Rating: 
Summary: It May be too Advanced for Me
Review: Soltis discusses typical plans arising out of particular pawn structures and transposition possibilities arising from various openings. Games are presented illustrating general themes, but are not analyzed in detail. It didn't help me as much as I had hoped, but it is still on my shelf. It will be reread when other areas of my game, especially tactics, have improved.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent if this books fits your personal need
Review: The only types of players that this book would benefit are tournament-level, who have memorized all 50 major openings. For the rest of us, the book is a study in arcane gibberish. The only thing I found helpful is how to position the pawns and pieces for a "break" into the opponents pawn structure. All other information was confusing. Even after Soltis described "why" one player's position won or lost the game, I STILL didn't understand why. The only advice I have for intermediate players is that, if you play black, the most important square to defend is e5. I use a variation of the King's Indian Defence (with Nd7 instead of Nf6), to close the center with black pawns at e5 and d4, then launch a kingside attack. Everyone thinks that getting pieces outside the pawn chain is an advantage, but if you advance pawns wisely, the opponent will be squeezed for space, and control of e5 by black hampers any white kingside attack.
Rating: 
Summary: Way too advanced for even intermediate players
Review: The only types of players that this book would benefit are tournament-level, who have memorized all 50 major openings. For the rest of us, the book is a study in arcane gibberish. The only thing I found helpful is how to position the pawns and pieces for a "break" into the opponents pawn structure. All other information was confusing. Even after Soltis described "why" one player's position won or lost the game, I STILL didn't understand why. The only advice I have for intermediate players is that, if you play black, the most important square to defend is e5. I use a variation of the King's Indian Defence (with Nd7 instead of Nf6), to close the center with black pawns at e5 and d4, then launch a kingside attack. Everyone thinks that getting pieces outside the pawn chain is an advantage, but if you advance pawns wisely, the opponent will be squeezed for space, and control of e5 by black hampers any white kingside attack.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best book available on pawn structures!
Review: The study of chess openings can be both frustrating and time consuming. Frankly, we tend to waste time memorizing the latest theoretical novelty on move 18 of a variation we won't see in tournament play for at least several years. Soltis' book makes the study of chess openings both fun and practical. Soltis has distilled the vast number of chess openings down into a very manageable number of related "pawn structures". These include: the Caro formation, the Slav formation, the Open Sicilian, the e5 Pawn Chain, the d5 Pawn Chain, the King's Indian Complex, the Queen's Gambit family (Isolated Queen Pawn, Hanging Pawns, etc.), the Panov Formation, Stonewall, and the Closed Sicilian. Soltis clearly explains the typical plans (why certain plans work and others don't) and tactics of each structure, and when its beneficial to change from one structure to another. Every chess player should read this book at least once a year to refresh his or her mind with the concepts. Improvement in one's game is virtually guaranteed with study of this material. Soltis has shown once again why he is one of the very best chess authors on the scene today.
Rating:
Summary: How to create a middle game plan .
Review: The title of this book pawn structure chess is a misnomer. The term pawn structure chess denotes pawn structure in the abstract. For example isolated, backward doubled pawn etc.This book specifically discusses the creation of a middle game plan based on the pawn skeleton of the opening.One can determine the pawn breaks and what side of the board to plan on based on the very nature of this structure.It also has to be made clear that names of openings are not the issue here but that pawn skeltons are of importance in this discussion.For example the French and Sicilian defences are both different but nevertheless variations of both might have similar skeletons. Therefore the plans might be similar even though the openings are different.In addition two positions from the same openings might have entirely different plans.This point is not stressed enough in his book.My main problem with his book is that he does not clearly delineate his use of terminolgy. In many instances it's to vague.Another problem that I have with this book is not the authors fault. With many theoretical openings that exist on today's chess scene,it seems to have become impossible to classify openings purely on the basis of pawn structure.With many of these sharp tactical openings of modern chess move order and tempo as opposed to the more general strategy of piece placement and its pawn skelton in the opening seem to be the order of the day. Therefore this book might become obsolete very shortly. Nevertheless an excellent book for anyone interested in learning middlegame planing based on the opening pawn skeleton.
Rating:
Summary: Useful strategy for transposing between chess openings
Review: This book is an excellent book. Soltis goes step-by-step through a few games in each chapter, then presents several games at the end of the chapter. Virtually all opening families are represented in the book. If I would pay attention to what I've learned, this book could add 150+ points to my USCF rating. Not only is the information useful, but it is just plain fun working through the games which Soltis presents. This is a book I will go through again, a bit slower, 6 months from now.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT book
Review: This is a tremendous book that will help you understand HOW certain positions obtain in the middlegame, and how to navigate them. This book helped me understand practically every positional and tactical concept I'd previously encountered.
Rating: 
Summary: A good introduction to pawn structures
Review: This is a very nice book. Soltis outlines in a very systematic way and in great detail the various plans connected with a given pawn structure. This book is certainly of great value for every intermediate chess player. However, I disliked the choice of games which are given as examples for the various strategies. Usually they are too one-sided, you will hardly get such an easy win in your own games. Some additional examples, where both sides play according to the requirements of the position resulting in a tough struggle, would make this book a five-star book.
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Summary: Shows how important pawns REALLY are
Review: Unlike the previous reviewer, i love studying Chess openings. It's the only reason i decided to take up the game again with a more serious attitude. That being said, no matter how well you know your opening or whatever your favorite openings are, without proper use of your pawns, it can all go for naught. What's also important is at least having a basic understanding of pawn structures in openings you're NOT familiar with that your opponent may offer. Even though losing a pawn isn't the end of the world, i've always prided myself on getting that small amount of material then riding my extra pawn to a winning endgame. Chess isn't always exciting sacrifices or wonderful combinations that leave your opponent baffled. Many are just trench warfare that can be tedious if you're impatient. It's this very type of game that makes the pawn such an important part of Chess. 325 pages of numerous opening complexes explaining what your pawn structure should be makes this book well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent Middle Game Book
Review: With this book, you don't need to spend several hours a day studing chess opennings! The skeleton pawns are divided by categories(Slav family, Sicilian family, Stone Wals, etc.) wich can be reached by several diferent ways. In each structure, A. Soltis, teaches how to proced with a plan (he demonstrates a lot playable plans in each structure), and teaches how to position the pieces on the board acording to type of structure. After reading this book, you be able to planning your game much better, independent if you know any specific openning or not. You will know exactly what to do in your middle game, no maters if it is opened game or closed etc. I'm a Brazilian chess player.
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