22 Sep 07
According to GM Kevin Spragget
"[Nimzowitsch's] works are very famous, but, in my humble opinion, over-rated. I've read everything he has written (and spent a great deal of time thinking about what he said--I now regret having wasted my time), it is all very interesting and entertaining, but I think that, self-promotion apart, he almost never achieved in his tournament practice (i.e. his games) what he makes you believe he did in his books. It is really hard to find a game played from move 1 to the end where he even followed his own 'system' ! On top of this, his books are filled with many tactical oversights, and simply bad judgement. And a lot of the other stuff he wrote about is just pure 'technique'...and he did not 'invent' it, but he did try to make his readers believe he did...
Nimzovich was a great player ! No doubt about this...but his advice given in his books never even worked in his own time...
...
There are some famous players who will swear by his books, this I acknowledge, but take my word for it, there are many, many more famous players who believe his stuff is second rate 'schillerism'!
His name will always be associated with 'hypermodernism' and deservingly. But even most of the variations of the Nimzo-Indian defence that he played are known (and have been known as such for more than 50 years) to be simply bad. There is a famous game of his where he tried to provoke d5 by playing his rook to e6...just garbage ! The truth is that his position was already desparate, and he was willing to try anything..."
Excerpted from http://www.kevinspraggett.com/Nonimzo.htm
22 Sep 07
Originally posted by synesisInteresting...I do believe there are chess books that are very good at making you think you are learning some thing but without making much real difference to your game! Where does the term "schillerism" come from and what does it mean?
According to GM Kevin Spragget
"[Nimzowitsch's] works are very famous, but, in my humble opinion, over-rated. I've read everything he has written (and spent a great deal of time thinking about what he said--I now regret having wasted my time), it is all very interesting and entertaining, but I think that, self-promotion apart, he almost never ac ...[text shortened]... ything..."
Excerpted from http://www.kevinspraggett.com/Nonimzo.htm
22 Sep 07
1 edit
Originally posted by MahoutEric Schiller - probably the worst author of chess books in the world. Raymond Keene is bad as well, but mostly because his books are often rushed and bland. Schiller is in a different league, his books are just plain garbage.
Interesting...I do believe there are chess books that are very good at making you think you are learning some thing but without making much real difference to your game! Where does the term "schillerism" come from and what does it mean?
22 Sep 07
Originally posted by Fat Ladyyouve got me curious, whats bad about his books? what are they on?
Eric Schiller - probably the worst author of chess books in the world. Raymond Keene is bad as well, but mostly because his books are often rushed and bland. Schiller is in a different league, his books are just plain garbage.
23 Sep 07
Schiller is infamous for writing faulty, copied chess books. In many cases simply changing a word or two from other's annotations. Winter has documented some of the worst from both Schiller and Keene.
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/keene.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/copying.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/schiller.html
The sad thing is both of these two troll around sites like chessgames where the users drool all over the both of them.
23 Sep 07
Originally posted by synesisI have to disagree. I think "My Sytem" is the greatest book on chess ever written.
According to GM Kevin Spragget
"[Nimzowitsch's] works are very famous, but, in my humble opinion, over-rated. I've read everything he has written (and spent a great deal of time thinking about what he said--I now regret having wasted my time), it is all very interesting and entertaining, but I think that, self-promotion apart, he almost never ac ...[text shortened]... ything..."
Excerpted from http://www.kevinspraggett.com/Nonimzo.htm
The principles that he discusses are timeless.
He may not have been the greatest player, but the positional lessons that Nimzovitsch teaches are essential components of any good players repetoire.
23 Sep 07
Originally posted by Fat LadyI wondered if that might be it...I have a book on unusual opening's by Schiller and it's nonsense.
Eric Schiller - probably the worst author of chess books in the world. Raymond Keene is bad as well, but mostly because his books are often rushed and bland. Schiller is in a different league, his books are just plain garbage.
23 Sep 07
Originally posted by ChipotleTalking about Keene - I like his book “Aron Nimzowitsch, 1886-1935: a reappraisal”
Schiller is infamous for writing faulty, copied chess books. In many cases simply changing a word or two from other's annotations. Winter has documented some of the worst from both Schiller and Keene.
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/keene.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/copying.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/schill ...[text shortened]... f these two troll around sites like chessgames where the users drool all over the both of them.
23 Sep 07
1 edit
Originally posted by synesisNimzowitsch books have a few drawbacks ( show me a perfect chess book if you can) but in my opinion Spargett exaggerates strongly.
According to GM Kevin Spragget
"[Nimzowitsch's] works are very famous, but, in my humble opinion, over-rated. I've read everything he has written (and spent a great deal of time thinking about what he said--I now regret having wasted my time), it is all very interesting and entertaining, but I think that, self-promotion apart, he almost never ac ything..."
Excerpted from http://www.kevinspraggett.com/Nonimzo.htm
23 Sep 07
Originally posted by KorchI don't own a single Keene book, but if I did, it would be this one. (In fact, I might actually buy it some day.) His Nimzowitsch Reappraisal is regarded as a pretty good effort, by far the best one he's written. I wouldn't bother with the rest of his books.
Talking about Keene - I like his book “Aron Nimzowitsch, 1886-1935: a reappraisal”
Thanks, Korch, it's good to know you like the book. That confirms the fairly good review that I read of it. 🙂
23 Sep 07
Originally posted by ChipotleIf you think he's bad in print, try him in person!
Schiller is infamous for writing faulty, copied chess books. In many cases simply changing a word or two from other's annotations. Winter has documented some of the worst from both Schiller and Keene.
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/keene.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/copying.html
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/schill ...[text shortened]... f these two troll around sites like chessgames where the users drool all over the both of them.
I recently played in a tounament that he aplayed in and he carries himself off like he's Kasparov. I agree that his books are crap, very shallow and explaining nothing.
24 Sep 07
I own and enjoy a number of Eric Schiller books. The proofreading of his books are utterly appalling, but I have learned a lot from his books, which seems to prove the famous dictum that "you can learn alot if you're really ignorant."
For example, his "Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom" is an excellent compedium of chess information for class players.
I have successfully employed the openings he recommends in "Gambit Opening Repertoire for White" and "Gambit Opening Repertoire for Black." An amusing omission in the "White" Book: He recommends the moves 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3, but amazingly doesn't even consider the possibility of Black playing 2...Nf6! I guess he thinks that sub-masters never play the Petroff!
24 Sep 07
That punk spragget, I have modelled my whole life on nimzovitches teachings and he thinks he can call him a flawed tactician. I would like to see how well spraggett would do if he had been born in nimzovitches age and tried to be a grandmaster back then without the massive resources the modern players have access to.