I was wondering if any amateur who has read an opening book that helped him become an expert can give me a recommendation on such a fantastic, comprehensive opening book that explains the purpose behind the moves, has extensive variations, and isn't so terribly dense that a amateur can't understand it? Also, any other tips on just improving my opening game in general- using the "game explorer" feature has been helpful, but I haven't really understood the purpose behind each move! I sure could use and would greatly appreciate any guidance from my fellow chess players!

Can you read german, or wanted to learn? Modernes Scandinavisch by Matthias Wahls is a wonderful book.

Ah man, if i could read german I'm sure that book would be great- but by the time I did finally learn I might be an old man lol, what with school right now and all. I take it there arent any english translations then?

I would build a repetoire before you get a book, unless you have one already

I do not yet have one, but that is pretty much my dilemma: I can only make instinctive moves when initially developing a repetoire; hence I need a book to guide me as I develop a repetoire based on sound, understandable openings that work for me, u know?

I have always liked How to Open a Chess Game which is written by 7 GM's. Not that it gives lots of variations but it teaches one how to look at an opening. The contributors include Petrosian,Hort and Larsen.

If you want a more specific guide to an opening--choose the opening and then get an Everyman Starting Out series book.

Yes I see what you mean, and I agree with aansel. Great book. Not bigotish trash like Fine's book.

Thanks guys, I found a used copy on Amazon and ordered it- appreciate your advice!

John Watson's 'mastering the chess openings' (in three volumes) is very good, but probably dense, as you put it. Nobody said it was easy.

Well i'll def keep that series on my "holding list", once i'm ready for the more difficult texts- thx  man

Do these people exist?

Openings are fun to explore, can make us feel great since we follow GM moves at least for a while and so on, but they're not going to have a big influence on game results below expert level.

You'll get plenty of recommendations for great opening books, by all means get them, but if you want to improve your results you should look at the rest of chess (tactics, endgames, tactics, strategy and tactics).

Judging by your games, you've already reached a level where a bit of specialization may help you. So maybe you need a guide to build a repertoire. There are plenty of them around.

As every opening has its own specifics, the explanations you require are probably to be found in a specialist text.

I appreciate all of your suggestions! Yes I do know that I must learn the whole of chess and not simply one portion: the opening. Guess I wanted to focus on the beginning of the game first to make sure I'm in good, playable positions for middle and endgames:) So perhaps suggestions on a good book for middle game tactics, endgames, strategy (thx scarblac), and developing a repetoire (thx hicetnunc) are in order! Anyone who has had good experiences improving their games in any of these areas with particular books- please recommend them to me; I greatly appreciate all your guys' helpful comments!

"chess openings" by mike basman is a basic openings book...the first 6 chapters are about opening principle play, 7 is the giuoco piano, 8 is the sicilan dragon, 9 is the queen's gambit, 10 is the nimzo-indian defence, 11 is the morra gambit, 12 is towards the middlegame just a real good simple chess book...

The series of books by Yasser Seirawan are great for beginners as they explain everything. Also, they are not at all dense.

If You can read books in Russian, there is a lot of very good ones.
I would like to recommend you an old book "Chess" written by Maiselis (in 1959, I think). Of course, it is outdated, but it containes a good explanations and ideas for schemes of the openings. It is vell known, that positions may differ, but IDEAS for moves (especially combinations) DO repeats! Alex

I actually got the one on the english opening right now lol... along with one on the french that he also wrote... my opening troubles aren't as tragically hopeless as they were a few months ago- tho of course they need much improvement still as always:) thx guys!

Watson considers his third book the best. I think the whole set is quite excellent as it is a combination of theory as well as concepts. I have used just that book to play a 2400 in correspondence chess and was able to draw so it has enough depth for serious players but really helps one understand the concepts.

"MY System" and "Chess Praxis", both by Nimzovitch are excelent books that lead to a good understanding of what you should strive for in the opening.  Before you select specific openings a reading of general books will make you see the ideas behind the specific openings.

I suggest you to watch videos from youtube or visit chessvideos.tv ... there are lot of training on end games, thousands puzzle and also, there are videos on specific openings which are analyzed by masters. So, u should check it out and again that site is www.chessvideos.tv Play chess for fun!! I wouldn't recommend a book because its time consuming but if u wanna deeply analyze the openings, then books are worth reading!