by Jeremy Silman, 658pp. (4th ed., Siles Press, 2010)

Read an excerpt here

Silman literally wrote this fourth edition from scratch - all new examples, all new prose, highlighted by lots of humor and some very original ways of presenting the material. “Since my ideas have changed, expanded and matured it became clear to me that a vast overhaul in my chess teaching philosophy necessitated a final edition.”

None other than former US Champ Nick diFirmian says this is the most fundamentally important middlegame book since Nimzovich's My System. Designed for players in the 1400 to 2100 rating range and for teachers looking for a ready-made chess curriculum, the author shares a mind-expanding journey that takes the reader through imbalance-basics, ensures that every detail of all the imbalances are mastered, and leaves the player/lover of chess with something he always wanted but never believed he could achieve: a master-level positional foundation.

 

A section on practical chess psychology (titled Psychological Meanderings) presents never-before-published ideas on psychological processes that hinder players of all levels, and gives easy-to-follow advice and techniques that will help anyone overcome these ubiquitous mental/emotional failings.

Hundreds of games brought to life by instruction-rich prose, and stories that offer humor while highlighting various lessons, vividly illustrate all the book's topics in a manner that's both personal and fun. For those who have always dreamed about truly understanding the mysteries of chess, How to Reassess Your Chess offers invaluable knowledge and insight that cannot be found in any other source.

 

"The Rolls Royce of instructive chess books— more chess players have improved by reading How to Reassess Your Chess than any other book."
—John Watson, International Master and author of over 30 chess books

"It seems crazy for Silman to do a complete "reassessment" of his groundbreaking work, but the all-new 4th edition is better than ever! This book is a must for all players serious about improving their game."
—Joel Benjamin, International Grandmaster, three-time U.S. Chess Champion,and chess author

"A whole chess generation grew up with How to Reassess Your Chess. This magnificent new edition will delight teachers, those who want to improvetheir game, and those who dreamed of new material on Silman's imbalance-concept."
—Yasser Seirawan, International Grandmaster, four-time U.S. Chess Champion,and chess author