I'm trying to find a good book on the english opening. I haven't found anything at my local bookstores, so I want to order one online. I need one that isn't just lines to memorize, but one that really explains the theory behind each variation. One that explains why white and black choose the lines they do for each variation. One more suited for a begginner, but not over simplified. Can anyone reccomend a book loike this? 

BTW check out my topic on English opening http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/everything-english-communal-topic-to-explore-english-opening-together

english opening for grandmasters.

thanks, ill look for it

Tony Kosten's book called The Dynamic English is a good start I think. It's highly praised everywhere and it thoroughly explains ideas behind all opening variations in the English (1. c4 and 2. g3).

 

"Reccomend me A Good Enligh Opening Book" - Maybe you also need an English dictionary

the english opening has so many variations and transpositions (thats why i play it whenever  i can) that to list it in a book would be impossible.

learn as i have done over many years of the responses that you are likely to get and how to avoid the ones you dont like (eg dont play d4 as it allows transpositions to Qp variations).

there is no magic bullet for the english opening which is why it works. 

Hi depthshaman, 

possibly you can speed up your learning by having a look at some commented model games. You can find some very good ones, along with an amazingly large amount of theory and advice on move orders, in David Cummings' outstanding book "Symmetrical English" (Everyman Chess 2001). For the 1.c4 e5 variations I can recommend Mihail Marin's chessbase cd.

If you are just looking for a detailed overview of the variations, there are Carsten Hansen's books on 1.c4 e5 and the Symmetrical English, published by Gambit books. In the 1.c4 e5 book he explains typical plans as well, the one on the symmetrical basically contains only variations, but quite a lot of them :)

The downside is, none of the media I mentioned deal with other 1st move  options of Black than 1...e5 and 1...c5, so there is at least one more important system to be aware of: the Flohr-Mikenas 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 .

thanks for all the advice. I can't wait to study some lines for it. I  will look into the Flohr-Mikenas too.

tony kosten's book is phenomenal, and it will cover just about everything. he gives you the moves, and he tells you the ideas behind them. it's considered an aggressive way to the english. 

 

for a more solid way to approach the english, then get andrew soltis's book. i use the two almost exclusively, along w/marin's cd and the one listed above for the symmetrical.