TheBeard wrote:
"... I was curious what books/authors you fine people could recommend on the specific opening (P-e4).
Even if it isn't a whole book dedicated to the opening, but just a chapter you remember sticking with you, ..."
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Starting Out: Open Games by GM Glenn Flear (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232452/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen134.pdf
Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by IM John Shaw (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf
Hello and good evening!
I have recently started putting decided effort into bettering my chess, and I was hoping for a little direction on the opening that I am favoring at the moment.
I am barely a wood-pusher with a rating probably lower than my credit score, but I keep my head high and pull off the beautiful game once in a while. I keep notes of all my games and there are a few I still get excited about. :)
I liken chess to golf at this present moment: 18 holes of torture, for one shot of perfection. I am currently hoping to improve on those numbers, lol.
So as to the topic at hand: I am currently finding myself starting the line of (P-e4) in the majority of my games. Not that I find this as a detriment, conversely, I rather enjoy the safer opening of (P- e4) over the line of (P-d4). I would rather set the development of the pieces on my schedule as opposed to giving black an opportunity to send his queen into the fray unopposed, even if as a sacrifice.
(I should note that, in general, my playstyles devolve into: a.- a slow build-up of pressure focused on one side of the board if black castles early; or b.- set for a scenario where everything on the board is traded and I end a pawn up [or even, as long as I move first] with two or fewer equal numbered minors. I thoroughly enjoy my pawn end-games.)
To that extent, since I find myself naturally reverting to the move, I figure why not study it and put some effort into learning the theory and history behind my new favorite first push.
I am currently turning the pages of "Logical Chess: Move by Move"... and it is giving me some really good insight into the thoughts *behind* the move (P-e4). While the book has many great games and ideas on the opening, alas, it is but about 15% of the book, with the remaining 70%+/- devoted to everyone's favorite: (P-d4).
I am currently awaiting "GM's Repertoire Vol 2: 1. e4" from our lovely friends at the Amazon Prime facility, but in the interim, I was curious what books/authors you fine people could recommend on the specific opening (P-e4).
Even if it isn't a whole book dedicated to the opening, but just a chapter you remember sticking with you, I would greatly appreciate any guidance to my next study material. :)
Thank you, and have a great weekend everyone!
(P.S. - Here is a game that is my favorite to date. I'm posting it to show an example of my playstyle, and also to see if I can get this in-post board thingie to work, lol!)
And yes, I do realize that this game was played between two bad players (it was played on spark chess, so honestly I have no idea of the guy's skill level). Yet, this is the first game I played where it was *my* plan that led to ending the game; not simply stumbling into a mating pattern or quickly trading off all the pieces on the board to get to my king+pawn end-game quicker. This was the very first game where all my work and positioning paid off with a win that I had planned... no matter how badly it was played, lol. :)