How to Open a Chess Game

by Bent Larsen, Paul Keres, Tigran Petrosian

This is one of the most interesting, most unusual and most instructive chess books ever written. Seven of the World's Strongest Chess Grandmasters were each asked to write down their thoughts about how a serious chess amateur might best approach the problem of, very simply, "opening" a chess game? What makes this book especially great and useful is that each of these seven grandmasters had vastly different styles. For example, Bent Larsen used wild, unorthodox attacking lines, whereas Petrosian, who was capable of attacking when he wanted to, preferred to sniff out his opponent's chances and wait for the opponent to attack unsoundly and fall upon his own sword. This book therefore gives the practical amateur player seven different styles to choose from. Thus, he needs only to choose which one is most suitable for himself.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

258 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1976

Reviews

[Dave Jones]

Fascinating book. Good instructions for the beginning-to-intermediate player. It is also fascinating to peek inside the minds of 7 of the world's best grandmasters (of the 1970s) and learn from their different styles. Each grandmaster contributes a chapter to the book. This is not a collaboration so there is no continuity among the chapters. Each grandmaster discusses in - I think - about 30 pages or so an aspect about opening a chess game. While this is very interesting, you may not get the depth of instruction you desire.

[David]

it was good that's if you love chess