The System: A World Champion's Approach to Chess Paperback – March 1, 1999

Hans Berliner has written an interesting book, unusual no doubt, but worthy of being considered seriously by those interested in either the theory or practice of chess. It may not be to everyone's taste, but absurd? I doubt it.[...]In that spirit, I suggest you also look up, on the same site, an article by Mark Dvoretsky called "Dvoretsky on Berliner".Dvoretsky, for those unfamiliar with his work, is widely considered the best chess trainer in the world, and maybe ever. According to Wikipedia: "Kasparov, Anand, Topalov, Bareev, Lautier and Van Wely were just a few of the players who benefited from his coaching. Four of his students went on to become Junior World Champions."What does Dvoretsky think of Berliner? First, he compares him to Yevgeny Sveshnikov, while not agreeing himself with either's "philosophy" of chess openings. Later, he mentions that "Berliner is an outstanding analyst."Finally, before examining two of Berliner's games along with another using one of his ideas, he says: "And his strategic conceptions are indubitably based on rock-solid foundations - practical players would do well to study them. Just don't "absolutize" them: look at them as possible, and only sometimes the strongest, ways of treating the position."With all due respect to Watson and Silman (I have many of their books and have learned from both of them), if forced to chose between their judgment of Berliner and that of Dvoretsky, it is an easy call.Give the book a try and decide for yourself.Also, give Dvoretsky's books a try. But be warned. They aren't easy going, though even for lower rated players they can give you insight into chess at the highest levels. If you love chess, how can that be bad?

Although I have not fully embraced 'The System' as presented in this book, nevertheless it is a book that I have come back to off and on over the last three years. It is well written, logical, and is filled with some very impressive ideas. It is the kind of system that you can take as little or as much of it as suits your style.For example, in the (early) exchange variation of the Queens Gambit declined: 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bf5 8.Qf3 Qb6 (Pachman's idea) 9.Qxf5 Qxb2 10.Qc8+ Ke7 (Smyslov vs. Pachman 1956) he suggests 11.Rb1! (instead of Smyslov's 11.Nd5+) And then if 11. . . Qxc3+ 12.Kd1 g5 13.Bg5 Ne4 14.Nf3 Bg7? 15.Rb7 Kf6 16.Be5 Kg6 17.Nh4! winning. However, it would have been even better to include the queen sac after 17. . .gxh4 18.Qe6!! with mate to soon follow. Fritz found that his suggested alternate line 14. . . Nd7 15.Qxa8 is also winning for White. Starting from the position after 8.Qf3, this is all part of his system while explaining why White should not fear Blacks 7. . . Bf5.Since I like to play 1.d4, I find the book to be very helpful. Others may not find it as entertaining, but it is still a good book!

This book will help me win my next tournament.

Great book. Spending time going through it right now. Great service

hubby loved this

This book is one of the most interesting I have read. It has many interesting points such as a revised points score scale for the pieces. Berliner clearly believes in this as he has used it for the evaluation function in his computer program HITECH. Also some of the opening analysis is very interesting, such as some very convincing ideas on Benko gambit and Grunfeld.The book is has been slated by some ignorant reviewers who do not fully understand what Berliner is trying to say in this book. The idea in the book to me is that evaluation is the key to the middlegame and that you have to have an openings philosophy.The anecdote about his conversation with Bobby Fischer is also an eye opener.All in all very entertaining, more please Dr Berliner!

Although this book has had some poor reviews, it should not be under-estimated. If you are of playing strength 1600-1800 (which I currently am), and you like to play d4 as an opening, I would highly recommend this book. Although Berliner speaks of "The System" as if it could be written down as an equation (so to speak) i.e. the "unified field theory of chess," (this concept is interesting to analytical types and/or scientists)-> The book does has many merits for the d4 player against the Benko Gambit, Indian defenses, etc.. Check it out!

When you read - page 174 - "we wanted to claim that this is The theory of chess, not just my theory" you may think that the author is a joker or the innocent victim to german and american culture. OK, Berliner was an average chess player - US results were meaningless in years when soviet players dominated - and 30 years ago was a succesful correspondence chess player, then quitted active chess. he dedicates himself to computer science and designed and programmed Hitech a succesful chess playing software until late 1988. So now he writes this book pretending to reveal the chess truth. Here Berliner comments 13 games, most recent of which is 30 years old, when in the chess world 30 years are 300 years. He explains how to choose each move it's true, but this leads to variations and every chess lover knows variations are confuted all saints day by chess practice. Berliner thinks he is Prometeus but chess is an unrevealable fire. However the book contains some interesting idea so I'm happy having read it.

Il libro in se è molto interessante, tratta varie aperture fornendo varie illustrazione di diverse partite soprattutto disputate dall'autore, il suo pregio maggiore risiede nella filosofia di gioco che vuole trasmettere: una partita senza spreco di tempi ed un gioco basato sulla massima attività dei pezzi

Weird, off the wall approach to understanding chess. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone wishing to improve as a player.

no comment