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Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, Volume 1 Paperback – Illustrated, October 1, 2006

by John Watson (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 166 ratings
See all formats and editions
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For many chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is difficult to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player won’t know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit.

John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. In his previous books on chess strategy, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy and Chess Strategy in Action, he explained vital concepts that characterize modern chess. Moreover, he did so in ways that have enabled these ideas to be understood by club players. Here he does likewise for the openings, proceeding from the fundamental ideas that apply to all openings to more advanced concepts that are essential for substantial improvement.

In this major four-volume work, Watson explains not only the ideas and strategies behind specific openings, but also the interconnections of chess openings taken as a whole. By presenting the common threads that underlie opening play, Watson provides a permanent basis for playing openings of any type.

International Master John Watson is one of the world’s most respected writers on chess. His groundbreaking four-volume work on the English Opening firmly established his reputation in the 1980s, and he has produced a string of top-quality works since. In 1999, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, Watson’s first book for Gambit, won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award and the United States Chess Federation Fred Cramer Award for Best Book. His former pupils include the 1997 World Junior Champion, Tal Shaked.
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    Mastering the Chess Openings
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Gambit Publications
  5. Publication date
    October 1, 2006
  6. Grade level
    6 and up
  7. Dimensions
    6.9 x 1.03 x 9.76 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    9781904600602
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1904600602
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“If you are a young chess player who wishes to learn the openings in a proper way, you will give yourself a big boost toward developing into the strong player you want to be by studying this book.” – Pete Tamburro, Chess Life

“The publication of this series is a bellwether event in chess publishing, and all players should avail themselves of the opportunity to read these books.” – Mark Donlan, Chess Horizons

“To say that these books are about opening strategies or opening theory would be a disservice to the importance of the material covered in them. ... I found his chosen examples excellent and his commentary instructive and very enlightening. ... His discussions of pawn structures and their interconnected strategies are worth the price of both books. ... The books convey an understanding of the opening that even specialized opening works do not provide.” – Carsten Hansen, chesscafe.com

About the Author

International Master John Watson is one of the world's most respected writers on chess. His groundbreaking four-volume work on the English firmly established his reputation in the 1980s, and he has produced a string of top-quality works since. In 1999, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, Watson's first book for Gambit, won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award and the United States Chess Federation Fred Cramer Award for Best Book. His former pupils include the 1997 World Junior Champion, Tal Shaked.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1904600603
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gambit Publications (October 1, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781904600602
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1904600602
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 6 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.34 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.9 x 1.03 x 9.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 166 ratings

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John Watson

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
166 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Matt Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent coverage of 1. e4 openings
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2012
Verified Purchase
It took joining a local chess club and repeatedly getting clobbered right out of the opening to realize that in order to stand much of a chance I needed to invest more time in the study of opening theory. I already have a copy of MCO but it is heavy on spewing out moves, light on explanation and has more than a few typos that sometimes make following the variations difficult. I researched books on opening theory and finally settled on Watson's Mastering the Chess Openings series. This is a somewhat more costly resource than many of the others available (four volumes instead of a single book) but it's a worthwhile investment.

Volume 1 of the series deals with the majority of king pawn openings, 1. e4. It is certainly not exhaustive in that it does not cover every single variation of every king's pawn opening, but it has the large majority of what most chess players will encounter over the board. The openings covered include:

- Giuoco Piano
- Two Knights Defense
- Philidor's Defense
- Ruy Lopez
- King's Gambit
- Sicilian Defense
- Caro-Kann Defense
- French Defense
- Pirc Defense

Watson does a great job of explaining all of these opening systems (or opening defenses as appropriate). That is, rather than give a summary blurb about the opening and then just prattling on with move after move, he walks the reader through the opening, explaining the purpose behind each move. Then, once finished with the main sequence of moves, he includes one or more instructive games with relevant analysis and variations. This is so much more helpful than a cold and clinical presentation of silent moves.

Watson's writing style is very clear and approachable. He neither talks down to his readership nor does he assume that everyone has a doctorate in chess.

This is a superb series on chess openings which will leave the reader with a much clearer understanding of not just the moves involved in the openings but also an understanding of the purpose and goals of any given opening and variation covered. Although the cost of the series is more than that of a single volume it is well worth it.
36 people found this helpful
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Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Best General Reference on the Ideas of Chess Openings! Huzzah!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
For years I have been looking for a good general opening reference book that explains overarching ideas and strategies! And finally! Finally! I found it. Sadly it has been hear for quite a long time but I let other blog reviews steer me away. Watson writes this and the other 3 volumes (more on those in a minute) so that you can begin understanding an opening right away AND continue many of the sidelines as you and your opening needs grow! SUCH WELL WRITTEN EXPLANATORY PROSE!!

I also purchased volumes 2 and 4. I think they are essential. And are just as well written. You can read these books all the way thru for a great chess education or just go opening by opening as your needs dictate. I will eventually purchase volume 3 but I never see the English opening so not yet!

I can't say enough about these books!!

I tried Emms' "Discovering Chess Opening". It was mediocre.

Mednis' "How to Play Good Opening Moves" IS great but limited but still an excellent book.

I recently purchased "Openings for Amateurs" and it was HORRIBLE!

Watson's books are fabulous.

I browsed the explanatory prose in the much ballyhooed Fundamental Chess Openings and it doesn't seem to hold a candle to Watson. Maybe it does??

But I am sold on Watson's books.
23 people found this helpful
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S. Valenti
4.0 out of 5 stars Skim It First, Then Read It Again
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2010
Verified Purchase
I'm currently reading the book (for the first time). I think it's a great book!

The method I am using is to read it first without a chessboard. True, there really aren't that many diagrams. I'm concentrating on the parts of the book with diagrams, or the first few moves of an opening, or the general advice (which doesn't need a diagram). I have no qualms about making marks in the diagrams with pencil to help me follow along.

Of course I'm not a very advanced player. So keep that in mind.

If moves which come up which are interesting, but too hard to follow without a board, I mark them as such and I'll get to them the second time I read the book.

Later I'll read the book again, with a chessboard as required. It least that's the plan.

Generally speaking, I think this is a good way to read a chess book. How many times have you tried to read a chess book, only to put it down after reading about ten pages? Maybe you should skim it first. My bookshelf is full of chess books with a book mark on page ten! But hey, this is a book review and not a lesson on how to read chess books.
3 people found this helpful
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RTM
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to 1e4 Openings
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
International Master John Watson offers chess players a very useful basic analysis of open and semi-open games beginning with White playing 1 e4. This was a refresher for me, but I still learned a lot, and recommend this book to serious beginning and especially intermediate chess players who want to improve their opening play.
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E. L. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Opening Primer
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2007
Verified Purchase
If you're a club player looking for a good starting point to actually understand the ideas behind the e4 openings, this is it. It may not go as deep as the standards like the Batsford/Modern/Nunn's Chess Opening manuals, but it's really not meant to. While there's a place for the more technical manuals listed above, they can be overwhelming to a club player. Watson goes out of his way to make the openings approachable & understandable, as well as giving some additional ideas you can expand on by yourself.

After you've read this and vol 2 of the series (about d4 openings), you should be able to learn enough to get a feel for openings that fit your style and expand your collection into specific opening guides if you feel you need to.

Highly recommended.
8 people found this helpful
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Allen Fulmer
3.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
I used to play chess when I was a lot younger. And I just recently got back into it with the help of a friend. So I bought this book to help me speed up my game, and be more of a challenge to people. And it did that for me.
3 people found this helpful
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Eduardo C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice and organized book with a comprehensive approach towards opening
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Very nice and organized book with a comprehensive approach towards opening. Not too big, not too short. Ideal for players in my level (bellow 2000). Recommended by Brazilian GM Rafael Leitao as a good literature on openings. He was right.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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EDUARDO STULZER DE ALMEIDA
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom.
Reviewed in Brazil on March 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
Não é muito detalhista, mas descreve bem os conceitos de cada linha. Pra mim atendeu muito bem. E se você não é muito chegado ao inglês, é só traduzir os mais longos em espanhol ou português Portugal mesmo. Pena que o Kiddle não encontrei o português Brasil.
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Dubey, Pankaj M.K
5.0 out of 5 stars Lichess compatible and explains with more words than notations
Reviewed in India on October 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
As a beginner , I understand the book as it seems to be talking to you . The volume one is e4 opening. The best part is the book’s diagrams pen up on lichess. One can read and study side by side in the split view of kindle app and lichess.
Open the lichess analysis and make the moves to reach what is printed in the diagram (D) or click the diagram to open with those position in lichess.
A worthwhile purchase at Rs 499
One person found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
4.0 out of 5 stars Gran calidad y buen precio
Reviewed in Spain on September 13, 2022
Verified Purchase
La colección de 4 tomos es de gran calidad trécnica ajedrecista y buen precio. Estudia muy pedagójicamente las aperturas.
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Bienvenido Calderon
5.0 out of 5 stars TRES BON LIVRE POUR APPRENDRE BIEN LES OUVERTURES AU JEU D'ECHECS
Reviewed in France on March 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
Je suis très satisfait de ce livre car je peux progresser et analyser mieux mes parties d'échecs et comprendre dès premiers la stratégie de mes opposants.
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Poldy
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb mix of Openings and Strategy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2007
Verified Purchase
This is an openings manual, but with a difference. John Watson provides coverage of many of the top King's Pawn opening variations, but more than this, he provides details of the strategies connected with each line. The first third or so of the book is devoted to strategic ideas, and it is this feature which makes this book so worthwhile. The market has no shortage of openings manuals, some better than others, but most have little or no coverage of strategy, which means that the reader is given little idea of why he is playing the moves in the book. Watson's aim is to tie in the recommended moves with the strategies behind the openings, and the explanation is detailed but clear and very easy to follow. This is the openings book that many of us have been waiting for. Watson has written accounts of strategy before, so he really knows what he's talking about, and I really can't recommend this book enough. I'm eagerly awaiting the second volume.
52 people found this helpful
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