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THREE LETTERS ABOUT STUDY AND BOOKS
CLARITY ON AN OPENING SETUP
Chess Fanatic asks:
I would like clarity on an opening setup against 1.c4. Can I play a Nimzo-Indian formation or is not really applicable. If yes, what chess literature should I look for?
Jeremy Silman replies:
Many players wisely try and steer the English Opening into a version of their favorite 1.d4 defense. Thus a King’s Indian fan would answer 1.c4 with 1…Nf6, 2…g6, 3…Bg7, 4…0-0, etc. A fan of the Queen’s Gambit Declined would meet 1.c4 with 1…e6 followed by 2…d5 (1…c6 followed by 2…d5 would be the choice of a Slav fan).
In the case of a Nimzo-Indian fan, the system with 1…Nf6 and 2…e6 is perfectly playable: 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 with ideas that are similar to the Nimzo-Indian: 4.Qb3 (4.g3 is also common) 4…c5 5.a3 Ba5 (5…Bxc3 is also playable) with a complex game ahead that’s well known to modern theory.
Of course, if White doesn’t rush to develop his Knight to c3 and instead plays 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 then 3…b6 followed by 4…Bb7 can easily transpose into a Queen’s Indian Defense.
The Nimzo/Queen’s Indian player should feel comfortable in these lines, but if White plays 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 Black must change gears a bit. One good choice is 2…e6 3.Bg2 d5 with Catalan-like positions.
You can get a taste of these lines in Neil McDonald’s STARTING OUT: THE ENGLISH. However, I would suspect that NUNN'S CHESS OPENINGS or MODERN CHESS OPENINGS would be more than acceptable for your purposes.
BOOKS FOR PLAYERS UNDER 1400
Gene asks:
You seldom recommend books that are specifically written for players under 1400.
Will you kindly do so?
Jeremy Silman replies:
Alas, I’m rather ignorant on this topic. And, of course, there is a large difference between a player rated 900 and one rated 1350; this means that a book suitable for one might be useless for someone just 200 points higher.
Many players in your range seem to enjoy the writings of Purdy. Several of his books can be found at: http://www.chessco.com/
Other books written for the rating group in question are:
PLAY WINNING CHESS by Yasser Seirawan
WINNING CHESS STRATEGIES by Yasser Seirawan
WINNING CHESS TACTICS by Yasser Seirawan
COMPLETE BOOK OF CHESS STRATEGY by Silman was written specifically for lower rated players and is filled with information on tactics, openings, strategy, and even chess psychology.
THE AMATEUR'S MIND (for players 1800 down to 1100) by Silman
LOGICAL CHESS MOVE BY MOVE by Chernev is a classic that has helped countless players 1400 and below over the years.
IMPROVING ONE’S SKILLS AT ANALYSIS AND DECISION-MAKING
Theophilius Crawford asks:
I am an intermediate player, who is trying to improve my analysis and decision making skills. Are there any books or players that I can study to accomplish this?
Jeremy Silman replies:
The fact is, nothing is better for the intermediate player than going over thousands of master games quickly. Chess is largely pattern recognition, and it’s the ability to recognize patterns that rules both decision-making and analysis.
If you still want books on this topic, then may I suggest the following:
THE GRANDMASTER'S MIND
by Avni
SECRETS OF CHESS INTUITION
by Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin
DECISION-MAKING AT THE CHESSBOARD
by Eingorn
THE AMATEUR'S MIND
by Silman
THINK LIKE A GRANDMASTER
by Kotov
The first three might be too advanced, while THE AMATEUR’S MIND is suitable for players 1800 down to 1100.
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