Referring to the first couple of moves, by either black or white, in chess, the opening can make or break a game. With nearly 1400 named openings and countless unnamed ones, the combination variables are almost endless. Standard, or book, openings lead, in a fairly predictable way into the middle and end games. However, it’s important not to let your guard down as an off-book move can rapidly put you on the defense.
Online lessons are an excellent way to learn chess and with a RetiOpening coach supporting and training you, you’ll find mastering strategic openings easy. Offering group or one-to-one lessons, workshops, and seminars. Books can never replace the interactive teaching from an experienced coach but can help to supplement the lessons.
We put our heads together and have chosen what we consider to be the best books on chess openings, bringing you new perspectives, extra skills, and more ways to beat your opponents.
1. FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul Van der Sterren
Part of five-book series, Sterren brings you detailed explanations of many famous openings and a lot that aren’t so well-known. Featuring clear diagrams, easy-to-follow instructions, and numerous hints and tips from the Grandmaster himself, Sterren.
Providing an effective memorization method, he equips players with the knowledge to take control from the start – keeping stealth on your side and build an impressive repertoire of moves.
The approach is light-hearted and entertaining and belies the amount of in-depth knowledge held between the covers.
2. Modern Chess Openings, 15th Edition by Nick De Firmian
There’s a reason why this book is on its 15th edition – it should be on every chess player’s shelf. Invaluable as a resource, it covers everything from double king/pawn openings, such as the King’s Gambit, Ruy Lopez, and the Marshall Attack, through to the highly sophisticated flank openings, including the Indian Attack and Bird’s Opening.
Presented in an easily comprehensible style, De Firmian breaks down the subject matter into logical sections, which follow each other in complexity. Using detailed diagrams, examples ranging from beginner to expert, and an approachable methodology, Modern Chess Openings is a book we can all take away from.
3. Chess Openings for Beginners: The Complete Chess Guide to Strategies and Opening Tactics to Start Playing like a Grandmaster by Craig Medina
Part one of a three-book series, Chess Openings for Beginners is exactly that – it assumes you possess the basic knowledge and takes you on an easy-to-follow journey through those important first moves on the board. It does, however, cover much more besides.
By providing insight into the complicated sequence of moves that build both an effective defense and an unbeatable attack, this book offers an understanding of the importance of a choreographed opening. Medina also explains how to use simple psychology to enhance your edge, and predict your opponent’s next moves.
With accessible content and clear diagrams, Medina covers all the well-known openings, such as the Ruy Lopez and infamous Sicilian Defense, and by starting with the easier openings, including the Queen’s Gambit, the reader absorbs new information organically, building their knowledge base.
Chess Openings for Beginners is an excellent addition to any chess library and definitely worth reading.
4. Chess Openings: Your Systematic Strategy Guide To Smart Chess Openings by Ethan Bailey
The beginning of a chess game is arguably the most important – it teaches you everything you need to know about your opponent, and can also boost your confidence in your own abilities. Whether you are playing in attack or defense, to many experts, the salient feature of an opening is to provide insight into the player opposite.
Bailey is not only a skilled and experienced chess player, ably explaining foundation openings, including the Ruy Lopez Opening, Italian Game, and the King’s Gambit, but tackles the importance of psychology in strategical gameplay. Using anecdotes, and examples, he builds a picture of what to aim for and how to get there, making Chess Openings not only a great instruction manual, but a fun read, too.
5. The Carlsen Variation – A New Anti-Sicilian: Rattle your opponents from the get-go! by Carsten Hansen
The Carlsen Variation is written for players that want to have fun playing interesting, challenging chess and win, without studying endless theories and intangible concepts.
Taking Magnus Carlsen’s Anti-Sicilian Opening as a base, Hansen has disassembled every fraction of this still relatively unknown method, examined it in minute detail, and put it back together again. This close analysis has allowed the author to include new ideas and improvements, making valuable suggestions throughout.
By working through this information-rich manual, you’ll understand the whole system inside out and back-to-front. This gives you the confidence to use and manipulate it to your own advantage, whilst placing your opponent on the back foot.
A great resource for any player to study, if you’re a fan of the Sicilian Defense, it’s a must-have.
