Reassess your Chess or My System?

Hello,

This is not so much an either/or question, but WHICH FIRST!

A expert-rated friend suggested the next stops in my education should be to read Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman, or My System my Aron Nimzowitsch.  Well, I ordered Reassess from Amazon!  Then 2 days later, while in a used bookstore, I noticed My System for $9.99, so I picked it up.

Got both the same day.  Now I can read both!  So which to start with?!

If my background helps, I have no official ELO, though on ICC, I'm rated an honest 1450 in 15-min games.  My expert friend figures me for 1600-1700 (but we play casual with no time controls).  Prior to now, I've mostly read books with tactics, as these are easier to read on a commute.  I've read a few books on openings - mostly dealing with breadth rather than depth.

I start my studies of Silman or Nimzo tomorrow!  Which should I grab first?

Silman is less high level I believe, so starting there and moving on to my system is probably best IMO

Reasses your chess is much better in my opinion. Follow it by the reassess your chess workbook and you won't need nimzo's esoteric style.

I own both books also, so I will put my two cents in.

Nimzowitsch was in all likelihood a better and more intelligent player than Silman (he would have played for a world championship if it weren't for money issues). Nimzowitsch's book is also a bit more theory intensive and detailed than Silman's, i.e., it was intended for adults and doesn't pander as much to children and beginning players.

Personally, I would go "My System" first and then go through "Reassess" after.

Silman explains everything more plainly and easy to understand, but on the other hand, I think Nimzo's work contains more detailed and sophisticated, if somewhat outdated (something you have to keep in mind; the strategic interpretations of some of the positions in the book have certainly changed over so much time), ideas. It is perhaps more difficult to appreciate for lower rated players though. With that in mind I'd look at Silman's first.

Although I'd be too tempted to look through both at the same time!

Nobody but Nimzowitsch himself thought he would have any chance in a WC match against either Alekhine or Capablanca, as his record against them show. Funnily enough though, he had only 2 serious games against lasker, despite the fact that they where both active around the same time. A draw and a win for Nimzowitsch, the win was in 1934 though, when Lasker was 66.

Edit: They are both great books, I would start with Reasses your chess, as it's more instructively oriented, although, Nimzowitsch puns against Tarrasch are still fun to read. 

HTRYC is one of the best books out ther for under 2000. Being a better player (Nimzowitsch) doesnt make you a better teacher/educational writer.

Thank you for the feedback!  I've started up Silman's How to Reassess your Chess!  The intro looks good so far (and easy to read).

From the introduction, I'm glad to see it deals with pawn structure, as I could shore up that part of my game (I tend to be stronger with piece-play).

I've also got both, and tried reading both simultaneously.  I definitely found Reassess much more accessible and relevant to a player at my level.  There are, however elements of the approach that just don't work for me -- planning based on "fantasy positions" for example I found a little too loosey-goosey for my style.

One additional book that I've probably got far more value out of than either of the two in question is Silman's Complete Endgame Course.  Outside of intentionally omitting a couple of the more rare endgames, it is an otherwise comprehensive and incredibly instructional manual.  I also liked that it's organized into progressive topics that start by giving you the basics, and then build upon those themes to ensure that you're understanding of some of the more complex endgames is not only grounded in, but built upon the fundamentals.  I think that if I were to recommend one single book out of the small handful that I've read this one would be it.

I think Silman's endgame book is going to be my next purchase. I've been doing the Chess Mentor endgame courses and they've been a revelation to me!

He has removed that in the 4th edition, I'm also pretty sure I read somewhere that he didn't have as much faith in "thinking systems" anymore, that includes kotovs candidate trees.

How is the fourth?  Mine is the third edition, and I understand that the fourth is a complete re-write.

It's also a good distinction for the OP and anyone giving their feedback -- which edition of Reassess did you purchase?  Presumably the 4th since you purchased it new?  My comments were based on the previous edition, I can't comment knowledgeably about edition 4.

Don't both books cover alot of the same material?

I would go with My System, because I like to go to the root of things. Nimzowitsch's book was the first of its kind and alot of Silman's ideas come from Nimzowitsch.

Silman is much more modern and readable, so if that is what you are looking for, then Silman's book is for you.

Nimzowitsch's book is more difficult to read, and owing to its age, some of its ideas are outdated.

Isn't this kind of like comparing Shakespeare and Stephen King?

Hey here's the way to go:  IM Silman is a daily columnist here.  Why not just send him an email and ask him yourself.  That's why I did a few weeks ago about a different question and he posted his answer as a very thorough and interesting article here at chess.com.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/are-tactics-the-same-as-combinations

My System did not help me as much as I thought it would.  Looking at it now, I think it is geared towards (2000+) players that are looking for a new way to view the board, but who have progressed past the point of basic combinatorial play.  In my opinion, Nimzowitsch would be barely useful to anyone below 2000 rating.  I plan to revisit it after I have mastered tactical play.

I am a similar level player to your self. I also have both books and I found Silmans easier to read and understand (he has a wonderful way with words). But both are very instructive so I don't think there is a right or wrong choice. I hope you enjoy them both.

Relax, ditch the hard study and read The player of games by Iain M Banks - possibly the best book ever.  It might not help your chess but it will help your soul.

 Yes i used to have a catalan book by Scottish GM McNab but I more or less gave up on study in favour of fun years ago.