Chess Openings For Dummies

The fast and easy way to improve your chess game You never get a second chance to make a first impression — especially in the game of chess! By using specific examples, detailed explanations, and diagrams, this friendly guide gives you tips and techniques for analyzing openings and developing strategies that will help you win any chess game . . . from the very first move you make! Chess openings 101 — understand what an opening is, how they′re classified, and how they differ from one another Keep an open mind — get a grip on what it means to play an open game and how it allows for speedy mobilization of your pieces Get down and dirty — discover how to play a semi–open game and shake things up by pulling out your best defensive moves Close in on a win — learn how to maneuver your pieces to the right spot and plan long–range strategies to conquer in a closed game Advance your game — take your skills to the next level with the English, Reti, and other flank openings that give you flexibility in responding to your opponent′s moves Open the book and find: How to seize space and limit your opponent′s options Coverage of popular openings, including the Ruy Lopez, the Sicilian, and the King′s Indian Openings featuring rapid piece development What it means to play open, semi–open, and closed games Openings that fit your style of play Ten common mistakes to avoid in the opening Learn to: Plan a winning strategy from the first move you make Analyze your opponent′s opening Improve your game with tips and strategies Ensure victory with helpful diagrams

Introduction. Part I: Principles of Play. Chapter 1: Understanding Chess Openings. Chapter 2: Exploring the Elements of Chess. Chapter 3: Picking the Right Type of Opening. Part II: Winning with Open Games. Chapter 4: Gambling with Gambits. Chapter 5: Opening Softly with a Big Stick: The Bishop Makes Its Move. Chapter 6: Workin’ on Some Knight Moves. Chapter 7: Employing the Royal Ruy. Chapter 8: The Best of the Rest of the Open Games. Part III: Having It Both Ways with Semi–Open Games. Chapter 9: Sharpening the Sicilian. Chapter 10: Parlez–vous the French? Chapter 11: Anyone Can Caro–Kann. Chapter 12: Rope–a–Dope with the Pirc and Modern Defenses. Chapter 13: The Best of the Rest of the Semi–Open Games. Part IV: Conquering with Closed and Semi–Closed Games. Chapter 14: Offering the Queen’s Gambit. Chapter 15: Declining with the Slav and Semi–Slav. Chapter 16: Getting Hypermodern with the Nimzo–Indian. Chapter 17: Fighting Back with the King′s Indian. Chapter 18: Grinding in the Grünfeld. Chapter 19: The Best of the Rest of the Semi–Closed Games. Part V: Advancing with Flank Openings. Chapter 20: Speaking the King′s English. Chapter 21: Getting Réti. Chapter 22: The Best of the Rest of the Flank Openings. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 23: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Opening. Chapter 24: Ten Best Ways to Study Chess Openings. Chapter 25: Ten Great Chess Web Sites. Index.

James Eade is a United States Chess Federation (USCF) chess master as well as a chess writer, tournament organizer, and teacher. He is the author of Chess For Dummies .