Soltis writes chess books faster then I (or most anyone), can read them. Naturally, one has to wonder - Can a chess author, even a highly respected one, come up with one good chess book after another?

Many reviewers feel that chess books by Raymond Keene are basically paint by the number efforts. And Bruce Pandolfini's stuff all seems to be aimed at beginners. Soltis, like Edmar Mednis is a writer for the club and tournament player. Each book he comes out with gives us some insight into improving our play and into how serious professional chess players approach their games. At the same time his books are not overly pretentious or pedantic. They are meaty tomes with lots of examples, and are chatty in a way that makes you feel like you are at the chess club analyzing with a knowledgeable master, who has done his homework.

"Pawn Structure Chess", like the book "Pawn Power Chess" (only $7.16) by Hans Kmoch written many years before gives middle game plans based around the different types of pawn structure's that arise depending upon the opening used. In my opinion this book is much superior, because it gives many more example's and it shows examples where a pawn structure works and when it doesn't. Also it doesn't make up any new terms like the Kmoch book did, since of course, that is unnecessary.

This book appears to be an update to a work that first came out in 1976, but it portends to be a totally new work with no predecessor. Except for the introductory chapter, (where there are more recent game examples), it is exactly the same book, only converted to modern algebraic notation, which I consider a big plus. However, if you bought the original, I don't think it's worth investing in this new edition. I think serious chess students want to know what they are getting in a chess book, and the best way an author can help, is too give some history about the books (previous), existence. I did not find that here. Nevertheless, if you don't already own a copy of this treatise, it is well worth getting. And so is this a great book to have in one's chess library? In Soltis' case, the answer is a resounding yes!