A reader from Dallas, Texas , May 18, 1999
Very good coverage of topics
Highly recommend this book. Covers a great range of topics from openings strategies to tactical strategies. Easy to read and understand. The openings are not covered as indepth as some books that are dedicated to chess openings, but it does a good job of covering a little bit of everything.

A reader from Las Vegas, NV , May 31, 1999
A Terrific Book by a Great Writer
This book proves to my satisfaction that John Watson is the best American chess writer alive, if not ever. He tackles the subject of modern chess strategy with depth and humor. It's fascinating to learn how chess strategy has evolved since Nimzovich, and Watson has the literary and chess talent to create a masterpiece. It's interesting to learn, for example, that Nimzovich's principle of "over-protection" is just about the only Nimzovichian idea that isn't held in high regard today. The author also notes, among many other things, that Alekhine's Defense, Alekhine's only major contribution to hypermodern chess theory, is also one of the few hypermodern openings considered by modern GM's to be of questionable soundness. This is one of the few books about which I can go into a quasi-religious fervor, telling all my friends that I can't do it justice by describing it; but if they would only give it a try, they would surely love it.

A reader from U.S. of A. , July 28, 1998
In my view, better than My System
Do you want to improve your chess. Are you rated under 2000? Then this is a good place to start. This is much easier reading than the often verbose and self-serving My System. Pachman's writing is clear and insightful. Buy this book and play through every few years. You will almost certainly gain new insights into chess with every reading. This book should be on every aspiring chess player's shelf alongside Larry Evan's New Ideas in Chess, Hans Kmoch's Pawn Power in Chess, David Bronstein's Zurich 1953, Bobby Fischer's My Sixty Memorable Games, Mikhail Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games, Mikhail Tal's Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, Alexander Alekhine's Best Games and Richard Reti's Masters of the Chessboard. That is some pretty lofty company, but Modern Chess Strategy is worthy of it. Oh, and you can't beat the price.

A reader from Dallas, Texas , May 18, 1999
Very good coverage of topics
Highly recommend this book. Covers a great range of topics from openings strategies to tactical strategies. Easy to read and understand. The openings are not covered as indepth as some books that are dedicated to chess openings, but it does a good job of covering a little bit of everything.

A reader from Las Vegas, NV , May 31, 1999
A Terrific Book by a Great Writer
This book proves to my satisfaction that John Watson is the best American chess writer alive, if not ever. He tackles the subject of modern chess strategy with depth and humor. It's fascinating to learn how chess strategy has evolved since Nimzovich, and Watson has the literary and chess talent to create a masterpiece. It's interesting to learn, for example, that Nimzovich's principle of "over-protection" is just about the only Nimzovichian idea that isn't held in high regard today. The author also notes, among many other things, that Alekhine's Defense, Alekhine's only major contribution to hypermodern chess theory, is also one of the few hypermodern openings considered by modern GM's to be of questionable soundness. This is one of the few books about which I can go into a quasi-religious fervor, telling all my friends that I can't do it justice by describing it; but if they would only give it a try, they would surely love it.

A reader from U.S. of A. , July 28, 1998
In my view, better than My System
Do you want to improve your chess. Are you rated under 2000? Then this is a good place to start. This is much easier reading than the often verbose and self-serving My System. Pachman's writing is clear and insightful. Buy this book and play through every few years. You will almost certainly gain new insights into chess with every reading. This book should be on every aspiring chess player's shelf alongside Larry Evan's New Ideas in Chess, Hans Kmoch's Pawn Power in Chess, David Bronstein's Zurich 1953, Bobby Fischer's My Sixty Memorable Games, Mikhail Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games, Mikhail Tal's Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, Alexander Alekhine's Best Games and Richard Reti's Masters of the Chessboard. That is some pretty lofty company, but Modern Chess Strategy is worthy of it. Oh, and you can't beat the price.