Chess Openings for Kids - by John Watson & Graham Burgess (Hardcover)

About the Book

An introduction to the names and starting moves of 50 chess openings, highlighting several opening traps.

Book Synopsis

In 2022 John Watson was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame as "one of the greatest writers in the history of American chess".

For chess-players of all ages and abilities, it is vital to get off to a good start. This simple guide provides all the tips and ideas needed to play purposefully from move one. That's because these 50 Mighty Openings are the very ones used by chess masters and grandmasters to outwit opponents time and again.

This book teaches the names and starting moves of all the main chess openings, and explains the basic ideas. Beginners will learn how to position their pieces for maximum impact. More experienced players will discover some remarkable tactical and strategic themes that are vital for chess mastery.

Throughout the book, numerous devastating opening traps are highlighted. You will have fun posing difficult problems for your opponent - whether a friend, a chess-club rival or your Dad!

Chess Openings for Kids makes learning the chess openings fun. Playing these powerful openings helps develop an understanding of how the pieces work together. Soon you will be able to play strong moves in any opening position, and approach every game with confidence - and success.

Review Quotes

"provides a very succinct overview of the main openings and the ideas behind them. ... my favourite aspect of the book was the set of pithy subtitles given to each chapter. Sometimes flippant, they nevertheless shed just a little light on the opening in question. ... one of those sentiments may inspire you to try the opening in question, and that's exactly what the authors recommend" - GM Luke McShane, New in Chess

"I like the layout of this book, and its design makes it possible for readers to just 'drop in' on any particular chapter, learn something, and then move along ... Chess Openings for Kids should get a lot more use by 95% of chess-playing kids than the more comprehensive opening tomes like ECO, MCO or BCO" - Rick Kennedy, www.chessville.com

"The first few pages go through algebraic notation and some of the principles of how to play the opening. Then we are into the openings with two pages being afforded to each one. I believe that great skill was required to do this because it is very hard to try to explain the key elements of any opening in just two pages - but the authors pull this off with aplomb." - Carl Portman, carlsplanet.co.uk

About the Author

International Master John Watson is a former US National High School Chess Champion. He is arguably the world's foremost writer on chess openings, and the author of award-winning books on chess strategy. FIDE Master Graham Burgess has written more than twenty chess books, ranging from general guides to works on specific openings. He also holds the world record for marathon blitz chess playing.