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The Never Ending Story

Yes, I have spent almost as many hours contemplating chess openings as actually playing the Game of Kings.

Yes, I realize that most games stays within theory for at most 4 moves.

Still, I cannot resist to go into the "what-to-play-loop" yet again.

So, I have been faithful to the Good Old London System for some time but I am getting bored with it. Rumor has it that David Rudel is working on a new Colle book. Changing from the London to some version of Colle is perhaps not as refreshing as I would like. I feel "1. e4??" is coming my way. "Chess Openings for Kids" will be my compass into the hopefully revitalizing world of double pawn openings.

Blog readers with a sweet tooth for betting should know that the Total for number of months until the next Opening Phobia Attack is 3.5.

The Only Opening Book You Will Ever Need?

"Chess Openings for Kids" by John Watson and Graham Burgess

Too many opening books on the book shelves? Still wondering what you would like to play? Well known chess authors John Watson and Graham Burgess might have written the perfect introduction to 50 well known openings and at the same time the only opening book most of us will ever need!

Burgess' "The Mammoth Book of Chess" is a wonderful book. Perhaps the most useful section of that book is the personal and opinionated short introductions to a great number of openings. In "Chess Openings for Kids" Burgess and opening expert John Watson takes it one step further by focusing on fewer openings and adding a little more depth.

After reading through all of the introductions to the 50 mighty opening systems if feel that I want to try them all at once. To be able to provide both enthusiasm, inspiration and basic knowledge is a praise worthy effort.

Highly recommended as a first book on openings and maybe as the book that will replace all the unread opening books in your chess library.