Makes ample use of quotations from other chess legends to corroborate the points that he is making. I started doing the things he said, particularly the things he said over and over, and I started winning games. My rating started climbing up, and it feels like a whole new world of Chess has opened up for me. Games feel more competitive, and I feel less like I just happen to win when I win. Mentioned: The Scandinavian Defense, Understanding Chess Move by Move by GM John Nunn, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy by IM John Watson, Episode 41 with GM Judit Polgar This did work for a time, but I eventually hit the plateau I've been in and decided I'd start studying the game a bit more seriously. I hit upon this book, and I decided to give it a go. Even before I finished it, I noticed an improvement in my games. unmoved pawns and knight at f3 a strong bulwark, but the knight gets too easily pulled away because of its degrees of freedom

Instead of letting White dictate opening by responding E5, respond E6, inviting pressure with compact defense as long as you build up dynamism behind this compactionIt has its own share of problems though. First, you can only truly understand what's written if you are actually recreating every move on a chessboard in front of your eyes. (If you are a superhuman by any chance who has a super eidetic memory and can follow every move in your mind's eye, this comment is not for you). When describing a move similar to one previously described, most books do not repeat the analysis previously given. This book purposely repeats the analysis and rationale over and over (phrased slightly differently each time) to drill the concept into the reader’s mind. I found this helpful. Play the moves necessary (out-of-strategy) to secure maximum mobility, space, while weakening the enemy, cramping his movements It's not perfect. Describing every move is a great idea in principle, but it does get a little wearisome having to read about 1.e4 for the umpteenth time. The games themselves are as old as the hills. That's not too much of a problem when it comes to the tactics, because tactics never go out of fashion. But you'll sniff at some of the openings which feel like wind-up gramophones in an I-pad age. It also has to be said that some of Chernev's advice is a tad suspect. How fianchettoing kingside actually makes the king safer, despite requiring the g-pawn to be pushed. This actually wasn't a major theme of the book, but the author mentioned off-hand at one point that the foanchettoed bishop helps protect the king. After that, I started noticing how many standard mating patterns don't work with the bishop there.

Weak players instinctively try and free up pawns, anxious against a pin, but it is better to leave the kingside pawns protective and close than get exposed after castling. There are some brilliant ideas expressed in this book. A very modern table containing a comparison of the mobility of pieces in terms squares they could move to - which I had seen in one of Dan Heisman's books and thought it was a great invention. It has the the thoughts of a human master-level player, which are, mistakes and all, better than the all computer analysis lines that anyone can generate. My goal in reading books like this is to incorporate into my subconscious as many master game patterns as possible: moves humans make, explanations humans give. In that respect, again flaws and all, showing the moves and some of the simple ideas behind the moves, even the repetition of some bits of advice, was perfect for me. Bishop greatest effect is controlling important diagonals and pinning (rendering motionless) pieces

My other complaint is variety. The open games in the first half are very entertaining, but the second half contains too many Queen Gambits. Maybe it's repetition by intention, but at the end it bored me down a little bit. Look at squares to protect rather than pieces, then whenever you need to move a piece into strategic squares there’s already defense laid long ago. Mentioned: Dan Heisman, IM Eric Rosen, Jose Rauol Capablanca, Harry Pillsbury, GM Sam Shankland, Siegbert Tarrasch