Learning a New Opening

Sort:
Avatar of JFK-Ramsey

Does Chess.com offer help in learning an Opening? I would like to learn the English, KIA, KID and Pirc. My first thought was to search the book offerings from Chess.com and other chess book publishers. But then I thought Chess.com might provide some help. I'm particularly interested in objectives of each opening and defense, what types of middles games are strived for besides the usual main lines and variations. I tried to find something in the video lessons but not with much luck.

Or could someone recommend a good book(s).

Anyone?  Thanks.

Avatar of Quasimorphy

You could try the videos on youtube.  The quality of chess videos there varies widely and often the presentation is annoying. It can be time consuming, but you'll occasionally find something useful.

Regarding books, it sounds like the Starting Out series from Everyman Chess might be the type of book you're looking for:

Starting Out: The English by Neil McDonald

Starting Out: King's Indian Attack by John Emms

Starting Out: King's Indian by Joe Gallagher

Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern by Joe Gallagher

I don't own any of those particular books, but I do have a few openings books by those authors, some of them in the Starting Out series. To the best of my knowledge, the Starting Out books all follow the same format, so you may want to try one to see if you like it before spending money on the others--I'd suggest the McDonald book only because I've found his writing style to be a little more entertaining.

Estragon's advice is on the mark.  I've actually bought books on and played three of your selections for a while and dropped them(although I'll still occasionally give the KIA a go.)  I've only played the white side of the English in blitz games against computer programs, and it didn't suit me well enough to take it up.