Encyclopedia of Chess Openings.

This is the problem, Kaufman is too wedded to his engine analysis. Basically he tends to choose variations because his engine likes them rather than for their ease of play. His repetoire needs work and a few lines hang by threads that require a great memory to work as they take the reader down a narrow path.

    Also choosing variations because Kasparov and Carlsen plays them is also non sensicle as they are far removed ability wise than every single reader, and what is right for them may not be one and the same

     The Watson book is better, as he tends to take practicality into account. The book itself is also much easier to read

I think those are both comments on the 2004 Kaufman book, The Chess Advantage in Black and White.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626223458/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen62.pdf

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/in-the-beginning-there-was-theory

Here is a review of the 2012 book:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626221508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen162.pdf

Thanks for the links to the book reviews Spongey!

The comments by Hansen and Watson are also in the overleaf to the 2012 book.  Also note that the repertoire for the 2012 book is a substantial revision to that of the 2004 book.  In particular Kaufman changed from 1.e4 in the 2004 book, to 1.d4 in the 2012 book.

Indeed they are and the quotes are there identified as "Acclaim for" the 2004 book.

Incidentally, here is a sample from the 2012 book:

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/955.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9033.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627060405/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen75.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627032909/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen89.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626210017/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen132.pdf

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/good...good...good...disastrous

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627105428/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen161.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/A_Strategic_Chess_Opening_Repertoire_for_White.pdf

This reminds of a link that someone provided (probably KindaSpongey) by Heisman that talked about chess book prerequisites.  Just because a book is widely acclaimed doesn't mean that it's the right book for you and where you are in your chess understanding.  I read Heisman's article and what he says corresponds to what TriggerLips is saying.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf

Note that the Heisman article makes no mention of Kaufman's repertoire book.  Also be sure to read the review of said book by Carsten Hansen, provided by Spongey in his Post #82 above (i.e., hansen162.pdf), where Hansen has a generally positive impression of the book.  As I pointed out in my earlier posts, not every so-called "good" or highly touted book is appropriate for every level of player; also every repertoire book has, by necessity, limitations...that's to be expected...Kaufman's book is no exception..

Spongey - Thanks for all the links to book reviews....I knew you would come through...!

Neither the 2004 Kaufman book nor the 2012 Kaufman book existed at the time of the 2001 Heisman article.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf

By the way, in connection with adopting a repertoire, it is perhaps worthwhile to remember that, near the end of the fourth volume of the Watson series, there is an extended discussion about choosing openings.

Thanks fellows for your new helpful comments & recommendations I have to admit that when I made my first post I didn't expect such overwhelming & useful info

I agree with what triggerlips said about the openings, I hate memorisation and I prefer to think from the first move, I'm someone who hates to be surprised by a move different from what he expected so I train myself to never expect any certain replies from my opponent.

In Champions' Showdown 2016 Topalov made a serious blunder in the opening because he played the memorised sequence wrong leading to his fast loss. I guess if he didn't play such mindlessly fast & thought even for a few seconds about each move he wouldn't have made such a mistake.

What I want from opening books is to know, understand & study what is being played by different masters and my goal from buying an encyclopedia is to know as much different examples as I can. I have no intention of memorising any variation. In the end even if I memorise whole tons of games & keep repeating them until becoming World Champion that would make me World Champion of Memorisation rather than of Chess :D

I agree as well with the idea of not every book widely acclaimed is suitable for a certain player, and I agree more with the idea that if a certain opening is played by a GM or World Champion that doesn't mean it is objectively the best nor the best for a certain player, even the GMs' preferences change by time. I wouldn't go for an opening or a variation simply because that's what the World Champion prefers. I guess if Carlsen played the same variations preferred by say Kasparov or Anand he wouldn't have been the Carlsen whose genius people talk about.

Watson discusses this in the aforementioned part "Choosing & Preparing Openings" in volume 4 under the title of "Don't feel constrained by the latest fashion" and he says in the end:

"Inevitably, those professionals will be coming up with new ideas and working out the details faster than you could ever dream of doing yourself, so you're always in the role of a follower instead of a creator."

 Thank you all again.

I hope you understand that an encyclopedia will not have up-to-date examples and there will be very little to help you understand what was played in the provided examples. If you wait until after you have chosen specific openings you will probably be able to choose to get up-to-date material on the chosen openings with complete game examples and lots of words to explain what is going on.

For the OP, "up to date" is not nearly as important as IDEAS.....his most pressing concern, need and focus, at his current skill level, should not be the acquisition of the most up to date opening theory.  

Any opening book that does a good job of explaining the ideas, themes, plans and strategies, even if not "up to date",  is far more valuable that an encyclopedia or database which explains nothing about these concepts as they relate to the openings.  This is why John Watson's "Mastering the Chess Openings" is the a better resource for him now than encyclopedias or databases.  

But if he does choose to acquire some kind of "database" type of resource, simply for the exposure it provides to typical play associated with lots of openings, then MCO/NCO, even though not "up to date",  will serve that purpose well enough.  And they are not expensive...

TriggerLips -

I just want to clarify that the purpose of my bringing up the Kaufman repertoire book was due to the OP's stated interest (ref his post #71) in acquiring "advanced" books.  In fact I do not recommend that the OP concern himself with acquiring that book, as I agree with your recommendation that the John Watson's series, and resources, books, of that ilk, which focus on explaining ideas, principles and concepts, are a far more appropriate and useful choice for him, at this point in his chess development.

It seems to me that Mohammad-al-Baydaq is better off in both respects if he goes for books on specific openings later instead of an opening encyclopedia now.

Thank you fellows for your new comments  I guess I'll just stick to Watson's series for now.

Hello Everyone,

These are some free resources, please see below:

https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/

https://lichess.org/video

https://www.365chess.com/opening.php

Best Regards.