Customer Reviews

Starting Out: King's Indian Attack (Starting Out - Everyman Chess)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is primarily about the closed French and closed Siclian defenses, from white's perspective, (about 140 pages). The last 60 pages is about the reversed King's Indian opening. If your primary interest is playing 1. Nf3 as white, this is probably not the book you are looking for.

If you like opening with 1. e4, and want a systematic response when your opponent does not reply with 1. ... e5, then this is a good book for you. You will have a system of play that does not require learning the vast variations of the open French and Sicilian defenses.

Also, you will have in hand the 1. Nf3 opening, in case you want to change things up a bit with a secondary opening as white.

The book is well written and illustrated, the level of detail is suitable for the beginning or intermediate player. It assumes a basic knowledge of the game beyond just knowing how the pieces move.

I am very disappointed in this book, particularly for the Everyman "Starting Out" series. The book is not structured well for someone just learning the King's Indian Attack (KIA), the main line examples are poorly chosen, and quite frankly, John Emms style and knowledge does not translate well into a Starting Out book.

The introduction hypes the KIA as a favorite of the author from his teens, yet one gets the sense he doesn't believe in the opening. This is the second Starting Out book the author has done like this, the other covering the Scotch. As white, you make the decision to go into these lines, yet the books seem to show with accurate play Black is more than fine. Right from the start, in Game 2 v. the French, the right line of play is a sideline and in main game White is positionally crushed.

Regarding structure and the author's style, there is too much detail and focus on sidelines in the introduction stages of each line. Where the concept is supposed to be understanding the position, the discussion is on sidelines and unexplored moves. It is obvious the author has a deep knowledge of the KIA, it just needs to be lowered down to the critical fundamentals for the SOS book.

I'm a devout reader of Emms' Sicilian Kan book, and have enjoyed several of his other books. However, I think this misses the mark for a Starting Out book. Good material, a miss on execution.

This book is much more about the KIA against half-open defenses than otherwise. If you really want to play the KIA, it's an idiotic thing to start with 1.e4. To begin with, if black replies 1....d5
(The Scandinavian)this rules out the KIA altogether. If black plays
1...e5, the KIA is possible but not effective, as the author himself put it. Emms even suggested that you should use your favorite opening/defense against 1...e5, but not the KIA, which should be used to avoid the French, Sicilian, Caro-Kann. Fischer
himself, who had problems with the French, used the KIA to avoid the French.(Kasparov wasn't very comfortable with the French either).In other words, this is a book JUST for e4 players who play
whatever they play against 1...e5 and want a system to play against
half-open defenses. These players, of course, will have to be prepared to face a Scandinavian too. If you, on the other hand, are
a 1.Nf3 player and/or really want to use the KIA, then you should look elsewhere, this is NOT the book for you. Try Dunnington's book. You can also play through early Petrosian games. The master of restrained chess used it a lot in his early days.

I am enjoying the book and I think it is a good mix of theory and real games. I am an expert rated player, but I think the book is accessible to lower rated players that want to learn a new opening family.

Ever since I've used it against my coach at my chess club, I have always wanted to learn about the strategies and moves of the KIA. This book clearly explains all of that. It also explains what defense black can form for the KIA. This book is unbiased, showing reasonable moves to play for both players. For a book about about the KIA (King's Indian Attack), this is what I recommend.

This is a well organized and easy to understand book for players at all levels. Whether you want to play the KIA or want a better line against an opponent, this volume does the job.

A good psycological weapons agains people who booked up their Sicilian, French, CaroKan. This book is not recomended because its not organized, play with move order, games from insignificant players, and if there a line that author thinks player likely not play, so he doesn't include it, So its incomplete and doesn;t go more than 12 moves. however i think 1600 will benefit, higher rated player, this book will ruin their game. These days plater buy chess engine with book, nust have for chessplayer, not offered here, its at www.ChessBase.com or the best encyclopedia and informant publication not offered here at www.informant.com

Written by British chess Grandmaster John Emms, Starting Out: King's Indian Attack is an in-depth guide for intermediate to advanced chess players to the King's Indian Attack, a favorite chess strategy of the legendary Bobby Fischer, among others including world-class Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich. Starting Out: King's Indian Attack studies the fundamental principles of this tactic and its numerous lines. A wealth of notes, tips, warnings, suggestions, sample games and diagrams serve to enlighten the average player on the strengths and weaknesses of using or defending against this strategy. Highly recommended for any dedicated chess player seeking to improve his or her game against experienced opponents.