Chess Heroes: Openings

Chess Heroes #5

by Richard James

There are many books on the market for beginners, and very many more for established tournament players. The Chess Heroes project offers a series of books providing novices with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful competitive chess players. The books are written for chess teachers or parents to use with children, but they can also be read by novices of all ages. Starting well is essential if you want to play a good game, but learning openings is about acquiring a higher level understanding of what's happening at the start of the game rather than just memorising a few traps or playing the first ten moves with your eyes closed. This guide to opening a game of chess is designed for players starting out in competitive chess. It discusses basic tactical and strategical ideas before moving on to a brief description of the most important openings and how to play them. The author, Richard James, has been teaching chess for more than half a century. For thirty years he ran Richmond Junior Chess Club, many of whose members, such as Luke McShane and Jonathan Rowson, became Grandmasters or International Masters, and many more of whom developed a lifelong passion for the world's greatest game. Richard is the author of the Amazon best seller Chess for Kids, The Right Way to Teach Chess to Kids and Chess for Schools. Previously, he was the co-author (along with the late Mike Fox, the co-founder of Richmond Junior Chess Club) of The Complete Chess Addict and The Even More Complete Chess Addict. He is well known internationally for his views on how children learn and play chess.

239 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2023