The Middle Game in Chess

Rating:
Summary: Wide scope
Review: A nice book with a wide scope. Definetly a book not suited to the beginner.

Rating:
Summary: Not The Best But Good Enough
Review: At times the author wrote as if he was writing a novel instead of a chess book, but it is still a good book. There are some problems with it though. I can't stand Descriptive Notation (1.P-K4 P-K4, 2.N-KB3 N-QB3, etc.). He also assumes way too much out of the reader. Such as, after showing an even position he states a line of moves and ends with,"And White is clearly better and wins". What truly makes it irritating is when I put the position on Fritz and let the computer play it out it draws everytime. So where is the clear win? The way Znosko breaks down chess into the three elements (Time, Space, & Force) is awesome. I wish Jeremy Silman would have done it this way in his book Reassess Your Chess. But if both books are purchased and studied I believe the reader will come out ahead. Overall, a good book, not the best, but good. Definitely worth the cover price at least.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!!
Review: This books shows that great chess learning need not cost a fortune. Very similar to the teaching approach of Reuben Fine's Ideas Behind the Chess Opening. With few examples, but very thorough in practical and effective positional ideas of middle game play. This may not be the most interesting book for future Tals or the Fischers (attacking players) of chess but great for the Petrosians and the Karpovs (positional players).

Rating:
Summary: The Middle Game in Chess
Review: This is a great book for the average player (below master strength). It thematically reviews the principles in one's approach to assessing middle game positions (e.g. from positions which demand attack to inferior positions that demand vigilant defence). It will complement other middle game books like Silman's "How to reassess your chess" and of course Nimzowitzch's "My system". However, this book is not thick in examples. Nonetheless, one can build upon the existing principles and apply these to one's analyses of one's own chess games and when analyzing other's games as well. That is why I regard this as just an introduction to the middle game in chess, but a very good one nonetheless. Get these classic books (which incidently are cheaper as well) rather than superficial books by Yasser Seirawan, which are just modern replicates of books by old chess masters.