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Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 794
EAN: 9781904600602
ISBN: 1904600603
Label: Gambit Publications
Manufacturer: Gambit Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: October 01, 2006
Publisher: Gambit Publications
Studio: Gambit Publications
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Editorial Review:
A major new title from Gambit Publications Ltd. For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player wont know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit. With this book John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players, and did so in ways that have enabled them to enter the general chess consciousness of club players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as rule-independence can apply to the opening. Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games, while offering both entertainment and challenging material for study.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Difficult to follow
I have two problems with this book, first, the author flies from one topic to another, sometimes in mid sentence. There are frequent digressions into tedium, such as "This is all theory, that is, published knowledge. The centre has been cleared out and there's no way to make a simple assessment. Only a lot of brainpower, computer analysis and correspondence chess can solve this sort of thing; in fact, only those things got chess researchers this far!" At one point the author gives a brief history ... Read More
Rating:  - Good opening overview
This volume covers the KP openings.
Like Volume 2 it explains the concepts concerning pawn structure and piece placement, rather than give variations to memorize.
If you want to understand WHAT to do in an opening, rather than HOW to do it, these are the books for you.
Rating:  - Best opening book for the amateur player
Watson has succeeded in producing a great book that introduces the opening and the correct approach to developing an understanding of the various openings. He first gives three chapters on the elements underlying the openings for the weaker player. Then follows the openings themselves; they are fully explained with words and not just analysis (as is contained in reference works such as Modern Chess Openings). The analysis follows the ideas and does not just substitute for it. There are many complete ... Read More
Rating:  - for under 1800
I have examined 2/5ths of volume 1 and roughly another fifth in volume 2: my impression is, if you have a good grounding in general opening theory, you will find this material merely repetitive. It does not educate an advanced palate except coincidentally. Of course, it will here and there add an insight to your learning, but that's as any text will do that has been seriously written. The level of the material is, in general, elementary and, of course, in a work of this size, far from encyclopedic. ... Read More
Rating: - Very Informative
From fromt to back, this book improved my game drastically. Openings are simplified and explained thoroughly. Watson breaks it down move by move and tells the reader the why's and hows and backs it up with plentiful examples of real life games. Highly recommended!
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