The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess Openings [Mass Market Paperback]

William Aramil (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: October 7, 2008

It?s your move...

The Complete Idiot?s Guide® to Chess Openings provides all readers need to know to solidify their opening game and get on the road to victory. In it, the authors provide a step-by-step walk-through of 100 of the most effective opening moves. Each opening strategy is clearly and succinctly explained, with numerous illustrations that bolster the reader?s understanding.

?Step-by-step advice and strategies, as well as helpful illustrations
?Approximately 605 million people worldwide play chess; the World Chess Federation estimates that more than 285 million play chess online

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; First Printing edition (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592577768
• ISBN-13: 978-1592577767
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Does What It Is Intended To Do, Neither More Nor Less, September 13, 2009

By 

Mr. Fred (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess Openings (Mass Market Paperback)

Evaluating a survey/general advice book such as this requires keeping the purpose of the book in mind. The book is not intended to teach opening lines as such, nor provide information to support building an opening repertoire. It is intended to teach opening principles, and illustrate these principles with a high-level overview of major opening systems. The book does all of this well. It does not do more nor does it do less.

There are actually very few books available that provide a general survey of openings (at least compared with the thousands of titles that specialize in some line or branch). Mr. Aramil's book follows a simple but effective plan: explain the elements of opening play (material, space, time, pawn structure, king safety) and describe and briefly analyse major systems in terms of these elements. The approach works remarkably well, and the book feels suitable for beginners through intermediates (perhaps 1600 ELO).

The only drawback is in the writing style, which is sometimes a little awkward and lacking (verbal) accuracy. This however does not interfere with understanding the chess content.

I don't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who buys it for the intended purpose, namely, learning general opening principles through description and example. Don't buy it looking for new lines to play or for depth of analysis. Keep the purpose in mind, and benefit from one of the best of the few books in this category.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very helpful, October 4, 2009

By 

W. Blackman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess Openings (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is a great book for someone who is lost in the jungle called the opening. This book teaches you the general opening goals and how to reach the said goals.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very helpful, October 30, 2008

By 

Cam - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess Openings (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is for openings, however, it helps with all aspects of chess, imho. It teaches you more how to think about which moves to play and about calculation. I'm an okay player and i havent really had time to absorb the whole book but i really think its helping me...also a very personal book it seems like you have a national champ teaching you how to play chess, great book!