It is now seventy years since Nimzowitsch wrote his monumental work My System. While it remains a fundamental work on chess strategy, the way chess positions are handled has changed greatly since Nimzowitsch’s time – both refinements to existing ideas, and completely new concepts. John Watson’s book fulfils the need for a thorough, profound work on the modern handling of chess positions, and how Nimzowitsch’s theories – still controversial and revolutionary at the time My System was written – have been refined and used alongside classical concepts.

The first section of the book investigates the development of classical themes, such as pawn majorities, the centre, and structural weaknesses. Watson then moves on to discuss new concepts, including the willingness of modern players to accept backward pawns in return for dynamic play, the idea of a good ‘bad’ bishop, knights finding useful roles at the edge of the board and the exchange sacrifice ideas that became prevalent with the post-war Soviet champions. This profound yet thoroughly practical work is rounded off with sections on prophylactic thinking, dynamism, modern concepts as they apply to the critical contemporary opening systems, and some thoughts on the future of chess.

International Master John Watson is one of the world’s most respected writers on chess. His ground-breaking four-volume work on the English and Play the French, often described as the French player’s bible, firmly established his reputation in the 1980s, and he has produced a string of top-quality works since. His pupils include 1997 World Junior Champion, Tal Shaked.