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 wrote (2004-02-04 16:21:02 PST):
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.


John Macnab now writes (2004-02-04 21:43:12 PST):

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

_
This looks much the way I remember it, except
that it appears that the two openings singled
out for lengthy discussion were the Sicilian
and the Queen's Gambit. Perhaps there was a
discussion of the Ruy Lopez in chapter four?

Anyway, my concern was about the statement that
the book gives "a range of lightly annotated
openings from a variety of systems". If the
book is as I remember it, such a remark might
be misleading. As I remember it, chapters two
and three discuss only the first move for each
side, and, elsewhere in the book, there is only
a discussion of a very limited number (two or
three) of specific openings.


John Macnab now writes (2004-02-04 21:43:12 PST):

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.

_
I am not saying that it is a bad recommendation.
I am just hoping that there is no misunderstanding
about what the book does. There are books that
try to discuss a fair number of openings, giving
some idea about what they are like. If I remember
correctly, How to Play Good Opening Moves is not
such a book.