Winning Unorthodox Openings (Everyman Chess)

Rating:
Summary: The value of suprise ...
Review: The book, "Winning Unorthodox Openings," is a book by an English player, IM A. Dunnington, who has a reputation as a trainer for English players who participate in the Olympiad and also an excellent trainer of junior players in the UK. He writes concisely in a no-nonsense style of which I approve. I went through the first few chapters with a fine-tooth comb. I looked for errors in analysis, and I found none. I looked for games that were quoted in error, mis-spelled, etc., and I discovered no mistakes of this type either. I went through the entire book, looking for errors in the diagrams, (this used to be a plague to otherwise good chess books!), and I found none of those type of errors either. The PC and programs like ChessBase are having a huge impact on the field of chess books. Having said that, I must immediately point out a few things that grab my attention. The blurb on the cover, and one in a press release promises, << Complete and concise coverage of all of White's alternatives to 1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4, and 1. Nf3. >> This is not what you get when you plunk down your hard-earned dinero. First, he classifies the "Unorthodox" openings into two categories, good and bad, (or playable and unplayable). This in itself is a sticking point in my mind. I can understand such openings as 1. h4, or a4, or h3, being branded as bad. However, I find it odd he can label 1. g4, (Grob's Opening) as bad, (beware Basmaniacs!); but can throw Solkosky's/Orangutan Opening, (1. b4,) in the "playable" pile. It seems to me that they both do the same thing, just on opposite sides of the board. I guess players of the Grob will have to get IM Basman's book on this opening. Several other VERY playable openings are dismissed with a wave of the hand. One is Anderssen's opening, (1. a3, ); which is an opening I have personally used in tournaments and never lost with. The author does not seem to realize (or bother to take the time to point out); that this can be one of the most complicated openings you can play. I also used to use it, with tremendous effect on opponents' who are "booked out to the max," but have little or no understanding of the general principles of the game. I also used to make this opening a very effective "Anti-computer" line, when computers were still being allowed to play in tournaments with humans. It can also be a highly transpositional opening and can result in a "reversed" defense being played with an extra move in hand. That being said, there is virtually no Indian game, (Or virtually any reversed defense for that matter!); where the move a3/(a6) would not have come in handy. (Common sense should tell you this.) Another point is that the author covers 1. b4, and 1. b3. However, he does not bother to cover similar/related lines like "The Improved Solkosky's," with 1. Nf3 and then - and only then - 2. b4. (Or 2. b3.) This is a shame because this method has been used by dozens of strong GM's. He also dismisses a reversed French Defense or a reversed Pirc Defense in similar fashion. (I know a Master who liked his Pirc so much, he began playing 1. d3, so he could play The Pirc as White!!) But by now, the reader should get the general idea. The author also seems to confine himself to lines of "independent value."

So exactly what does the author cover? There are five very good chapters of material. Chapter 1, covers the Solkosky's/Orangutan Opening. (1. b4.) Chapter Two covers the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack. (1. b3.) Chapter Three covers "The Dunst Opening," or as the author calls it; "The Queen's Knight Opening." (1. Nc3.) Chapter Four covers the "Bird's Opening." (1. f4.) (The From's Gambit is covered in sufficient detail, but the line 1. f4, e5; 2. fxe5, d6; 3. exd6, Bxd6; 4. Nf3, g5; 5. d4!?, g4; 6. Ng5!? [The author gives this move a dubious appellation.] 6...f5!; is probably blown off a little too lightly. [The position is very unclear and contains some of the most complicated lines in chess.] Dunnington stops here giving the impression that White is in trouble, but the fun is just beginning!) The lines recommended in the Bird's Opening are good and the theory is sound. Chapter Five covers, "The King's Fianchetto Opening." (1. g3.) This opening could transpose to an almost endless variety of other openings, but the author tries to concentrate on material that is unique and independent in nature. Chapter Six is the Chapter where the author blows off the reversed French or Pirc and perfectly reasonable openings like 1. c3. (As good or as bad as anything else in the book.) Instead, he gives minor coverage to the Grob's Opening, (1. g4.); and then wastes a lot of time on a game beginning with the move, 1. f3?

Now I think by now you may have gathered that these openings are not exactly my cup of tea. The coverage is not in great depth and could not be in a book of this size. A plus is a very detailed Index of variations. A slight minus is the absence of any Player Index whatsoever. So having said all of the above, could I recommend this book to a potential buyer? The answer is : Absolutely! In other words, if you are looking for something off the beaten trail or something unusual to surprise your opponent, then this book is for you. If you have ever thought about, or played the openings named above in a tournament, then you should get this book. If you are under 1800, were going to buy only a few books (say less than 10), and did not want to play "Main Lines;" then this would be a good book to buy. The author gives many (21) complete and very well annotated games. (I am a sucker for well-annotated games.) He also gives numerous games and lines in the notes and the sub-variations. The material is well thought out and organized very efficiently. If you like the unusual openings or were just looking for an opening to surprise your "booked-out nemesis," then this could be the book for you!

Rating:
Summary: The value of suprise ...
Review: The book, "Winning Unorthodox Openings," is a book by an English player, IM A. Dunnington, who has a reputation as a trainer for English players who participate in the Olympiad and also an excellent trainer of junior players in the UK. He writes concisely in a no-nonsense style of which I approve. I went through the first few chapters with a fine-tooth comb. I looked for errors in analysis, and I found none. I looked for games that were quoted in error, mis-spelled, etc., and I discovered no mistakes of this type either. I went through the entire book, looking for errors in the diagrams, (this used to be a plague to otherwise good chess books!), and I found none of those type of errors either. The PC and programs like ChessBase are having a huge impact on the field of chess books. Having said that, I must immediately point out a few things that grab my attention. The blurb on the cover, and one in a press release promises, << Complete and concise coverage of all of White's alternatives to 1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4, and 1. Nf3. >> This is not what you get when you plunk down your hard-earned dinero. First, he classifies the "Unorthodox" openings into two categories, good and bad, (or playable and unplayable). This in itself is a sticking point in my mind. I can understand such openings as 1. h4, or a4, or h3, being branded as bad. However, I find it odd he can label 1. g4, (Grob's Opening) as bad, (beware Basmaniacs!); but can throw Solkosky's/Orangutan Opening, (1. b4,) in the "playable" pile. It seems to me that they both do the same thing, just on opposite sides of the board. I guess players of the Grob will have to get IM Basman's book on this opening. Several other VERY playable openings are dismissed with a wave of the hand. One is Anderssen's opening, (1. a3, ); which is an opening I have personally used in tournaments and never lost with. The author does not seem to realize (or bother to take the time to point out); that this can be one of the most complicated openings you can play. I also used to use it, with tremendous effect on opponents' who are "booked out to the max," but have little or no understanding of the general principles of the game. I also used to make this opening a very effective "Anti-computer" line, when computers were still being allowed to play in tournaments with humans. It can also be a highly transpositional opening and can result in a "reversed" defense being played with an extra move in hand. That being said, there is virtually no Indian game, (Or virtually any reversed defense for that matter!); where the move a3/(a6) would not have come in handy. (Common sense should tell you this.) Another point is that the author covers 1. b4, and 1. b3. However, he does not bother to cover similar/related lines like "The Improved Solkosky's," with 1. Nf3 and then - and only then - 2. b4. (Or 2. b3.) This is a shame because this method has been used by dozens of strong GM's. He also dismisses a reversed French Defense or a reversed Pirc Defense in similar fashion. (I know a Master who liked his Pirc so much, he began playing 1. d3, so he could play The Pirc as White!!) But by now, the reader should get the general idea. The author also seems to confine himself to lines of "independent value."

So exactly what does the author cover? There are five very good chapters of material. Chapter 1, covers the Solkosky's/Orangutan Opening. (1. b4.) Chapter Two covers the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack. (1. b3.) Chapter Three covers "The Dunst Opening," or as the author calls it; "The Queen's Knight Opening." (1. Nc3.) Chapter Four covers the "Bird's Opening." (1. f4.) (The From's Gambit is covered in sufficient detail, but the line 1. f4, e5; 2. fxe5, d6; 3. exd6, Bxd6; 4. Nf3, g5; 5. d4!?, g4; 6. Ng5!? [The author gives this move a dubious appellation.] 6...f5!; is probably blown off a little too lightly. [The position is very unclear and contains some of the most complicated lines in chess.] Dunnington stops here giving the impression that White is in trouble, but the fun is just beginning!) The lines recommended in the Bird's Opening are good and the theory is sound. Chapter Five covers, "The King's Fianchetto Opening." (1. g3.) This opening could transpose to an almost endless variety of other openings, but the author tries to concentrate on material that is unique and independent in nature. Chapter Six is the Chapter where the author blows off the reversed French or Pirc and perfectly reasonable openings like 1. c3. (As good or as bad as anything else in the book.) Instead, he gives minor coverage to the Grob's Opening, (1. g4.); and then wastes a lot of time on a game beginning with the move, 1. f3?

Now I think by now you may have gathered that these openings are not exactly my cup of tea. The coverage is not in great depth and could not be in a book of this size. A plus is a very detailed Index of variations. A slight minus is the absence of any Player Index whatsoever. So having said all of the above, could I recommend this book to a potential buyer? The answer is : Absolutely! In other words, if you are looking for something off the beaten trail or something unusual to surprise your opponent, then this book is for you. If you have ever thought about, or played the openings named above in a tournament, then you should get this book. If you are under 1800, were going to buy only a few books (say less than 10), and did not want to play "Main Lines;" then this would be a good book to buy. The author gives many (21) complete and very well annotated games. (I am a sucker for well-annotated games.) He also gives numerous games and lines in the notes and the sub-variations. The material is well thought out and organized very efficiently. If you like the unusual openings or were just looking for an opening to surprise your "booked-out nemesis," then this could be the book for you!

Rating:
Summary: Long needed and well worth the price
Review: The name of this book I find to be deceptive also the claims a bit much. What bothers me is that the author decides what is playable and what is not. The Grob is one of the more popular of the odd openings. So to just dismiss that or not really cover a3 properly is wrong. Fine used to play a3 at times and did rather well with it to be honest. The move is deeper and not so easy for people to understand. I myself have played it and won with it even against a computer. I could not give this book 1 star cuz it did not really have any clear errors. I could not rate it as average because of the falty claims and taking sides. If your gonna make a book winning with unusual openings. Tossing some away as not good is a bit pointless. The problem is not having enough pages to even attempt a book like this. So if nothing else you know your gonna get a sub par product in return. I would just get game collections of weird openings and break down lines from there. If you really feel you have an interest in one of them, get a book more focused on them. The Killer Grob is a good place for some to start. Im really not a fan of any of these openings. Still Im rather open minded about odd openings and interested in the psychology. I used to always play 1 g3 which isnt that normal really. The book should not just dismiss certan things so easily. Thats a problem many have when talking about openings. They say a3 is garbage white can have no chance of maintaining advantage. Or that is just white playing as black etc and all this. The move is only bad if you do not have a plan behind it basically. Granted a3 is better than h4, that don't mean h4 can't be useful. I bet money that most esp U1800 have no set system against many odd openings. So the psychological attack behind them can't be simply blown off. A good book on this topic would give best known theory and new ideas on these openings. Then leave it to the reader what can or can not be played. By already deciding he is tainting the reader with ideas against those openings. So how can you think of winning with them if told they can't be played.

A better idea to divide them might be to have a section for very insane moves. Perhaps stuff like a4, h4, Na3 and Nh3 would fit into there. Maybe put g4 in with b4, mix g3 in with b3 stuff like that. Rather than just saying this is not playable and this is. I think you will gain more from just looking over games played with openings. If none really exist on stuff like h4 and a4, well then study tactics. Or try to play transposing into some opening where you might play one of those moves. Many times playing weird opening idea is to get out of book. So not sure how much a book can really help you play those. Stuff like g4 and b4 perhaps has more coverage. Even stuff like b3 and g3, not to mention f4. So those openings you can probably get a decent book on. Even Nc3 might have a decent book out there, or a3. I honestly can't think of any off hand though. Least there are some fair amount of games using those openings. Might be best to check this book out in bookstore before ordering. Make sure it has enough coverage on openings you might wanna play that are "weird" or "unorthodox", etc.

Rating:
Summary: Deceptive Book...
Review: The name of this book I find to be deceptive also the claims a bit much. What bothers me is that the author decides what is playable and what is not. The Grob is one of the more popular of the odd openings. So to just dismiss that or not really cover a3 properly is wrong. Fine used to play a3 at times and did rather well with it to be honest. The move is deeper and not so easy for people to understand. I myself have played it and won with it even against a computer. I could not give this book 1 star cuz it did not really have any clear errors. I could not rate it as average because of the falty claims and taking sides. If your gonna make a book winning with unusual openings. Tossing some away as not good is a bit pointless. The problem is not having enough pages to even attempt a book like this. So if nothing else you know your gonna get a sub par product in return. I would just get game collections of weird openings and break down lines from there. If you really feel you have an interest in one of them, get a book more focused on them. The Killer Grob is a good place for some to start. Im really not a fan of any of these openings. Still Im rather open minded about odd openings and interested in the psychology. I used to always play 1 g3 which isnt that normal really. The book should not just dismiss certan things so easily. Thats a problem many have when talking about openings. They say a3 is garbage white can have no chance of maintaining advantage. Or that is just white playing as black etc and all this. The move is only bad if you do not have a plan behind it basically. Granted a3 is better than h4, that don't mean h4 can't be useful. I bet money that most esp U1800 have no set system against many odd openings. So the psychological attack behind them can't be simply blown off. A good book on this topic would give best known theory and new ideas on these openings. Then leave it to the reader what can or can not be played. By already deciding he is tainting the reader with ideas against those openings. So how can you think of winning with them if told they can't be played.

A better idea to divide them might be to have a section for very insane moves. Perhaps stuff like a4, h4, Na3 and Nh3 would fit into there. Maybe put g4 in with b4, mix g3 in with b3 stuff like that. Rather than just saying this is not playable and this is. I think you will gain more from just looking over games played with openings. If none really exist on stuff like h4 and a4, well then study tactics. Or try to play transposing into some opening where you might play one of those moves. Many times playing weird opening idea is to get out of book. So not sure how much a book can really help you play those. Stuff like g4 and b4 perhaps has more coverage. Even stuff like b3 and g3, not to mention f4. So those openings you can probably get a decent book on. Even Nc3 might have a decent book out there, or a3. I honestly can't think of any off hand though. Least there are some fair amount of games using those openings. Might be best to check this book out in bookstore before ordering. Make sure it has enough coverage on openings you might wanna play that are "weird" or "unorthodox", etc.

Rating:
Summary: Long needed and well worth the price
Review: This book covers all white opening moves except 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. And the coverage is not biased towards either side: quite often the author actually favours Black's position. So the book could be better called "Unusual First Moves by White - Some Good, Some Bad".

I bought this book to get a solid repertoire against openings that are so rare that they are not worth to buy a book on each of them. According to my statistics of players averaging 2200 Elo, the openings in this book occur in 2% of all games if you do not play these moves yourself (which means 4% of my games as black). So I have to meet one of these freaks once in every 50 games.

Some of the reviewers below were pretty harsh, mainly because they disagreed with Dunnington's evaluation of certain oddball openings, or because Dunnington only includes independent 1st move oddities and not all unusual opening systems. The reviews for a book of this kind are bound to be distorted because of this.

But I think that Dunnington has done a good job in giving each opening the coverage that it deserves. If you are like me - studying these openings with a view to meeting them as black - the issue of what white opening move is worth exactly what is irrelevant.