How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire

by Steve Giddins

In this book, the first to focus on these issues, Steve Giddins provides common-sense guidance on one of the perennial problems facing chess-players. He tackles questions such whether to play main lines, offbeat openings or 'universal' systems; how to avoid being 'move-ordered'; how to use computers; if and when to depart from or change your repertoire. Giddins argues that from novice to grandmaster, a player's basic task when choosing a repertoire is the he needs to select openings that suit his playing style and that he can play with confidence. The repertoire should not require more memory work and study than he is capable of, or has time for. The book is rounded off with a look at the use of 'role models' and an investigation of the repertoires of leading players past and present.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't expect a lot of deep analysis here - that's not what this book is about. This book does what the title suggests: presents you with various ways to go about building your opening repertoire. General approaches along with suggestions are given. Particularly valuable are the portions that deal with what _not_ to do, and the section dealing with the information overload that hits you when going through the monstrous game databases currently available. I'm returning to chess after two decades away, and the entire chess world has been turned upside down by the information age.

You're not going to need this book for long - it's goal is to move you on to other titles, after you've given some thought to which openings you want to play. But it will help you a great deal in making those decisions. Absolutely the book I needed right now.

[Anthony Ragan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giddins provides good advice about what to consider when choosing an opening repertoire, as well as some entertaining games. This isn't, however, a manual on opening strategy or a deep exploration of various families of openings. Worth reading, but I'd suggest waiting for copy on sale, or getting it from the library.

[Jayu Eleuthéria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was useful.

[George Pricw · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to building an opening repertoire, more on a conceptual level than actually choosing specific openings/variations to learn. The discussions are presented as open-ended for the reader to consider in their own games, and is well-balanced in arguments for and against the decisions one would make.

Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who is starting to get serious about their repertoire design, but it probably won't be a huge revelation to your game by itself.