I have heard differing opinions on Nimzowitsch's My System book. I've heard that it is a classic and the best book for me to read. I've also heard that I shouldn't read it yet as it is more aimed at higher rated players and should wait until I get stronger before I read it.
What is a good rating to be at when reading it?
You don't have to be good to take lessons from Nimzowtsch. And by the way, the book is availlable for free in the forwardchess-app (German version. English verzion here: https://archive.org/details/my-system-2020).
In the book you can learn about occupying open lines, arriving at the very important 7th rank, passed pawns, excahnging pieces, discovered checks, pawn chains, positional play this is a good book.
I read it before my "chess career" and it was usefull.
I have already bought the book............
The first chapter i.e centre and development seems to be for beginners, I don't know about the rest
If your interested in history go for it. Otherwise there are hundreds of equal or better books for you. There are nice sages and stuff in this book but speaking chess it‘s completely overrated. Hundred years ago chess schooling was quite new.
#1
"I have heard differing opinions on Nimzowitsch's My System book." * People have different opinions.
"I've heard that it is a classic and the best book for me to read." * I agree.
"I've also heard that I shouldn't read it yet as it is more aimed at higher rated players and should wait until I get stronger before I read it." * It has basic as well as advanced stuff.
"What is a good rating to be at when reading it?" * Any rating, if you know the rules of the game you can study Nimzovich.
#4
"hundreds of equal or better books for you" * I do not think so. There are hundreds of mediocre books by mediocre authors.
This is a top book by a top author, and he clearly spent time to write it.
"speaking chess it‘s completely overrated" * I disagree. It is still a classic.
It's a classic instructional book and covers both basics and more advanced material.
There are many similar and even better modern books but Nimzowitsch was the pioneer and still worth reading. If you think it's basic, skip to the final section where he annotates a set of classic games in a clear and entertaining manner.
Some of his opinions on openings will be different to modern day thinking. It's still instructive to understand what has changed and why we view those positions differently.
By the way, the title does not refer to chess but gymnastic exercises that Nimzowitsch practiced regularly.
Should I skip the first few chapters of the book or read from the start?
"Should I skip the first few chapters of the book or read from the start?"
* By all means read from the start. It is a very logical book and starts from the foundations and then builds up.
I was more the Tarrasch guy. A bit more sober then AN‘s fables with pigs etc. I had played 2 years than someone recommended my system and I was bemused after peeking in.
I don't think it's a great choice as a first positional book.
Nimzowitsch was obviously a genius, but My System is quite a quirky book and the material that's included and the way that it's arranged is quite counterintuitive in places.
If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend cranking through a normal modern(ish) book or course on chess strategy - Silman or Seirawan or Grooten or someone - before going back and trying to see what you can glean from Nimzowitsch.