Back to Basics: Openings (ChessCafe Back to Basics Chess Series)

An excellent introduction to the chess openings. Provides an introductory overview of not only basic opening principles and theory, but a broad survey of essentially every chess opening. While the treatment of each opening is cursory, it is helpful in gauging what the opening is about, providing perspective and sufficient exposure to be helpful in deciding which chess openings you might be interested in pursuing in more depth.By the way - the earlier review by dougv is complete hogwash. Apparently the book is beyond his comprehension. Pehaps he should stick to checkers.

Carsten Hansen's book on the opening demonstrates why he writes the review on opening books for Chess Cafe. Basic opening principles, the center openings for e4 and d4 are covered. Examples of the basic openings, the first few moves and the basic plans and stratigies are given. Good information for selecting an opening for further study. Next the flank openings are described. Carsten does a bankup job here. As a life long English player he is at home in sharing the plans and stratigies with us. Additional guidlines for selecting books on our chosen opening are a grat finishing touch. Strongly recommended.

Great book, well written, easy to understand, all major open, semi-open, closed, semi-closed, flank and their major variations are discussed, I even found a couple I didn't expect. A definite to have in any chess book collection.

The author covers too many openings, so little time can be spent on each opening.The book's introduction implies that the book is for those who began chess "quite recently" (pg. 5). The book is too hardfor the new chess player, and does not present enough information/ tips on each opening to make it useful for an intermediateplayer. I tossed my copy. Can't recommend this book.

Per un principiante è un buon compromesso tra lunghezza del testo e livello di approfondimento.Una grafica e un'impaginazione migliore avrebbero reso il libro più leggibile.Il testo in inglese è facilmente comprensibile anche da chi ha una conoscenza di medio livello della lingua.

It is a really good guide for beginners but even then didn’t help me whatsoever but could most definitely give beginners some good advice. I bought it thinking it was going to be a teeny weeny bit advanced but unfortunately it wasn’t. If you know of the main principles of the opening and some lines of openings, but just can’t decide on an opening. I think you should look else where this book doesn’t help on that front at all.

De una forma clara el autor da indicaciones muy prácticas sobre las aperturas y después desarrolla lo básico de las más relevantes para llegar a una posición sana a partir de la cual tener un medio juego según los gustos o aptitudes del jugador.