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

Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1
by John Watson

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Book Summary Information

Author: John Watson
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-10-01
ISBN: 1904600603
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Gambit Publications

Book Reviews of Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1

Book Review: Something for everyone
Summary: 4 Stars

Watson has done another fantastic job with this addition to the chess world. I am rated 2100 and my son is 1400 yet I found there was much to be learned for both of us. I found the chapter on structure significance to be most enlightening. Of course anything in this book will be helpful for class B players and below, but there is enough breadth of information to allow even A players and above to gain more knowledge as well. I would have liked to have seen a chapter on the Scandanavian, but the explanations of similar structures with regards to other openings somewhat covers this. Watson does not skimp on providing the reader with basic ideas and plans, an important part of any book with regards to openings. Watson makes no claim as to knowing all the opening variations and their subsequent evaluations. He equips the reader with a basic and general understanding of the main plans and structures, and advises the reader to pick up "specialized" opening books for those openings that you are drawn to. 4 stars for leaving out a couple of basic e4 responses, otherwise its a perfect piece of literature...well thought out and well written.

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Summary of Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1

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.

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