What are some good books on positional chess?

[Ponti]

The famous russian trainer Mark Dvoretsky in a training session with brazilian masters gave them tactic problems to solve.
Well, GM A. Fier is one of them. He is now 19th. strongest junior player in last FIDE´s list. There were other GMs in that training session.
Think of it, if a trainer gives a GM tactics to solve...

Ok, you may say that GMs are strong strategic players. I agree, but:

1) it is nonsense to learn strategy if your tactics is weak. Do you know how to play an isolated queen pawn middlegame? I can tell you, if you can´t see tactic shots, forget it, you´ll never learn;

2) after becoming strong enough in tactics you´ll see strategic themes are the obvious way to continue to improve.

3) One day you´ll be strong enough to reach a rook endgame against strong opposition, you will loose and then regret why you had never studied endgames. Remember you can study both using van Perlo´s Endgame Tactics.

4) You will loose many games in the opening, because you can´t see the dangerous moves. If you sharpen your tactics you will see them...

5) There is no room for strategy if you have already lost the game by tactics!

Well, after this, here is my list:
1) Pachman´s Chess Strategy (old one but good enough!)
2) My System, Aaron Nimzowitsch.
3) Strategy CDs from Convekta (Chess Assistant)
4) Strategy CDs from Chessbase
5) Max Euwe´s classical "The Middlegame"

Have fun!

[kiroje]

Thanks to all of you who responded with your thoughts and suggestions.
I am now trying to decide which books to order

For now I am leaning toward the easier books as my rating is not high. I'm looking at:
Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
Winning Chess Strategies- Seirawan
Positional Chess Handbook- Gelfer
And maybe Weapons of Chess - Pandolfini.

For downloadable software, Chess Tempo and Chess Tactics Server.

I have Susan Polgar's two books and am reading them daily.

By the way, what is Arena? Is it a full chess program that runs after it is downloaded?

Thank you all again for helping me. It is so good to have a place to come to and talk chess.

S.

I would recommend some of the Jeremy Sillman books, How to reasses your chess for example they are good for beginners.

Also try to read some endgame books, Capablanca and others recommand learning endgame first for understanding the different pieces properties. I would recommend either Dvoretskys Endgame Manual(although it is a little on the dry side) or Shererevskys Endgame Strategy - Fundamental Chess Endings is also good

One book that i really like is Israel Gelfers Positional Chess handbook

Try to look at those

/kim

[stwils]

I have just ordered Gelfer's book form Amazon! Thanks.

S.

[rjand]

The Art of Checkmate and How to beat your dad at chess are worth a look.