I need a good openings book

Do whatever you want I will not be holding you back. You'll be doing that yourself.

Oh, my, books keep getting written about openings. Almost as though theory is continually moving forward! What a crazy idea!! New books about new developments in theory - Madness!

I give up. Best of luck to you, you're going to need it. 

take it easy everyone..turned into WWIII here

Heh, sorry 2DecadePlayer - On topic, I have FCO by Van der Sterren, and it's awesome. Highly reccomended

Thanks Issis - I've heard that book being tossed around since I joined up here. I'll have to check it out on Amazon and at Barnes. :)  Thanks again

How to Open a Chess Game published by RHM and written by  7GM's is an older opening book which is highly recommended. It really gives nice coverage of how to choose and opening and some good tips. Some of the contributors include Larsen,Hort and Petrosian. 

The nice thing about FCO is that there is a *lot* of explanatory prose. You never feel like you're drowning in variations - Again, this means a lot of the lines aren't explored massively in depth, but as an overview of pretty much every reasonable opening FCO is awesome.

sparenone - FCO is at Amazon for $19.77.  But I have a library card now so I'm going to go that route until I find something I actually want to buy.

Hello :)

I just wanted to say that I see your point as far as the same/similar info being churned out. Years ago, when I first got more seriously into writing, I subscribed to Writer's Digest for a couple of years, then it seemed to be the same info recycled with perhaps a slightly different flavor. It's many years later and I'm subscribing again, but I'm also utilizing more of the info in the magazine...not just the "how-to" articles.

When it comes to books, I think each person needs to find the style/approach/author that fits with their needs and learning style. Whether or not the GMs do it to pass on knowledge or make money, it's up to the buyer as to whether or not they care. It's easy to understand your resentment, but I think it can also make someone more biased and unable to see that there is also value in the WELL-written books.

I personally find that it's the combo---book learning AND playing/experience---that ultimately leads to improved skills. I plan on doing both, but I personally want to have a knowledge and understanding, especially with something as complex and virtually infinite as chess, before I get more deeply involved in playing.  

Erm, I'm saying the same thing - Books are a jumping off point. Especially something like FCO. Repertoire books can be nice, but with things like Chessbase and Rybka you don't *need* them. But to learn the fundamentals (about an opening, endgames, etc), books are incredibly useful. 

So what are we arguing about? : P

Issis- I don't know anymore. This has gotten out of hand

Amazon.com has used copies of the MCO-13 for $0.94 US (plus 3.99 S&H).  I got mine last year, and despite being 10+ years old, it's not like openings have changed that much since it was published...

Yeah Niven I actually noticed that when I was researching some of the other *CO books. I plan to look at all the books before I decide to make a purchase on opening theory

 If this is true (which I have no way of knowing either way), that's SOOoooo lousy; it reminds me of when people leave out an ingredient from a recipe because they don't want anyone to make it as well as them! It's selfish and feeds ego. BUT, that said, I think there's a lot to be gleaned from well-written books and it's a matter of discernment. That's why 2Decade asked in the first place, I think :) Seeing as how you've read or at least checked out so many, there must be at least a couple worthy of reading, and if they're available at the library----YEA! :)

spare - I honestly try to be very creative when I'm playing and avoid traditional lines depending on what my opponent is doing. Usually I am analyzing too much or not thinking that far ahead which sometimes causes me to blunder. Like I mentioned, I'm striving to continue to want to be better. I'm just looking for a small advantage. Whether books are right or wrong for that I will find out.  But I appreciate all of the feedback from this topic that I have gotten and will look at all available avenues. :)

 erm I would have said, "How to hijack a thread."

to the OP-

It is true that the internet has countless resources on opening theory, but an MCO 13 for a buck that you can take notes in away from your comp might be nice to have.

The Fine book is good, or Watson if you need explanations of moves and plans and you dnot want to spend your time looking for the info online.

In general though, you can find opening databases online for your games on chess.com or such.

A book that helped me a lot when I was a beginner was "Point count chess" by Al Horowitz and Geoffrey Mott-Smith(possibly out of print now). Although it only focuses on the well-known ideas of open files, outposts, hanging pawns and so on, it gives you a discipline to focus on those things and more importantly, it gives you a tool to evaluate your position quantitatively. Way back when, this book helped me raise my OTB rating to 1750 (Canadian, which at the time was probably over 1800 US). I even got a won game against a Master once in a tournament (boy was he sweating!) - but I lost the game in the ending...

Before each move, besides the tactics, I would ask myself "Will this give me an open file? Will it give him a bad Bishop? Oops, this will give him an outpost for his knight, will I have compensation? And so on. These are questions we tend to forget when we are looking at tactics and responses, but it is what Masters consider.