How To Play Good Opening Moves (Mckay Chess Library)

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece full of typos
Review: I have not played competitive chess for over fifteen years now but have decided to get back into the game. I know how important the openings are because there is nothing worse than losing a game before you even start. I also know how boring it can be memorizing different sets of moves. This book teaches you the principle of the opening phase without you having to memorize. When you do start playing the established openings, you will be able to appreciate the underlying thought processes behind them. A must for anyone who wants to get through the opening phase without cramming.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece full of typos
Review: If you have basic understanding of chess strategy and tactics this is the book you should buy to play any opening well. It teaches opening principles in plain english. Before you start memorizing variations make yourself a favour and read this littte masterpiece from Mr Mednis. It is a shame this revised algebraic edition if full of typos, which is why I have not given it 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Good Stuff
Review: Many chessplayers concern themselves with memorizing hundreds and hundreds of opening moves. What they don't understand is the ideas behind. Here is a solid book which does not go too deep into openings, but explains the ideas behind them. Along with the openings, Mednis shows master games which were won becuase of solid opening play. A must for a chessplayer who is ready to handle openings theories, but not just memorizing them.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent openings teacher
Review: Mednis is [was :-( ]an excellent writer and teacher, and his wisdom shines forth in this gem on opening principles. There is intensive move-by-move analysis of openings which is much better than that contained in Chernev's Logical Chess or Nunn's understanding Chess. Of especial value are the chapters on the Sicilian Defence (basic and advanced play) and the Queen's Gambit Declined (basic and advanced). By applying his analysis to specific openings in this way, it equips you to analyze your own openings with greater clarity. Plus, any morons who can't understand descriptive notation needn't worry, as this new McKay edition is in algebraic.

Rating:
Summary: Unnecessary
Review: This book is really unnecessary. If you first study the basic opening principles found in most any beginning chess book and then play through the opening sequences of the games in Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move and/or Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move, then you've already accomplished everything (and more) that this book might help you accomplish. You can save your money.