Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 Paperback – October 1, 2006

It took joining a local chess club and repeatedly getting clobbered right out of the opening to realize that in order to stand much of a chance I needed to invest more time in the study of opening theory. I already have a copy of MCO but it is heavy on spewing out moves, light on explanation and has more than a few typos that sometimes make following the variations difficult. I researched books on opening theory and finally settled on Watson's Mastering the Chess Openings series. This is a somewhat more costly resource than many of the others available (four volumes instead of a single book) but it's a worthwhile investment.Volume 1 of the series deals with the majority of king pawn openings, 1. e4. It is certainly not exhaustive in that it does not cover every single variation of every king's pawn opening, but it has the large majority of what most chess players will encounter over the board. The openings covered include:- Giuoco Piano- Two Knights Defense- Philidor's Defense- Ruy Lopez- King's Gambit- Sicilian Defense- Caro-Kann Defense- French Defense- Pirc DefenseWatson does a great job of explaining all of these opening systems (or opening defenses as appropriate). That is, rather than give a summary blurb about the opening and then just prattling on with move after move, he walks the reader through the opening, explaining the purpose behind each move. Then, once finished with the main sequence of moves, he includes one or more instructive games with relevant analysis and variations. This is so much more helpful than a cold and clinical presentation of silent moves.Watson's writing style is very clear and approachable. He neither talks down to his readership nor does he assume that everyone has a doctorate in chess.This is a superb series on chess openings which will leave the reader with a much clearer understanding of not just the moves involved in the openings but also an understanding of the purpose and goals of any given opening and variation covered. Although the cost of the series is more than that of a single volume it is well worth it.

For years I have been looking for a good general opening reference book that explains overarching ideas and strategies! And finally! Finally! I found it. Sadly it has been hear for quite a long time but I let other blog reviews steer me away. Watson writes this and the other 3 volumes (more on those in a minute) so that you can begin understanding an opening right away AND continue many of the sidelines as you and your opening needs grow! SUCH WELL WRITTEN EXPLANATORY PROSE!!I also purchased volumes 2 and 4. I think they are essential. And are just as well written. You can read these books all the way thru for a great chess education or just go opening by opening as your needs dictate. I will eventually purchase volume 3 but I never see the English opening so not yet!I can't say enough about these books!!I tried Emms' "Discovering Chess Opening". It was mediocre.Mednis' "How to Play Good Opening Moves" IS great but limited but still an excellent book.I recently purchased "Openings for Amateurs" and it was HORRIBLE!Watson's books are fabulous.I browsed the explanatory prose in the much ballyhooed Fundamental Chess Openings and it doesn't seem to hold a candle to Watson. Maybe it does??But I am sold on Watson's books.

If you're a club player looking for a good starting point to actually understand the ideas behind the e4 openings, this is it. It may not go as deep as the standards like the Batsford/Modern/Nunn's Chess Opening manuals, but it's really not meant to. While there's a place for the more technical manuals listed above, they can be overwhelming to a club player. Watson goes out of his way to make the openings approachable & understandable, as well as giving some additional ideas you can expand on by yourself.After you've read this and vol 2 of the series (about d4 openings), you should be able to learn enough to get a feel for openings that fit your style and expand your collection into specific opening guides if you feel you need to.Highly recommended.

I'm currently reading the book (for the first time). I think it's a great book!The method I am using is to read it first without a chessboard. True, there really aren't that many diagrams. I'm concentrating on the parts of the book with diagrams, or the first few moves of an opening, or the general advice (which doesn't need a diagram). I have no qualms about making marks in the diagrams with pencil to help me follow along.Of course I'm not a very advanced player. So keep that in mind.If moves which come up which are interesting, but too hard to follow without a board, I mark them as such and I'll get to them the second time I read the book.Later I'll read the book again, with a chessboard as required. It least that's the plan.Generally speaking, I think this is a good way to read a chess book. How many times have you tried to read a chess book, only to put it down after reading about ten pages? Maybe you should skim it first. My bookshelf is full of chess books with a book mark on page ten! But hey, this is a book review and not a lesson on how to read chess books.

International Master John Watson offers chess players a very useful basic analysis of open and semi-open games beginning with White playing 1 e4. This was a refresher for me, but I still learned a lot, and recommend this book to serious beginning and especially intermediate chess players who want to improve their opening play.

Very nice and organized book with a comprehensive approach towards opening. Not too big, not too short. Ideal for players in my level (bellow 2000). Recommended by Brazilian GM Rafael Leitao as a good literature on openings. He was right.