Louis Blair wrote:
dajava wrote (2004-02-04 07:21:07 PST):

I have only one chess book, which covers all the
aspects of the game Now, I want to buy a chess
opening book for the first time in my life.
I am a very low level player as you can guess.
Any recommendations?



John Macnab wrote (2004-02-04 07:53:14 PST):


... you need to have some idea of the sort of
openings you would like ...

A good, more general choice is Edmar Mednis's
*How to Play Good Opening Moves*. It will give
you a range of lightly annotated openings from
a variety of systems to help you get an idea of
how to control the centre, castle safely, develop
your pieces, etc.


_
I wonder if John Macnab has the wrong title (or
perhaps the book has been revised since I saw it).
As I remember it, the book devotes a large amount
of space to a discussion of only the first move
or two for both sides. Then there was only a
more lengthy discussion of a sample line from
the Ruy Lopez and from the Sicilian.


I have the book in may hand, and I did have the title correct. It's a
McKay Chess Library book,copyright 1982. I believe it was rereleased in
algebraic notation a couple of years ago, but I can't say for sure if
the title was changed.

I recommend it mostly because it is cheap and it gives simple advice for
a beginner. The chapter titles are

1. What is the Opening?
2. Quality of White Opening Moves
3. Quality of Black Opening Moves
4. Evaluation of Moves: The Practical Approach
5. Sicilian Defense: Basic Principles
6. Sicilian Defense: Advanced Play
7. Queen's Gambit Declined: Basic Principles
8. Queen's Gambit Declined: Advanced Play
9. Bad Moves: How not to Play Them
10. Castling: Early or Late?
11. Pawn Play: Center, Formations, Weaknesses


It is NOT a repertoire book, and it will be of little use to established
players.

And I have no doubt that there are other very good (and probably better)
books available, but I recommend the book because 1) I know it and 2)
it is cheap and readily available.

NB I did comment that Fine's book is better checked out from the local
library than bought.


John