International Master John Watson is one of the world's most
respected writers on chess. His ground-breaking four-volume work on the
English and Play the French, often described as the French player's
bible, firmly established his reputation in the 1980s, and he has
produced a string of top-quality works since. His pupils include 1997
World Junior Champion, Tal Shaked.
