Mastering the Chess Openings: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings, volume 2

For most chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is hard 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, he explained vital concepts that had previously been the domain only of top-class players. Here he does likewise for the openings, explaining how flexible thinking and notions such as 'rule-independence' can apply to the opening too. Watson presents a wide-ranging view of the way in which top-class players really handle the opening, rather than an idealized and simplified model. This volume, focusing on queen's pawn openings, is a book that will make chess-players think hard about how they begin their games. It also offers both entertainment and challenging study material in openings such as the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian and the entire Queen's Gambit complex.

for Most Chess-players, Opening Study Is Sheer Hard Work. It Is Hard 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. With This Book John Watson Seeks To Help Chess-players Achieve A More Holistic And Insightful View Of The Openings. In His Previous Books On Chess Strategy, He Explained Vital Concepts That Had Previously Been The Domain Only Of Top-class Players, And Did So In Ways That Have Enabled Them To Enter The General Chess Consciousness Of Club Players. Here He Does Likewise For The Openings, Explaining How Flexible Thinking And Notions Such As 'rule-independence' Can Apply To The Opening. Watson Presents A Wide-ranging View Of The Way In Which Top-class Players Really Handle The Opening, Rather Than An Idealized And Simplified Model. This Is A Book That Will Make Chess-players Think Hard About How They Begin Their Games, While Offering Both Entertainment And Challenging Material For Study.

In the second volume of this series, John Watson concentrates on the queen's pawn (d pawn) openings. As with volume one the emphasis is on explanation of the underlying ideas and strategies behind each opening system and the various plans available to each side. By using key games and verbal explanations Watson shows how the theory of each opening has developed with time and why certain lines are nowadays more popular than others. The book is aimed at club and tournament players and offers enough information to enable a player to take up an opening, without being a comprehensive reference on d pawn openings. More coverage is given to popular openings that have stood the test of time but many sidelines are covered in the nine chapters: 1 Introduction to 1 d4 and the Closed Games 2 Queen's Gambit Declined 3 Slav and Semi-Slav 4 Introduction to the Indian Defences 5 Nimzo-Indian Defence 6 Queen's Indian Defence 7 Kings Indian Defence 8 Grnfeld Defence 9 Modern Benoni