Well, if opening names are being thrown around, you can always just Google the name and find out a little more about the opening.
This site has an opening explorer, as does this one: http://www.shredderchess.com/online-chess/online-databases/opening-database.html.
ChessOps will help. http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/
Network of Chess Openings will also help. http://www.csm.astate.edu/~wpaulsen/chess/intro.htm
Wikipedia has extensive chess opening information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_opening
The opening explorer on this site could also be useful but is limited for non-subscribers.
For a short overview of the major openings try this http://www.dwheeler.com/chess-openings/
Wow! Ive only used Wikipedia before. Great links guys!
you can probably have your library arrange an interlibrary loan for a couple of books you want to check out.
Visit this site:http://www.chesscountry.com
It is easy to registrate in there and its for free.There is also a bookstore in there.I think it is worth taking a look in it.
Hey,
I think opening knowledge (names, moves, etc) come with experience and studies of professional games. You can always read books as there are thousands, but its hard to learn all of them - just too many. The way i got acquinted with names and moves of main openings, is studying and looking up professional games (chessgames.com) and recreating opening moves in my own games. As time goes on they sort of become hard-coded in memory without taking slightest trouble over forced memorization.
Just keep in mind, although its good to know openings and their names, its far better to know 2 or 3 openings extremely well (Ruy Lopez, Sicilian, Queens Gambit or 1 rarer opening of choice for a surprise) and be acquinted with others so you can play well against them without memorizing them and making games artificial. A few months ago i read that Capablanca in his days played a match against some croatian (I think) player who had one of the deepest and most thorough knowledge of openings and games at the time, while capablanca was known for not bothering or not knowing too much about them and he beat him 6:0 anyways. So it can be concluded that its better to focus on general chess reasoning and intelligence than outstanding opening knowledge.
The only opening name I know is the Queens Gambit. I dont even use it either. I play pretty often now, I want to learn what is called what.
My local library has nada for chess books. Cash is a little tight to hit the local bookstore.
When I'm in a vote game, or just having a discussion about chess, Once opening names start to get thrown around, I have to be quiet. This of course causes me heartburn and agita, along with feelings of putzness.
Any suggestions from you, the readers of this hopeful request, would be appreciated.
Thanks, zlh