Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 [Paperback]

John Watson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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 won’t 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.

About the Author

International Master John Watson is one of the world’s most respected writers on chess. His groundbreaking four-volume work on the English firmly established his reputation in the 1980s, and he has produced a string of top-quality works since. In 1999, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, Watson’s first book for Gambit, won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award and the United States Chess Federation Fred Cramer Award for Best Book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Gambit Publications; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904600603
• ISBN-13: 978-1904600602
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #153,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Holistic Approach to Chess Openings, January 4, 2007

By	j clark (bethesda, md) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 (Paperback)

This is an opening book unlike any other. It is not an opening
encyclopedia. It is also not a repertoire book. It is not a survey of
a specific opening. Rather, it seeks to give the reader a holistic
view of openings, focusing on ideas, plans, structures, and even
tactical themes that cut across many systems. Those who are familiar
with Watson's award-winning "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy" and
"Chess Strategy in Action" will find the same level of scholarship,
depth of thinking, and rich insights in this work. As an example, in
the early chapters we explore the importance of Black's d5 break in the
"open" games (i.e., those that begin 1.e4 e5). We go on in the Chapter
on the Giuoco Piano to see how this advance is tied to Black's quest
for equality. Then in the Ruy Lopez chapter, we compare the effect of
3...a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3, when the Spanish bishop is on the same diagonal.
Watson keenly observes that now the d5 advance lacks sting (it does
not attack the bishop, being on b3 rather than c4), and hence the Ruy
Lopez can be seen as a way for White to achieve the ideal two pawn
center while diminishing Black's ability to counter effectively with
d5. Very illuminating. And so the idea of the equalizing pawn break,
and many other ideas, weave their way through the treatments of various
responses to 1.e4. Game fragments and complete annotated games help to
illustrate these deeper themes in a concrete fashion.

Much of the material is quite sophisticated, and yet this book can be
of great use to advanced beginners and above. It will benefit anybody
who wishes to understand the ideas behind the openings, rather than
memorize moves. In fact, I think it would be good for all serious
students of the game to work through the entire book, even where the
opening is not part of their repertoire. (It may profoundly affect
your repertoire!) This is because good chess is about ideas, and
seeing a wealth of these ideas unfold in this book will surely
strengthen your game. A recommended companion to MCO and the
repertoire books on your shelf.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chess Opening Wonderland, January 23, 2007

By	K. J. Case (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 (Paperback)

John Watson has written another amazing book. It's hard to believe that he could create another tome the equal of "Chess Strategy in Action" and "Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy". Lo and behold! This new volume on the e4 chess opening is a masterpiece! IM Watson has a way of bringing a refreshing approach to tried and true openings. I have read lots of opening theory but this work illuminates the themes and strategies of openings in a way that I have never seen before. Watson also provides excellent sample games and analysis of the material he discusses.

I have not read the entire work yet, but I can highly recommend the chapters on the Pirc Defense, Philidor Defense, Caro Kan, Giucco Piano, Kings Gambit, and Sicilian. I think this book will be very useful for almost any level of player. Also please read the chapter on the "Significance of Structure"

Eevn though I have been playing chess for over 50 years (USCF-expert, when active), I feel that I have only gained a genuine understanding of these openings for the first time after reading Watson's book!!

Finally, this volume will not only increase your understanding of the e4 openings, but it will also deepen your enjoyment and love for the game.

I can't wait to read Volume 2 on d4!!

By the way, I should mention that I think the review by j clark very accurately describes the book.

55 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Topics in e4 opening theory, January 30, 2007

By	John Gossman (Seattle, wa USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 (Paperback)

I bought this book largely because I am such a big fan of Watson's "Secrets of Chess Strategy" and "Chess Strategy in Action". To be clear, this is not a complete e4 repertoire (Alburt/Dzindzi aside, this is probably outside the scope of any single book), it simply talks about specific common openings in the larger context of modern opening theory, and how to play openings in general. The key quote from the Introduction is "It is important to understand that the games and analysis do not always represent current theory; they are intended to illustrate underlying properties of the openings". This I think it does very well. While it is far more concrete and in-depth, I think the intent is more like the classic (but outdated and incomplete) "Ideas behind the chess openings".

As much as anything it takes its introductory chapters on basic topics like pawn structure and then uses certain lines to illustrate them. In other words this is a very theoretical book (which happens to be about opening theory instead of middle game), not a practical guide to openings.
I'd recommend it simply because John Watson is one of the best chess writers working. If that doesn't appeal to you, skip it.