Brian Goldstein’s Chess Book Review: Challenging the Nimzo-Indian

Brian Goldstein is the first BradenBournival.com Correspondent. You can reach Brian at brian@bradenbournival.com

I’ve been following the Fide Invitational Tournament in Chicago the past few days and have been highly impressed with one of the player’s preparation. The author of this book, David Vigorito, is supposedly well known as an opening theoretician. Seeing the positions he got in this tournament from the opening, and his result, I can’t say that I disagree. To my knowledge, this is David’s first book, and I have to say I was impressed. First thing’s first, before giving David his props, I gotta give some to Quality Chess. It seems to me every single book that get’s published through them is fantastic. Learn From The Legends is definitely a must read and am definitely looking forward to their upcoming work on the Berlin Defense.

Enough about them, that’s not what I am here to write about. I think you all should know that I am kind of an opening fiend… Yes I know, it can’t be good for my chess, but it keeps me entertained and teaches me to play unfamiliar positions, so it’s not all bad. My library of chess books is well over 400, every single one has been read at least once and thoroughly analyzed. I am almost finished David’s book,Challenging The Nimzo Indian, and I can tell you that it is extremely well written and accurate. The games are up to date and his analysis is fresh and full of interesting ideas.

I like how he summarizes every chapter before actually getting into the meat of the book. It makes it easier to pick and choose rather then having to read the whole thing and realizing you just wasted your time learning a line you don’t particularly like. The book covers all the lines arising after 4. Qc2 from the ultra-solid 4…d5 to the wild and crazy Vitolinsh/Topalov Gambit (early b5).

The only negative thing to say about this book, and this is purely my opinion, is that it doesn’t really guide the reader to what the author believes is best. This has benefits and drawbacks. For example, a benefit is that a player can choose whatever best fits their style while a drawback is If the book was more of a direct repertoire book, It could definitely save the reader some time. Dave’s next book, Play The Semi Slav, is structrued as a repetoire book.

So rapping this all up, I highly recommend David’s book to anyone who is looking for a weapon to battle the ever popular Nimzo-Indian defense or to anyone who wants to simply broaden their horizons.