I just started going through My System for the first time. I tried getting into it when I was a beginner but I didn't really get it, so I stopped. However, I know that it's an important work that I should definitely read, so I'm giving it a go.

What are the other essential books on strategy that I need to read (either before or after My System)? Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy by John Watson has been highly recommended, as has Modern Chess Strategy by Pachman.

In the collective opinion of the denizens of this forum, what are the essential works on middlegame strategy?

Thanks,

Discipline

I'm not sure about essential (for obvious reasons) , but if you're looking for some decent old books to add to your list then "The Art of the Middlegame" by Kotov and Keres is pretty good, as are most of Max Euwe's books.

I like many of the more recent books on strategy too tho.

Go ahead and read Reassess Your Chess again if you haven't read it in the last 200 rating points. Simple Chess by Stean is small but very, very good. Positional Chess Handbook is pretty darn awesome. It sort of assumes you know what the positional advantages are and demonstrates a bunch of times how to use those to win.

"Positional Chess Handbook" is good for at least two more reasons:

1) you can preview much of it from google books;

2) AFAIK, many of the games are readily downloadable from chessgames.com.

Although there may be nothing else really "essential", worth reading are "The Test of Time" and "My Great Predecessors" (both by Kasparov).

Shockingly enough, my recommendation would be the Art of Attack in Chess by Vukovic.

I think its a very paradoxical book. On the one hand the book is it is very simple and can be summed up as: find the weakest square - attack it. On the other hand, mastery of the contents of that book along with decent tactics will result in a very strong chess player. I also think most players who are not already reasonably strong will not get very much if anything out of it.

Philosophical ramblings aside, it's a great book that I'd strongly recommend.

Very interesting recommendation, Dire. I own that book, but have never gotten around to reading it. Looks like I have a new book to work though!

Dire,

I went through that book a while ago but didn't really play through all of the variations, etc. Were you able to get something out of it other than mating patterns, or is it your contention that we ought to just play for mate? You said "find the weakest square - attack it". Might this also apply to weak squares in general, not only around the enemy king? For instance, c7 as the classic weak point in the KID?

You also say that mastery of the book's material, in addition to a strong grounding in tactics, will result in a strong player. Do you consider this book to be of a strategic rather than tactical nature, even though it is concerned primarily with mating attacks?

I would love to hear more of your "philosophical rambling" on this matter.

Well again that's the thing about the book. You could just skim it, look over the mating patterns, etc and get at least something out of it - all be it probably not much. But the important stuff comes in with discussion of stuff like color complexes and manipulating them your favor, how that influences strategy, how a pawn minority/majority impacts the proper method of organizing your pieces / conducting attacks and countless other various strategic topics.

Art Of Attack - great book

Even just the chapter about/listing the Mating Patterns is great/important.

+1 to what Dire said ^^^

Books to read:

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Chess-A...1530645&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Zurich-Interna...1530464&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Method-Chess-I...1530615&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Russians-versu...1530926&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tal-Botvinnik-...1530672&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Questions-Mode.../dp/1906552037

http://www.amazon.com/Botvinniks-Bes...1530806&sr=1-5

In Bold are 3 of my Fav's.

The stories in Russians vs. Fischer are amazing and very interesting.

Tal-Botvinnik is great writing about the match. Tal makes you feel like you're there/inside his head for every game.

Simple Chess is simply, Great.

Zurich is also A+

I'm not sure Russians versus Fischer really fits what OP is looking for (essential books on Middlegame strategy). Also, trying to learn middlegame ideas from game collections isn't so simple, because the games are often complex and aren't arranged in themes and such.

Not to mention the sick games of Tal, even tho his autobiography is my favorite chess book.

Yeah I was talking in general about R vs. F. not for what the OP is looking for.

I also <3 his autobiography, best stories! Oh how to drag a hippopotamus out of the marsh!

Something would have led me to believe that Fire on Board by Shirov was your fav. book but I'm not sure what would make me think that.

lol
shirov is number 2
i'm not sure of the reason

ah okay

lmao!!!

man that was good, wp

The reason I mentioned this book is that they draw a profile of Fischer. They analyzed his style and his openings in depth and that's certainly something to learn from.

Yea I agree with that.

I concur

I don't know if Kotov's out of date but I thought 'Think like a Grandmaster' was pretty decent.

not exactly middlegame books:

Understanding Chess Move by Move
64 Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces

Imo the main stuff to be gained from Think Like a Grandmaster are from the exercises, but they are just insanely difficult.

For the Original Poster

Best suggestion is Understanding Chess move by move by NUnn. Best clearestmodern strategy book.

Watson's Modern chess Strategy is Good but It is nowhere near the level of Clarity of Nizovich my system then NUnn UCMBM.