Best Chess Opening Books: Top Picks for Every Player in 2023

When it comes to chess game, opening is one place every one should be paying attention. This is what determines how your game evolves. A bad opening can but you at a disadvantage, or worst still, set you up for early checkmate such as the two-moves checkmate.

During the opening stage of your game, you must establish a strong foundation and find a balance between offense and defense. Mastering the art of chess openings can significantly improve your performance and ultimately lead to more victories on the board.

To enhance your chess opening skills and understanding, a high-quality book that focuses on the topic is essential. There are countless chess opening books available, catering to all levels of players. The right book for you depends on what openings you prefer and what level of detail you are looking for. Many books cater to beginners and explain the basic principles, while others delve into the complexities and variations that experienced players can benefit from.

Some of the things to consider when selecting the best chess opening book are things like the author’s expertise, the depth and clarity of the content, and whether the book suits your playing style and skill level. An ideal book should provide explanations and examples to make it easy to understand and apply the concepts discussed in it.

Knowing the importance of chess openings and understanding which factors to consider when selecting a book, we have dedicated our efforts to research and evaluate the best options available. After extensive analysis, we have identified the top books that cater to different needs and preferences, leading to an improved understanding of this pivotal aspect of chess.

Best Chess Opening Books

In our quest to help you improve your chess game, we have compiled a list of the best chess opening books. These books will provide a solid foundation for mastering the most crucial phase in chess – the opening.

Modern Chess Openings, 15th Edition

This comprehensive guide on chess openings is perfect for intermediate players looking to advance their skills and knowledge of the game.

Pros

• In-depth coverage of various openings
• Detailed explanations and variations
• Suitable for a wide age range (8 years and up)

Cons

• Might be overwhelming for beginners
• Can feel dense at times
• Not as useful for those already well-versed in chess openings

We recently got our hands on the Modern Chess Openings, 15th Edition, and we were quite impressed with its coverage of various chess openings. The book is written by a well-known author – Nick de Firman – who was also a 3-times United States Chess Champion. What made this book stand out was how detailed it is, offering explanations and variations for each opening. This will allow you to truly grasp different strategies and strengthen your game.

For those who are just starting to learn chess, this book might be a bit overwhelming. However, it’s perfect for players with some experience who want to delve deeper into the nuances of chess openings. The book is written in a clear and concise manner, despite being rather dense at times.

One downside we noticed is that if you’re already familiar with most chess openings, this book might not offer the same value. But for those aiming to up their chess game, the Modern Chess Openings, 15th Edition is an excellent resource. With an appropriate age range of 8 years and up, this book can serve as a valuable reference for aspiring chess players and enthusiasts alike.

Chess Openings for Beginners: Essential Strategies Every Player Should Know

We highly recommend this book for beginners looking to learn essential chess opening strategies.

Pros

• Easy to understand for beginners
• Covers a variety of popular openings
• Author provides clear explanations

Cons

• Not suitable for advanced players
• Limited to opening moves and strategies
• Might need additional resources for deeper understanding

The chess opening book “Chess Openings for Beginners: Essential Strategies Every Player Should Know” authored by Jessica Era Marine is one you’d be happy to have if you are a beginner that wants to improve your game. This book is an excellent resource for beginners, providing a concise and easy-to-read introduction to various popular chess openings. The author does an excellent job explaining the first sequence of moves and discussing the general plan for the future. It’s an enjoyable read that helps build a solid foundation for any novice chess player.

One downside to this book is that it may not be suitable for advanced players, as it mainly focuses on beginners’ strategies. Which means you can easily outgrow it as you game improves. In addition to that, the content is limited to opening moves and strategies, which means you might need to consult additional resources for a deeper understanding of the game.

That being said, we found “Chess Openings for Beginners” to be an excellent starting point for those just beginning their chess journey. By learning the essential opening strategies presented in this book, you’ll be better equipped to tackle various chess situations and enjoy the game even more. And as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – or in this case, a single chess move!

FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings

This book is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their chess opening repertoire and develop a deeper understanding of the game.

Pros

• Comprehensive coverage of chess openings
• Clear explanations and strategic insights
• Engaging writing style

Cons

• Not suitable for advanced players seeking deep variations
• Focuses more on ideas than memorization
• Paperback format, may not be as long-lasting as a hardcover

Upon diving into FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings, you will be immediately impressed by the wide range of chess openings that Paul van der Sterren covered in this book. The book provides clear explanations and strategic insights for each opening, making it easier for readers to grasp the key concepts and put them into practice.

The writing style is engaging, and the author does an excellent job of presenting the material in a way that is both informative and entertaining. We appreciated the emphasis on understanding the ideas behind each opening rather than simply memorizing countless variations.

One drawback with this particular piece is that if you’re an advanced player looking for an exhaustive resource on chess opening variations, this book might not entirely fulfill your needs. The focus on ideas and strategies may not be as beneficial for those seeking an extensive tome of obscure lines and theory.

Nonetheless, we believe that FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings is a great resource for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of chess openings and develop a stronger foundation in the game. The comprehensive coverage, clarity of explanations, and engaging writing style make it a worthy addition to any chess library.

Chess Openings for Beginners: The Complete Chess Guide

This book is a valuable resource for novice players who wants to improve their chess opening strategies.

Pros

• Comprehensive coverage of openings
• Beginner-friendly explanations
• Engaging writing style

Cons

• Occasional typos
• Can be somewhat technical at times
• Assumes some knowledge of chess basics

One thing we quicky found out about the “Chess Openings for Beginners: The Complete Chess Guide to Strategies and Opening Tactics to Start Playing like a Grandmaster,” (what a title!) after reviewing it for some time is that it is a comprehensive and easy-to-understand resource. The book covers various chess openings in detail, making it easy for new players to grasp the concepts and strategies involved.

Although we did come across a few typos, it did not detract significantly from the overall quality of the content. We appreciated the author’s (Craig Medina) engaging writing style, which made the complex subject matter more accessible. It does get a bit technical in some parts, but that’s expected when covering certain openings in-depth.

One downside is that the book assumes some familiarity with basic chess concepts. Complete beginners may need to supplement their learning with additional resources. However, for those who have the foundation and basic understanding of the game and are eager to learn more about chess opening strategies, we highly recommend this book.

To put it in simple terms, “Chess Openings for Beginners by Craig Medina” is a valuable addition to any novice chess player’s library, providing both informative content and practical guidance. Just be prepared to spend some time studying the book to make the most of its insights and recommendations.

Chess Openings Theory and Practice

Chess enthusiasts should definitely consider this comprehensive book, due to its in-depth coverage of opening strategies.

Pros

• Extensive content with 802 pages
• Reader-friendly structure
• Useful for various skill levels

Cons

• Uses outdated descriptive notation
• Heavy and large dimensions
• Can take time to understand notation used

“Chess Openings Theory and Practice” by I. A. Horowitz is, as the name suggest, a chess opening book that combines chess opening theories and practice. We can attest to the wealth of knowledge the book offers to chess players. This book doesn’t just cover the basics; it dives deep into a vast array of opening strategies, making it an excellent resource for chess enthusiasts at various skill levels.

While the content is extensive and comprehensive, it may take some time for readers to become familiar with the notation used. The book employs descriptive notation, which is an older, less-common system that might be confusing for newer players. In spite of this, diligent readers will eventually adapt and appreciate the rich and expansive content that the book offers.

One minor drawback of this book is its size and weight. At almost 3 pounds and a large format, it’s not easily portable and may not be the first choice for those short on space. Nevertheless, the book’s quality and depth make it an invaluable addition to anyone that is planning to take chess opening serious.

To wrap it up, “Chess Openings Theory and Practice” is a fantastic investment for those who are serious about improving their chess opening knowledge. Its in-depth content, reader-friendly structure, and applicability to various skill levels far outweigh the cons of outdated notation and its hefty size.

Chess Openings: Learn the Fundamental Chess Openings for Winning Strategies

This book is a great starting point for beginners to learn the fundamental chess openings and develop winning strategies.

Pros

• Beginner-friendly explanations
• Focuses on essential chess openings
• Compact and easy to carry

Cons

• Shallow analysis of openings
• Limited information on defenses
• Some errors in notation and illustrations

This “Chess Openings: Learn the Fundamental Chess Openings for Winning Strategies” book aims to introduce fundamental chess openings to beginners. It is one of those chess books you can classify as “easy-to-understand”, even for those just starting in the world of chess. The book focuses on essential chess openings, which are beneficial for beginners in grasping core concepts.

One thing this book has to its disadvantage is that the analysis of the openings presented in it could be quite shallow. While it may give a basic understanding of the openings, more experienced players may find it lacking in detail.

Similarly, there’s limited information provided on defenses which could be essential for a well-rounded understanding of the game. Though it is intended for beginner players, some improvement in the content could make it a more valuable resource.

We also found some errors in notation and illustrations that may cause confusion for readers, especially those new to chess. These errors should be taken into account and revised for a better learning experience.

Despite its shortcomings, this book remains a good starting point for beginners seeking a basic understanding of chess openings.

Chess Openings: The Most Complete Manual

We believe this book is a helpful resource for beginners and advanced players looking to improve their chess opening strategies.

Pros

• Comprehensive coverage of opening strategies
• Useful for beginners and advanced players
• Interesting historical background of chess

Cons

• Some reviewers mention poor editing and typos
• Lack of visual aids in explanations
• Kindle version reported to have formatting issues

“Chess Openings: The Most Complete Manual To Learn The Best Chess Strategies And Opening Principles For Beginners And Advanced Players” – yet another long title – is a book in which the author, Arnold Bishop, claims to be the “complete manual” for “chess strategies and opening”.

The book starts with an intriguing account of the game’s origins in India, which we found to be quite informative and engaging. This resource covers a wide range of opening strategies, making it handy for players at varying skill levels.

As we delved further into the book, we noticed that the author provided valuable insights into each opening strategy. One downside we encountered was the absence of visual aids to accompany the text explanations, making some concepts more challenging to understand. Despite these drawbacks, we found the information provided to be beneficial for our understanding of chess opening principles.

On the other hand, we must note that several reviewers have pointed out issues with poor editing and typos. Also, there are reports of formatting problems with the Kindle version of the book. While these issues did not deter us from appreciating the content offered, they could impact the reading experience for some.

In conclusion, “Chess Openings: The Most Complete Manual” is a resourceful book for learning and refining chess strategies for both beginners and advanced players. The historical background and comprehensive coverage of opening principles make it an engaging read. However, we recommend being aware of the editorial issues and lack of visual aids when deciding to purchase this book.

Discovering Chess Openings: Building Opening Skills from Basic Principles

Discovering Chess Openings is a great foundational book for chess enthusiasts that wants to improve their understanding of opening principles.

Pros

• Focuses on opening principles rather than specific variations.
• Comprehensive coverage of different opening themes.
• Excellent for beginners and intermediate players.

Cons

• Presentations of individual openings may feel random.
• Not a deep dive on specific opening lines.
• Some report minor issues with the book’s physical condition.

From our experience with Discovering Chess Openings, we can confidently say that it’s an excellent choice for players who are starting their journey in chess strategy and tactics. The book’s primary focus is on teaching various opening themes and solidifying the understanding of opening principles rather than overwhelming the reader with excessive opening variations.

The structure of the book is also quite helpful in providing a well-rounded understanding of chess openings. By dividing the content into six sections, the author systematically takes the reader through the essential concepts and builds up their knowledge to help develop a comprehensive opening repertoire. This approach is particularly beneficial for beginners, as it establishes a strong foundation from which they can continue to expand upon.

But before you get too excited, let’s quickly mention that this book may not be for everyone. If you’re looking for an extensive exploration of specific opening lines, you may find it lacking in that department. The presentation of individual openings can also feel somewhat random, which might make it challenging for some readers to follow and memorize. Also, there have been some reports of minor physical defects in the book, so be prepared to check upon arrival.

Overall, we recommend Discovering Chess Openings to chess players searching for a focused guide on opening principles and themes. This book’s comprehensiveness and approachability make it an excellent resource for building a strong foundation in chess strategy.

Complete Book of Chess Strategy

A must-have book for chess enthusiasts looking to improve their strategies and overall gameplay.

Pros

• Easy-to-understand explanations
• Engaging writing style
• Comprehensive coverage of chess strategies

Cons

• Requires some prior knowledge of chess
• Title might be slightly misleading
• Focuses more on opening strategies

We found the Complete Book of Chess Strategy to be an excellent resource for boosting our understanding of various chess strategies and openings. The author, Jeremy Silman, combines his vast knowledge of the game with a clear and engaging writing style, ensuring the content is both informative and enjoyable.

Unlike other books we have reviewed in this post, this book is quite comprehensive, covering a wide range of chess openings and strategies. We particularly appreciated the easy-to-understand explanations, which made it simple for us to grasp even more complex concepts.

But while the book may be comprehensive, it is worth mentioning that the title might be slightly misleading, as the book primarily focuses more on the opening strategies rather than providing an all-around strategy guide.

Despite the title, we found the content valuable and beneficial, especially for those who already have a basic understanding of the game.

The only drawback is that beginners might struggle with some of the concepts, so we recommend this book for players who already have some familiarity with chess. We also appreciate the humor the author adds, which makes learning from this book a fun experience.

Overall, if you’re looking to improve your chess strategy or seeking a comprehensive guide on chess openings, the Complete Book of Chess Strategy is a great choice. Just keep in mind that it is more suited for those with a basic understanding of the game, and is more focused on opening strategies than being a complete guide to chess strategy.

Chess: Beginners & Intermediate; Openings, Strategies & Endgames

This book is highly recommended for those starting out and intermediate players who want to improve their chess game.

Pros

• Clear language and easy-to-understand instruction
• Spiral-bound for convenient use
• Impressive presentation with thick pages and clear diagrams

Cons

• May not be as advanced for intermediate players as expected
• Limited depth on certain topics
• Some explanations may be too brief for complete beginners

“Chess: Beginners & Intermediate; Openings, Strategies & Endgames” is written by Hugh Patterson with foreword by International Grandmaster (GM) Nigel Davies. It is a valuable resource for improving your chess game.

The content of this book is well-organized, starting from the basics and gradually moving on to more advanced concepts. The language used is clear and concise, which makes it easy for anyone to understand the instructions and explanations given. The diagrams throughout the book are also clear and helpful in understanding various chess moves and strategies.

One aspect we like about this book is its focus on both beginners and intermediate players. As beginners, you will find the explanations and exercises approachable and engaging. As intermediate players, you will appreciate that the book includes advanced strategies and tactics that you could apply to your games.

One thing we did notice however, is that some advanced players might find the book lacking in depth for certain topics and explanations. Also, complete beginners might require more in-depth explanations for some concepts, as the book assumes some basic chess knowledge.

In conclusion, “Chess: Beginners & Intermediate; Openings, Strategies & Endgames” is an excellent resource for those who are just starting out or wants to improve their chess game. With its well-presented content, clear language, and comprehensive coverage of various chess aspects, this book is definitely worth considering for your chess library.

Buying Guide

When choosing the best chess opening book, there are several key factors to consider. We will discuss these important features in this buying guide.

First and foremost, identify your skill level and playing style. Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player? Each level naturally requires different levels of depth and complexity. As a beginner, you may want a book with simple explanations and a focus on the basics, while advanced players might prefer in-depth analysis and complex strategies.

Another factor to consider is the format of the book. If you are a visual learner, a book with clear and concise diagrams can be particularly helpful for understanding the various opening moves. On the other hand, more experienced players may prefer a book that delves deeper into text-based explanations and variations.

Content update frequency is another important aspect. Chess is an evolving game, and opening theory is continuously updated and new ones coming up. For this reason, you may want to find a book that is up-to-date with the latest findings and strategies. Check the publication date or any recent revisions to ensure you are getting the most current information.

To put it simple, consider the following features while choosing a book:

1. Skill level and playing style: Choose a book that caters to your skill level and style, providing useful and relevant information.
2. Format of the book: Depending on your learning preferences, select a book with clear diagrams or in-depth analysis.
3. Content update frequency: Ensure that the book you pick contains the most recent findings and strategies in chess opening theory.

Lastly, don’t forget to read reviews and opinions from other players. Learning what other readers has to say about their experiences with a particular book can give you some insight into whether it would be suitable for you. Keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all; the right choice will come down to your individual needs and preferences.

With these factors in mind and taking the time to thoroughly research your options, you can be confident in selecting the best chess opening book to improve your game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top opening books for beginners?

As beginners, you definitely want to start with easy-to-understand books that break down the fundamentals of chess openings. Some great options include “Chess Openings for Beginners” Craig Medina and Chess Opening for Beginners by Jessica Era Marine. Other options not mentioned in this round up include “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess Openings” by GM Wolf and “Starting Out: Chess Openings” by Neil McDonald.

Which books cover modern chess openings?

To keep up with the evolution of chess openings, we recommend books like “Modern Chess Openings” by Nick de Firmian, “Discovering Chess Openings” by John Emms, and “Complete Book of Chess Strategy” by IM Jeremy Silman.

How do I improve my understanding of chess openings?

To improve your understanding of chess openings, study books such as “Fundamental Chess Openings” by Paul Van der Sterren, “Understanding Chess Openings” by Sam Collins, and “Winning Chess Openings” by Yasser Seirawan.

Which chess opening books are recommended for mastering?

For those who want to master chess openings, consider books like “Pawn Structure Chess” by Andrew Soltis, “Dismantling the Sicilian” by Jesus de la Villa and “The Complete Najdorf 6 Bg5” by John Nunn.

What are some highly recommended chess books to improve my play?

If books that will help you improve your overall chess play is what you are looking for, that is beyond the scope of this article. We may do a separate post on “overall best chess books”. But for the meantime, some highly recommended chess books that can help you improve your play include “My System” by Aron Nimzowitsch, “Chess Training Pocket Book” by Lev Alburt, and “Silman’s Complete Endgame Course” by Jeremy Silman.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, the best books on chess opening to buy.

In the end, choosing the best chess opening book for you comes down to two important things: your skill level and your reading preference.

While we have done our best in narrowing down the option for you, the book you choose still depends on you.

We hope you find this article useful and that it was able to guide you in choosing the best chess opening book for you. If it does, please share it as it might be helpful for the person next door.

If you have made up your mind on any book, please share with your selection in the comment section below. We would love to hear your thoughts.

Ready to take your chess game to A level?

Check out our recommended resources below that will help you take your chess game to the next level!