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Title: More Basic Chess Openings by Gabor Kallai ISBN: 1-85744-206-7 Publisher: Everyman Publishers Pub. Date: 01 September, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Essential and unique
Comment: I heartily disagree with the other reviewer who questioned the necessity of having these books (that is, assuming it is necessary to have any chess books at all, which, for the sake of argument, I am assuming that it is). In this age of internet chess, where the VAST majority of games played by people are blitz games, it is more important than ever to get out of the opening in good shape. These two books by Kallai are the absolute best opening books that I have, because not only do they set out variations and plans for all major lines in ALL openings, but they also have odd but frequent second and third moves in all major lines as well. For instance, in the queen's gambit section, you can quickly and easily find the Albin and Chigorin lines dealt with. Far too often, books do not discuss these very common second moves by black. But this book has it all right there. Have you ever seen an opening book explain why white does not play the exchange variation of the queen's gambit immediately on move three? This one does. Kallai tells you succinctly that white wants to wait until black plays Nf6 so that the exchange can be followed up with Bg5. It is all there. I have read Sadler's book on the queen's gambit, and although he has that question-answer dialogue, he does not address many of the practical questions that come up, such as the one above. This Kallai book magically does that. It is the only book that addresses nearly every opening point you can think of. I only have one complaint about these books (I did not play nearly full price, so price is not an issue for me): that is, the bindings are total .... Some Cadogan books were fine, while others fall apart on repeated usage. On my copies, the pages are beginning to fall out. This is inexcusable in a $... book. But, nonetheless, these books are the best. I use them more than Nunn's Chess Openings, more than Fine's Ideas Behind the Chess Openings, and more than all other opening resources that I own.
Rating: 3
Summary: Fills a niche, but not essential
Comment: I own this and Kallai's BCO, which is about moves beginning with 1-e4. The title makes them sound they're for beginners, but I think they fall midway between Seirawan's Openings and books like NCO and MCO, and may lean more towards the latter. MBCO is more thorough than Seirawan and just as recent, but has less text and theory. On the other hand, Kallai explains some moves and traps which would be obvious to the expert, and also gives tips on how to play the middlegame. There are no complete games given, just openings.
There's a good deal of information here for a short book. But a price is paid in terms of layout: there are no neat tables as in NCO. Also, I personally dislike the notation, which is figurine algebraic.
This book fills a niche as a pre-NCO/MCO openings reference guide, but is it a big enough niche to justify $40 (you'll need both volumes)? Maybe you're better off buying MCO if you need a thorough reference book (not everyone does), or going elsehwere if you really need to learn how to play openings. I like Kallai's two books, but am not convinced I should have bought them.
Rating: 4
Summary: A solid book covering a variety of openings
Comment: Much like 'Basic Chess Openings' by the same author, this book covers many of the more common 1 d4 and other openings. Queens Gambit, Kings Indian, and a couple of others are covered in-depth with many of the variations discussed. Unlike some books, Grandmaster Kallai really tries to describe what you are trying to achieve with each opening/variation. For basic/intermediate level of play, I really recommend this book. The only reason it doesn't get five stars is because some openings are simply glanced at - almost as if it was a rush finish.
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Title: Basic Chess Openings by Gabor Kallai ISBN: 1857441133 Publisher: Everyman Publishers Pub. Date: 01 April, 1997 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Pawn Structure Chess (McKay Chess Library) by Andrew Soltis ISBN: 0812925297 Publisher: Random House Puzzles & Games Pub. Date: 01 November, 1995 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: An Explosive Chess Opening Repertoire for Black by Jouni Yrjola, Jussi Tella ISBN: 1901983501 Publisher: Gambit Publications Pub. Date: 01 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: My System: 21st Century Edition by Aron Nimzowitsch, Lou Hays ISBN: 1880673851 Publisher: Hays Publishing Pub. Date: 01 March, 1992 List Price(USD): $17.50 |
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Title: Winning Chess Openings (Winning Chess Series) by Yasser Seirawan ISBN: 1857443497 Publisher: Everyman Chess Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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