Mein System

Aron Nimzowitsch, a grandmaster whose combative style earned him the nickname of a restless seabird among his peers, set out his approach to chess in this work. The book lays out the principles of positional play, ideas that are now standard teaching for anyone serious about the game, and it reveals as much about the man who devised them as about the board itself.

Rather than offering a dry catalogue of openings, the author walks readers through his reasoning in a lively voice. His concepts, including prophylaxis, blockade and the control of key squares, are explained through examples that are both instructive and entertaining. Wit and sharp, unconventional insight run through the pages, so the text reads more like a conversation with a brilliant, opinionated teacher than a manual.

The book suits club players and serious students who want to strengthen their understanding of strategy, and it still holds the interest of readers who simply enjoy the mind of a strong and eccentric thinker.