Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian (Starting Out - Everyman Chess)

Only 3 stars because I find it helpful to have page numbers when I want to go to a specific chapter, and this book has no page numbers. I have seen two copies, neither was numbered.

I own many books from the ''Starting Out'' serie and they fit my needs. Being a class B player, I need a general and practical understanding of the different opening set ups I use. This serie is well written and the strategical and tactical concepts are very helpful. I use it as the basic of my futur work if I ever get strong enough to need more detailed informations.

The Nimzo-Indian can be played in conservative solid fashion or in a more aggressive, unbalancing manner in which black plays for the win early in the middlegame. This book is designed to introduce the basic ideas, themes, and philosophy of the Nimzo. It is not loaded with the latest theory nor will it help titled players learn something they didn't already know. However, this book really is a nice way to 'start out' in one of the best defenses against 1.d4 and is obviously critical for white players who play 1.d4/ 2.c4/ 3.Nc3. Chris Ward has a lifetime's experience with this opening and it shows. He is also a fairly entertaining writer, which is more than more chess authors can say for themselves.Although, the book doesn't run 'deep' (nor does it claim to) it does present all the pertinent variations within the Nimzo so that you can choose which lines you want to play or research further.This book will not be enough for strong club players to just hit the ground running. You will still (of course) need to check open resources like ECO, NCO, or the TWIC for modern theory of whichever lines strike your fancy. If you are already 1800+, then look elsewhere for you Nimzo knowledge. This book is really meant for lower rated players.As a side note, the Sherbakov-Jakovenko game is not tactically flawed as a previous reviewer mentioned. If he had tried to play the lines with Fritz analysizing for more than a minute he would find that Grandmasters might know a bit more than some people give them credit for. The ideas involving a quick b4 in that game look winning for white at first but then the computer (and strong GM's like Onischuk and Gurevich)realize black gets the material back since the knight on a8 isn't going anywhere. Also, since black ends up with 2 queenside connected passers in the coming endgame. More than compensating and in fact, forcing play to take a perpetual to avoid getting burned. A very playable line for black.

I've been a chess coach for over 30 years and own most of the "Starting Out" series.This one on the Nimzo-Indian Defence by Chris Ward is written in an everyday language thats easy to understand, and has lots of diagrams as well as illustrative games to show you the plans and objectives of each main line with crystal clear clarity.By doing this you wont have to memorize countless seemingly meaningless variations as is the case with many other opening books.Their is no safer reply to 1.d4 than the Nimzo-Indian Defence,a favorite of many world champions, which has numerous different ways you can steer the game to suit your style of play.If you want to take your opponent out of his comfort zone, or are just looking for a solid way to get an exceelent game in the opening phase, this book is for you.For the novice and club player as well as the Master, author Chris Ward writes in a down to earth easy to understand style.176 pages long and an excellent investment.

Amazingly, this book does not seem to have sold many copies; I surmise that from the scant reviews here. And yet again amazingly, the Nimzo-indian is probably the most solid response to 1.d4, and not many have spied this classic. Finally, Grandmasters who are also blessed with the talent to instruct are indeed few. And Chris, is most certainly one of them!In this piece, Chris weaves his magic of instruction in such rare wealth of information that the amateur is unsure as to whom the instructions are directed, White or Black? Both are catered for. Chris takes us on a Nimzo-indian journey across the 64 dark and light squares, freely dishing those pithy and important general chess ideas and aphorisms that improve the amateur's game subliminally; he is a true instructor alright, and does so with great humour and entertainment that the lessons stick in the membrane!!Do yourself a great favour; if you play 1.d4, or 1.c4, or you're tired of the King's Indian Defence or the Slav and Dutch, get this book and learn how to play the Nimzo-indian. You will not regret it.

will benefit club players who are looking for a defence to adopt

In meiner Ausgabe (Reprint 2006) fehlt die Seitennummerierung.Man kommt zwar ueber die Runden aber sollte nicht passieren. Zum Inhalt hat Marc Berreth schon alles noetige gesagt. Meine Beduerfnisse wurden insofern gedeckt als ich eigentlich nur eine Uebersicht ueber die Eroeffnung haben wollte und dafuer ist "starting out" immer gut - obwohl es bessere Buecher der Reihe gibt (z.B. Scandinavian).Ich spiele bevorzugt (1.Sf3) und daher war es interessant zu wissen wie ich Nimzo-Indisch aus dem Weg gehen kann. Aber vielleicht probiere ich das mal mit Schwarz und dafuer ist "starting out" doch ausreichend (und das Interesse wurde zumindest geweckt). Wenn ich Varianten genauer ansehen moechte gehe ich normalerweise naemlich gleich ins Internet und suche diverse Datenbanken durch.Je ein Stern Abzug:- Seitennummerierung fehlt- Es gibt noch bessere Ausgaben von "Starting Out"

Good intro to the Nimzo, only downside is that the book doesn't have page numbers.

Book content was good but unfortunately came without page numbers. A bit disappointing:(