Spongey's Blog

Very well.

Playing 1 e4

"... For players with very limited experience, I recommend using openings in which the play can be clarified at an early stage, often with a degree of simplification. To accomplish this safely will take a little study, because you will have to get used to playing wiith open lines for both sides' pieces, but you can't eliminate risk entirely in the opening anyway. ... teachers all over the world suggest that inexperienced players begin with 1 e4. ... You will undoubtedly see the reply 1 ... e5 most often when playing at or near a beginner's level, ... After 2 Nf3, 2 ... Nc6 will occur in the bulk of your games. ... I recommend taking up the classical and instructive move 3 Bc4 at an early stage. Then, against 3 ... Bc5, it's thematic to try to establish the ideal centre by 4 c3 and 5 d4; after that, things can get complicated enough that you need to take a look at some theory and learn the basics; ... Of course, you can also play 1 d4 ... A solid and more-or-less universal set-up is 2 Nf3 and 3 Bf4, followed in most cases by 4 e3, 5 Be2 and 6 0-0. I'd rather see my students fight their way through open positions instead; however, if you're not getting out of the opening alive after 1 e4, this method of playing 1 d4 deserves consideration. ... a commonly suggested 'easy' repertoire for White with 1 Nf3 and the King's indian Attack ... doesn't lead to an open game or one with a clear plan for White. Furthermore, it encourages mechanical play. Similarly, teachers sometimes recommend the Colle System ..., which can also be played too automatically, and usually doesn't lead to an open position. For true beginners, the King's Indian Attack and Colle System have the benefit of offering a safe position that nearly guarantees passage to some kind of playable middlegame; they may be a reasonable alternative if other openings are too intimidating. But having gained even a small amount of experience, you really should switch to more open and less automatic play. ..." - IM John Watson in a section of his 2010 book, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4

My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9033.pdf
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/vincent-moret/
Opening Repertoire 1 e4
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7819.pdf

1 e4 A Comprehensive White Repertoire

https://www.chess.com/blog/logozar/1-e4-a-comprehensive-white-repertoire-blog-preview

https://www.chess.com/blog/Milliern/a-solution-to-all-of-your-1-e4-problems

Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/

https://www.chess.com/blog/ForwardChess/book-of-the-week-openings-for-amateurs
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf

A Simple Chess Opening Repertoire for White

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

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/2018/04/01/opening-lines/

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/A-Simple-Chess-Opening-Repertoire-for-White-76p3916.htm

Kaufman's New Repertoire for Black and White

https://www.chess.com/article/view/gm-larry-kaufmann-interview-gm-larry-kaufmann-interview-new-repertoire-for-black-and-white-book

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9082a.pdf

A Chess Opening Repertoire for Blitz and Rapid by Evgeny and Vladimir Sveshnikov

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9020.pdf

Playing 1.e4

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1e4CaroKannandothers-excerpt.pdf

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1e4FrenchDefenceSicilianSidelines-excerpt.pdf

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1e4SicilianMainLines-excerpt.pdf

Keep it Simple: 1.e4

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9068.pdf

https://www.chess.com/blog/HanSchut/review-keep-it-simple-1-e4-by-im-christof-sielecki

1.e4

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/1-e4-vs-The-French-Caro-Kann-Philidor-76p3875.htm

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/GMRep-1e4-vol1-excerpt.pdf

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Negi_1e4_vs_the_Sicilian_One-excerpt.pdf

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/GrandmasterRepertoire1e4vsSicilianII-excerpt.pdf

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/1e4vsSicilianIII-excerpt.pdf

"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/video-on-openeings-for-beginners

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-principles-of-the-opening
"... For beginning players, [Discovering Chess Openings] will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Detailed suggestions are provided by Moret in his My-First-Chess-Opening-Repertoire books.
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9033.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9050.pdf
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/vincent-moret/
Opening Repertoire 1 e4 and Keep it Simple 1.e4 are somewhat similar sorts of books.
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7819.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9068.pdf
https://www.chess.com/blog/HanSchut/review-keep-it-simple-1-e4-by-im-christof-sielecki

https://www.chess.com/blog/Milliern/a-solution-to-all-of-your-1-e4-problems
https://www.chess.com/blog/logozar/1-e4-a-comprehensive-white-repertoire-blog-preview
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014) combines explanation of principles with starting opening suggestions. Of necessity, his opening descriptions are less detailed (than those of Moret) because he tried to offer choices to the reader and give some indication of how a player might choose what to try.
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/

https://www.chess.com/blog/ForwardChess/book-of-the-week-openings-for-amateurs
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Some players may not like the idea of relying on the limited selection of an author. It is a pretty daunting project to try to learn a little bit about a lot of openings, but, if one wants more freedom to make choices, it would make sense to look at a book like Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Openings.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf

https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-openings
While reading such a book, don't forget that the primary purpose is to get help with making choices. Once one has chosen openings, I think that there is wide agreement that the way to start is by playing over sample games. Some of us think that it can be useful to use books like First Steps: 1 e4 e5 and First Steps: Queen's Gambit
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf

https://chesscafe.com/book-reviews/first-steps-1-e4-e5-by-john-emms/
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7652.pdf
as sources of games with explanations intended for those just starting to learn about an opening. Be sure to try to use the openings in games in between sessions of learning. Most of the time, one faces a position with no knowledge of a specific move indicated in a book. One has to accept that as part of chess, and think of opening knowledge as a sometimes helpful aid. After a game, it makes sense to try to look up the moves in a book and see if it has some indication of how one might have played better in the opening. Many opening books are part explanation and part reference material. The reference material is included in the text with the idea that one mostly skips it on a first reading, and looks at an individual item when it applies to a game that one has just played. Resist the temptation to try to turn a book into a mass memorization project. There are many important subjects that one should not neglect because of too much time on opening study.
https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-an-opening-to-memorize-or-understand
https://www.chess.com/article/view/3-ways-to-learn-new-openings
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-understand-openings

https://www.chess.com/blog/HanSchut/understand-your-opening-using-tabiyas-pawn-structures-model-games-and-typical-tactics

https://www.chess.com/blog/BlakeyBChess/opening-myth-i-cant-memorize-long-lines
"... Overall, I would advise most players to stick to a fairly limited range of openings, and not to worry about learning too much by heart. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... If the book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... Everyman Chess has started a new series aimed at those who want to understand the basics of an opening, i.e., the not-yet-so-strong players. ... I imagine [there] will be a long series based on the premise of bringing the basic ideas of an opening to the reader through plenty of introductory text, game annotations, hints, plans and much more. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627055734/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen38.pdf
"... The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
Various items of possible interest:
"There is no such thing as a 'best opening.' Each player should choose an opening that attracts him. Some players are looking for a gambit as White, others for Black gambits. Many players that are starting out (or have bad memories) want to avoid mainstream systems, others want dynamic openings, and others want calm positional pathways. It’s all about personal taste and personal need.
For example, if you feel you’re poor at tactics you can choose a quiet positional opening (trying to hide from your weakness and just play chess), or seek more dynamic openings that engender lots of tactics and sacrifices (this might lead to more losses but, over time, will improve your tactical skills and make you stronger). ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (January 28, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/opening-questions-and-a-dream-mate
https://www.chess.com/article/view/picking-the-correct-opening-repertoire
http://chess-teacher.com/best-chess-openings/
https://www.chess.com/blog/TigerLilov/build-your-opening-repertoire
https://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/how-to-build-an-opening-repertoire

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/need-a-opening-for-white?

The October 2019 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 2746 August games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1...c5, 1...e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, some of the list entries are: 148 Retis, 131 declined Queen's Gambits, 126 Caro-Kanns, 124 King's Indians, 107 Nimzo-Indians, 105 Slavs, 86 Najdorf Sicilians, 80 1...e5 Englishes, 68 Classical Gruenfelds, 61 1...c5 Englishes, 54 1...Nf6 Englishes, 53 Queen's Indians, 50 1...e6 Englishes, 50 Giuoco Pianos, 48 Kan Sicilians, and 43 Berlin Ruy Lopezes.

"... A typical way of choosing an opening repertoire is to copy the openings used by a player one admires. ... However, what is good at world-championship level is not always the best choice at lower levels of play, and it is often a good idea to choose a 'model' who is nearer your own playing strength. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)

"... When you study an opening, it is very important to understand typical positional and tactical ideas and even mistakes frequently committed by chess players. You won't be able to do it using the nearly perfect games of Carlsen and his super-GM opponents.

So that's why you should not play openings like Magnus Carlsen!" - GM Gserper (2019)

https://www.chess.com/article/view/should-you-play-openings-like-magnus-carlsen
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-perfect-opening-for-the-lazy-student

https://www.chess.com/blog/2Bf41-0/3-reasons-why-everyone-should-play-london-system-pawn-structures

https://www.chess.com/blog/2Bf41-0/london-system-q-a
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9035.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627110453/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen169.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9029.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/has-the-king-s-indian-attack-been-forgotten
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7277.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627104938/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen159.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627040728/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ebcafe06.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052905/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen175.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627022042/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen153.pdf
"... Once you identify an opening you really like and wish to learn in more depth, then should you pick up a book on a particular opening or variation. Start with ones that explain the opening variations and are not just meant for advanced players. ..." - Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
"... To begin with, only study the main lines ... you can easily fill in the unusual lines later. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... For inexperienced players, I think the model that bases opening discussions on more or less complete games that are fully annotated, though with a main focus on the opening and early middlegame, is the ideal. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2010)
"... I think people tend to be afraid of the main lines. They think: ... sure, I'm going to take up (say) 5 Bg5 against the Semi-Slav, once I've got time and learned it properly. ... My advice is - don't bother. The more you learn anyway, the more you'll recognize how little you know. ... 5 Bg5 is a good move - get it on the board, get ready to fight, and see what happens.
Sure, there will come a time, whether on move two or move twenty, when your knowledge of theory runs out and you have to decide what to do on your own. ... sometimes you will leave theory first, sometimes your opponent. Nothing will stop this happening. It happens in every well-contested GM game at some point, usually a very significant point. This is a part of the game: an important part, something you have to get better at. ... to improve you have to challenge yourself; ..." - IM John Cox (2006)
"... 'Journey to the Chess Kingdom' ... is primarily intended for children ... Chapter five deals with opening principles, while chapter six provides an overview of the most popular chess openings. Importantly, the emphasis is on giving insights and explaining ideas and principles as opposed to advocating mindless memorization of long lines. ..." - WGM Natalia Pogonina (2014)
https://www.chess.com/blog/Natalia_Pogonina/book-review-quotjourney-to-the-chess-kingdomquot

"... First Steps: 1.e4 e5 by John Emms, in my humble opinion, is a fantastic book.  He covers options and gives explanations for White and Black, including coverage of the Ruy Lopez. He gives recommendations for White and Black (through roughly moves 4-6) in all of his sections.  He says in the introduction that he intended this book to be a sequel to his 'Discovering Chess Openings' (another great book by Emms).  Rarely does he list more than a few moves without instructive verbal commentary.  This seems exactly what a low-level player needs. ... This is one of those few good opening books that I will keep, even when I soon quit chess to study the endgame." - dannyhume (September 27, 2018)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/best-books-resources-to-learn-the-black-side-of-the-open-games?page=3

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/best-books-resources-to-learn-the-black-side-against-the-flank-openings-in-a-manner-c?page=1

"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess

https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-play-chess

https://www.chess.com/blog/michechess89/8-tips-to-increase-your-online-rating

https://www.chess.com/news/view/rapid-chess-improvement
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons

https://www.chess.com/article/view/mastery-chess-lessons-are-here
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
https://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/

https://www.chess.com/blog/ForwardChess/book-of-the-week-openings-for-amateurs
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
https://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
https://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090229/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review492.pdf
https://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf

https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-openings

https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/https://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf

"... [Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren] is not particularly suited for players who are just starting out. I would imagine players rated at least 1400-1500 would get the most benefit from this volume. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2009)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/FCO-Fundamental-Chess-Openings-76p3561.htm

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

I would strongly recommend examining the sample and trying to judge whether or not you feel yourself to be at a stage where you would be likely to read hundreds of pages of that sort of thing.

"... For new players, I cannot recommend books that use [an encyclopedic] type of presentation [of opening theory], because the explanatory prose that elaborates typical plans and ideas is usually absent, thus leaving the student without any clear idea why certain moves are played or even preferred over other apparently equivalent moves. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2010)

"... [Modern Chess Openings (15th ed.)] pretends to be everything for everybody, but it isn’t; it pretends to be up-to-date and relevant in all chapters, but it isn’t; it should be a good book, but it isn’t. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2008)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626165820/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen110.pdf

"... Ideas Behind the Chess Openings ... cannot be recommended to the modern student seeking to improve his or her understanding of opening theory."

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708112658/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review315.pdf

About half a century ago, I think the Fine book was considered to be nearly essential reading, but now, I fear that its information is seriously out-of-date. Also, I do not think it has much in the way of sample games.

Pawn instruction:

https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-basic-pawn-structures

https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-pawn-structure-for-chess-players-under-2000

https://www.chess.com/article/view/your-pawn-structure-is-your-friend

https://www.chess.com/article/view/more-pawn-structures

Simple Chess by Michael Stean
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486424200.html
Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andrew Soltis (2013)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101523/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review908.pdf
The Power of Pawns by GM Jörg Hickl (2016)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/the-power-of-pawns/
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9034.pdf

Chess structures: A Grandmaster Guide

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-structures-a-grandmaster-guide/

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7495.pdf
Small Steps to Giant Improvement
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/sam-shankland/
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7804.pdf
Pawn Power in Chess by Kmoch

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486264866.html

Understanding Pawn Play in Chess by GM Marovic
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Understanding_Pawn_Play_in_Chess.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110136/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review249.pdf
Dynamic Pawn Play in Chess by GM Drazen Marovic (2001)
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Dynamic_Pawn_Play_in_Chess.pdf
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/books-of-many-flavours
Winning Chess Middlegames, An Essential Guide to Pawn Structures by GM Ivan Sokolov (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708091955/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review676.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/922.pdf

Winning Pawn Structures

https://web.archive.org/web/20140718055446/http://chesscafe.com/text/wps.txt

"... everyone is different, so what works for one person may likely fail with another ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf

"... Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
"... The books that are most highly thought of are not necessarily the most useful. Go with those that you find to be readable. ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2010)
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
"... [annotated games are] infinitely more useful than bare game scores. However, annotated games vary widely in quality. Some are excellent study material. Others are poor. But the most numerous fall into a third category - good-but-wrong-for-you. ... You want games with annotations that answer the questions that baffle you the most. ..." - GM Andrew Soltis (2010)

"... probably the most important thing is to have fun! It makes learning much more enjoyable. ..." - IM Bacon (January 31, 2020)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/how-to-improve-5

Alas, not everyone seems to believe in maintaining a fun learning atmosphere.

"..., you have to make a decision: have tons of fun playing blitz (without learning much), or be serious and play with longer time controls so you can actually think.

One isn't better than another. Having fun playing bullet is great stuff, while 3-0 and 5-0 are also ways to get your pulse pounding and blood pressure leaping off the charts. But will you become a good player? Most likely not.

Of course, you can do both (long and fast games), but I don’t recommend that right now. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (June 9, 2016)

https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive

"... Sure, fast games are fine for practicing openings (not the most important part of the game for most players) and possibly developing decent board vision and tactical 'shots', but the kind of thinking it takes to plan, evaluate, play long endgames, and find deep combinations is just not possible in quick chess. … for serious improvement ... consistently play many slow games to practice good thinking habits. ... I know that a large percentage of my readers almost exclusively play on the internet - after all, you are reading this on the internet, right!? But there is a strong case for at least augmenting internet play with some OTB play, whether in a club or, better yet, a tournament. ... I would guess that players who have never played OTB usually gain 50-100 points of playing strength just from competing in their first long weekend tournament, assuming they play five or more rounds of very slow chess. ... Don't have two day? Try a one-day quad (a round-robin among four similarly rated players). … about 100 slow games a year is a reasonable foundation for ongoing improvement. ... Can't make 100? Then try for 60. If you only play three or fewer tournaments a year and do not play slow chess regularly at a club (or on-line, where G/90 and slower play is relatively rare), then do not be surprised that you are not really improving. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf

"... Most internet players think that 30 5 is slow, but that is unlikely slow enough to play 'real' chess. You need a game slow enough so that for most of the game you have time to consider all your candidate moves as well as your opponent’s possible replies that at least include his checks, captures, and serious threats, to make sure you can meet all of them. For the average OTB player G/90 is about the fastest, which might be roughly 60 10 online, where there is some delay. But there is no absolute; some people think faster than others and others can play real chess faster because of experience. Many internet players are reluctant to play slower than 30 5 so you might have to settle for that as a 'slow' game." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627010008/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman12.pdf

"... I have strong anecdotal evidence that balancing slow and fast chess practice provides optimum benefits … . In my experience, students who play fast chess almost exclusively have problems visualizing (moving pieces around in their head), they often play the occasional slow game too quickly, and have difficulty in planning and endgames. Players who play only slow chess have difficulty learning their openings, recognizing critical positions and basic tactical patterns, and often panic in time trouble. The best solution, as in many things, is a healthy balance. I would guess up to ninety percent of your playing time should be slow games (thirty minutes for each player or preferably more) and the other ten percent speed games. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2009)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627020325/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman100.pdf

"... WGM Jennifer Shahade ... : … '... I think blitz can be very good for you... ... but if you don't look up your openings after the game you are missing most of the point.' ...

... I recommend that if you are a beginner, you should avoid speed chess for a variety of reasons. Among them:

• it can get you into a variety of bad habits,
• cause inexperienced players to rush in slow games, and
• can be very frustrating when you are not very good and can't see the chessboard very accurately in a short glance.

However, once you get good enough to have sufficient board vision and tactical vision to play speed games, I do recommend you add them to your practice repertoire. This usually occurs in the 1200-1400 range, but of course can vary widely. ...

… if done reasonably, speed chess is good for you." - NM Dan Heisman (2017)

https://www.chess.com/article/view/is-speed-chess-good-for-you

"... thinking correctly in most positions takes time. Playing almost exclusively fast games obviously precludes practicing correctly, and so you will never get very good! Sure, fast games are fine for practicing openings (not the most important part of the game for most players) and possibly developing decent board vision and tactical 'shots', but the kind of thinking it takes to plan, evaluate, play long endgames, and find deep combinations is just not possible in quick chess. … for serious improvement ... consistently play many slow games to practice good thinking habits. ... I know that a large percentage of my readers almost exclusively play on the internet - after all, you are reading this on the internet, right!? But there is a strong case for at least augmenting internet play with some OTB play, whether in a club or, better yet, a tournament. Tournament play gives you the kind of concentrated, slow chess that often helps improve your game, especially if you are inexperienced at slow play. I would guess that players who have never played OTB usually gain 50-100 points of playing strength just from competing in their first long weekend tournament, assuming they play five or more rounds of very slow chess. ... Sure, an occasional weekend event takes a lot more of your time, but the benefits are comparatively greater if improvement is your ultimate goal. Don't have two day? Try a one-day quad (a round-robin among four similarly rated players). How often should you play? ... A minimum of 8 OTB tournaments and about 100 slow games a year is a reasonable foundation for ongoing improvement. ... Can't make 100? Then try for 60. If you only play three or fewer tournaments a year and do not play slow chess regularly at a club (or on-line, where G/90 and slower play is relatively rare), then do not be surprised that you are not really improving. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf

RussBell wrote (~10 days ago):

… These following should provide useful perspective on the question....

An excerpt from one of Dan Heisman “Novice Nook” articles…

"Analysis and Evaluation"...

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627010008/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman12.pdf

Reader Question: “You recommend playing at least 2 "slow" games per week for improvement. But, for purposes of this advice, how slow is slow? G/30? G/120? I realize, of course, that playing as slowly as possible is best, but where's the dividing line (or dividing grey area) you are thinking of?”

Answer: Good question. Most internet players think that 30 5 is slow, but that is unlikely slow enough to play "real" chess. You need a game slow enough so that for most of the game you have time to consider all your candidate moves as well as your opponent’s possible replies that at least include his checks, captures, and serious threats, to make sure you can meet all of them. For the average OTB player G/90 is about the fastest, which might be roughly 60 10 online, where there is some delay. But there is no absolute; some people think faster than others and others can play real chess faster because of experience. Many internet players are reluctant to play slower than 30 5 so you might have to settle for that as a "slow" game.

 Excerpt from Heisman's "The Best Novice Nook Ideas"…

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627020325/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman100.pdf

14. Balancing fast and slow chess practice...

Many instructors feel that playing slow chess almost exclusively is

necessary for improvement, but I have strong anecdotal evidence that

balancing slow and fast chess practice provides optimum benefits (see

Getting the Edge). In my experience, students who play fast chess almost

exclusively have problems visualizing (moving pieces around in their

head), they often play the occasional slow game too quickly, and have

difficulty in planning and endgames. Players who play only slow chess

have difficulty learning their openings, recognizing critical positions and

basic tactical patterns, and often panic in time trouble. The best solution,

as in many things, is a healthy balance. I would guess up to ninety percent

of your playing time should be slow games (thirty minutes for each player

or preferably more) and the other ten percent speed games. If possible,

play speed games with the same increment as required by your federation

(or local organizer) for slow games. That way, when you get into time

trouble in important games, your brain is “attuned” to finding moves

efficiently at that speed.

 The following also address the issue of time controls...
https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/how-blitz-and-bullet-rotted-my-brain-don-t-let-it-rot-yours

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627030447/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman115.pdf

Perhaps a common belief:

"... I thought blitz was how people typically play. ..." - Grilled-Meats (March 11, 2019)

A comment from someone apparently in a mood to try to be friendly and helpful:

"[Try] playing longer games. ... It’s impossible at your level of limited experience to be able to properly apply what you may have studied to quick time control games, you will just end up blundering (as may your opponent making the games a lottery)" - CM JamesColeman (March 11, 2019)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/study-thought-i-was-learning-lost-100-blitz-rating-points-in-a-weekend

"... So far all you're playing is blitz.  So ask yourself:  "How serious am i about improving?  When you play blitz, you are not giving yourself time to think.  You're not giving yourself time to implement what you're learning into your games.  Also...when you're starting out in chess, and playing fast, all you're doing is reinforcing bad habits. …" - IMBacon (January 31, 2020)

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/how-to-improve-5

"... This book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge. The reader will receive the necessary basic knowledge in six areas of the game - tactics, positional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame. ... To make the book entertaining and varied, I have mixed up these different areas, ..." - GM Artur Yusupov

The Yusupov series of books seems to be pretty demanding, so I suggest that you look carefully at available samples and reviews before buying. If you do decide to go for it, you should probably know that the correct reading order is Build 1, Boost 1, Evolution 1, Exam 1, Build 2, Boost 2, Evolution 2, Build 3, Boost 3, Evolution 3.

http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-Your-Chess-1-exceprt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103321/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review699.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-your-chess-2-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Build-up-Your-Chess-3-exceprt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103659/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review778.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-1-77p3744.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Boost-Your-Chess-1-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-2-77p3745.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/BoostYourChess2-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-3-77p3746.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/BoostYourChess3.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review834.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess-Evolution-1-excerpt.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085817/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review843.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-2-77p3643.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess_Evolution_2-excerpt.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-3-Mastery-77p3753.htm
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Chess_Evolution_3-excerpt.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/QandAwithArturYusupovQualityChessAugust2013.pdf
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Revision&Exam1-excerpt.pdf

Perhaps of interest:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupov-and-the-older-lower-rated-player

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/yusupovs-series-from-quality-chess

"... 'Chess Fundamentals' ... does not deal so minutely as this book will with the things that beginners need to know. ..." - from Capablanca's A Primer of Chess
"... For let’s make no mistake, what ground Capablanca covers, he covers well. I enjoyed reading Capablanca’s presentation of even well-worn and standard positions. ...
Still, when compared with other instructional books for beginners and intermediate players, Capablanca’s Chess Fundamentals would not be my first choice. Other books cover the same or similar ground with a less confusing structure and more thoroughness. The following works come to mind as equal or in some ways superior: Lasker’s Common Sense in Chess; Znosko-Borovsky’s series of books; and Edward Lasker’s Chess Strategy. Later works that equal or surpass Chess Fundamentals would include Reuben Fine’s Chess the Easy Way and any number of Horowitz tomes.
Capablanca’s work has historical interest and value, of course, and for that reason alone belongs in any chess lover’s library. But there are better instructional books on the market. Certainly the works of Seirawan, Silman, Pandolfini, Polgar, Alburt, etc. are more accessible, speak a more modern idiom, and utilize advances in chess teaching and general pedagogy, etc. ..." - David Kaufman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20131010102057/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review564.pdf

Don't agree with this, I think it's better to study one book only. If you can't name the chapter titles in a book off the top of your head and the ideas each chapter contains, then the reading you did was pointless.

Various endgame study possibilities discussed at:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review594.pdf

https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/silmans-complete-endgame-course/

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/mikhalchishin-and-stetsko/

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7742.pdf

https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105702/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review645.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/100-Endgames-You-Must-Know-78p3863.htm

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9026.pdf

http://chessimprover.com/averbakhs-chess-endings-essential-knowledge/

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101138/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review373.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234309/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review704.pdf
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Understanding_Chess_Endgames.pdf
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/endings-endings-endings
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/the-end-game-comes-before-we-know-it
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all
Before buying any particular book, I suggest going to the publisher site to see if it is possible to view a sample.

"... I believe that Jeremy Silman's Silman’s Complete Endgame Course ... deserved strong consideration for the 2007 ECF Book of the Year award; see the two books above. ... I'm convinced that Silman's book will take its place in history as one of the most popular endgame books ever. It has already caught on with the average player in a big way, confirming Silman's status as the king of instructional writers. He writes in a clear and casual style, and time and again has shown the ability to reach those who feel intimidated by the lofty approach that a grandmaster will often take. ... Silman ... defines what he thinks is necessary to know at specific rating levels. For example, the beginner or unrated player needs to know ... Silman's idea is to wait until you climb in strength before you worry about more advanced material. Then, as a Class 'E' player (that's 1000-1199), one must learn ... Silman's book emphasizes to the student that the important thing is to master the strictly limited material at hand, rather than get confused by endings that won't help your results at that level. Perhaps even more importantly, Silman is able to use his teaching experience and talk to his readers in a way that they can handle, in a friendly manner and without condescension. ... I'll also repeat the point that David Ellinger in ChessCafe makes: '[This ...] demonstrates who this book will truly serve best: anybody who coaches chess. For me, as a perpetually near-2000 player who does part-time coaching, I’ve got in my hands a great resource that will have something for every student, no matter the rating.' ..." - IM John Watson (2007)

"... before discussing the specifics of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual [henceforth 'DEM'], a word of warning is in order. I must emphasize that this is a terribly advanced work that I don't think is a very good way for the average player to study the endgame. The majority of the examples are complex and position-specific, and neither the average student nor even strong masters will follow or play over most of the hundreds of positions that are given extensive analysis, not to mention the subvariations derived from those positions. Even when introducing 'the basics', Dvoretsky's approach is often more complex than is necessary for an average student, and in any case such a thick book will seldom be used for the sake of elementary instruction. The majority of the other material is frankly very difficult. So take note: I don't want to be blamed, in praising this book, for your purchasing something that you find intimidating, relatively dull, or otherwise unsatisfying. That said, if you are up to a real challenge and have a great deal of time to devote to reading and playing over examples you will inevitably derive great value from this work. ..." - IM John Watson (2005)

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Dvoretskys-Endgame-Manual-3rd-Edition-78p3502.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233815/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review399.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/2703.pdf

Here are some positions that you might want to look at:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/a-classical-endgame-study-by-luigi-centurini

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/endgame-fundamental-question

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/position-from-chess-mentor-on-king-pawn-endgame

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/how-do-you-identify-corresponding-squares

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/pawn-endings-emanuel-lasker-and-reichhelm

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/do-you-think-that-triangulation-is-useful

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/triangulation-troubles

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/king-and-pawn-endgame-2018-10-31

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/trouble-understanding-the-solution-to-this-problem

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/virtual-opposition-for-the-love-of-god-please-explain?page=2

Sicilian?

Around 2010, IM John Watson wrote, "... For players with very limited experience, ... the Sicilian Defence ... normally leaves you with little room to manoeuvre and is best left until your positional skills develop. ... I'm still not excited about my students playing the Sicilian Defence at [the stage where they have a moderate level of experience and some opening competence], because it almost always means playing with less space and development, and in some cases with exotic and not particularly instructive pawn-structures. ... if you're taking the Sicilian up at [say, 1700 Elo and above], you should put in a lot of serious study time, as well as commit to playing it for a few years. ..."

In 2012, IM Greg Shahade wrote, "... These days ....c5 is more popular than ....e5, so who's to say that the lessons learned in e5 are somehow more valuable? It was by far the most popular opening in the past, but it's no longer the case. The lessons in the Sicilian, as irrational as they may seem to a relative newcomer, are very important to learn and who's to say that this type of action packed/dynamic chess is not just as good a way to start as the more classical style of chess. I definitely think that playing only 1.e4 e5 until 2000 is way too harsh a restriction in today's world of chess that is so much more than just classical 1.e4 e5 openings. That's not to say it's bad to play only 1.e4 e5 until 2000, but I think it's incorrect to assume that this is the proper way to approach chess development."

http://www.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=16827&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30

Around the same time, he did acknowledge, "I specialize at teaching players who aspire to be pretty strong...like at least 2200, and usually higher, so I'm less skilled at helping 1500-1600 players without any particular ambitions to become great at chess".

http://www.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php&f=24&t=16827

In 2014, Pete Tamburro wrote, "... You will see [in Openings for Amateurs] the reply to 1.e4 to be the great reply of the open games with 1...e5. The Sicilian Dragon is presented as an alternative. ... I have found that scholastic players take to the Sicilian Dragon very quickly. ... A cautionary note: the Dragon is good at club level, but as you start facing better players you're going to find yourself memorizing tons of lines and the latest analysis, ... From my experience with coaching players below 1800, you won't need to do that too much. ..."

"... There is no doubt in my mind that if you really want to test the Sicilian then you have to play the main lines of the Open Sicilian. The problem is that there are just so many of them ... and keeping up with developments in all of them is a substantial task. ... as you become older, with other demands on your time (family, job, etc.) then it becomes more and more difficult to keep up with everything. At this stage it may make sense to reduce your theoretical overhead by adopting one of the 'lesser' lines against the Sicilian: 2 c3, or the Closed Sicilian, or lines with Bb5. ..." - GM John Nunn in part of a 2005 book where he discussed a 1994 game in which he had played 2 c3.

"If you play 1 e4, then you have to be ready for a wide array of defences. The Sicilian, Caro-Kann, French, and 1...e5 are all huge topics, ... the 'big four' are not the only riddles with which the 1 e4 player finds himself confronted; there are numerous other less common but still highly respectable defences for which one must be prepared. The Alekhine, Modern, Pirc, Scandinavian, and others all require serious attention, ..." - IM Andrew Greet

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627112122/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ebcafe07.pdf

Book discussions:
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-books-and-youth-vs-old-age
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-cyborg-chess-teachers-and-chess-books

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/2-good-chess-books-i-can-confidently-recommend?page=2

https://www.chess.com/article/view/top-10-chess-books

https://www.chess.com/article/view/why-i-dont-play-chess

Amateur to IM

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110922/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review865.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Amateur-to-IM-78p3714.htm

http://3harpiesltd.info/dev-mp/excerpts/Amateur-to-IM.pdf

Chess structures: A Grandmaster Guide

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-structures-a-grandmaster-guide/

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7495.pdf

The Development of Chess Style by Max Euwe & John Nunn

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708095110/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/chestyle.txt

Fundamental Chess Openings by Paul van der Sterren

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626173432/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen128.pdf

http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/FCO-Fundamental-Chess-Openings-76p3561.htm

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

Great Games by Chess Legends, vol 1
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708112104/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review711.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104818/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review697.pdf
Great Games by Chess Legends, Volume 2
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234322/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review734.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092313/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review620.pdf
Great Games by Chess Legends, Volume 3
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090408/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review831.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708100445/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review933.pdf

How to Reassess Your Chess, 4th Edition by IM Jeremy Silman (2010)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708095832/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review769.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/how-to-reassess-your-chess-4th-edition/

Improve Your Chess by Learning from the Champions by Lars Bo Hansen

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708095920/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review724.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Improve_your_Chess_-_by_Learning_from_the_Champions.pdf