That helps, thanks Paul.
Get the Book or Can you Learn it Here?
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Jul 27, 2013
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#3
Yes, usually the book has some added value (structure, selection of games, highlighting of important ideas...).
If not, then it's probably not a very good book 
Yeah, I'd recommend Paul van der Sterren's Fundamental Chess Openings, but the last time I did I got absolutely hammered by naysayers so I won't. 
baddogno wrote:
Yeah, I'd recommend Paul van der Sterren's Fundamental Chess Openings, but the last time I did I got absolutely hammered by naysayers so I won't.
+1, no hammer : )
how does "opening explorer " in this site explain the ideas behind the moves (opening moves) ? it can't right ?
*thats my opinion not a question statement.
You can learn here, but it will be DULL, since memorizing openings is FOOLISH. I know that, because I used to learn openings by heart for a very long time. Now I know, that I can survive with bunch of lines I know and some general understanding of openings. Trust me, you won't improve by SWOTTING.
paulgottlieb wrote:
Of course the Game Explorer can't tell you about reasons and ideas, but it is certainly valuable. It's very instructive just to know that the vast majority of players reject my choice. And trying to work out for yourself the reasons why certain moves are popular or unpopular will teach you a lot.
In the last analysis, when we are playing, we need to work things out for ourselves. So the time spent trying to figure out the ideas behind the moves for ourselves is never wasted.
+1, figuring things out is an invaluable skill in life as well as in chess.
i've ordered several books and have a stack ready to read through - and that will take a while. (anyone else have this experience?) Then i think, can i learn the same things, particularly openings, by just using 'game explorer' here on chess dot com? What do you all think?