How to Win in the Chess Openings

by I.A. Horowitz

This book shows you how to gain the initiative in the very first moves, and how to proceed to victory from then on. In explaining the purpose of this book, the author writes the following: "In the numerous books on chess openings I've come across, the reader is required to memorize an opening by rote, is occasionally told via an exclamation point or question mark that a move is good or bad, and is then left hanging in mid air to reason out for himself the whys and wherefores. In this book I have therefore endeavored to present the study of chess openings in a logical, easy-to-understand manner, not beyond the grasp of the player who has learned little more than the rules of chess.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction, Classics

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 1977

About the author

Israel Albert Horowitz

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people don't like it because the games are in descriptive notation. The information is golden, the techniques are solid. Many modern chess books are based off of the principles espoused by Horowitz in this book.

[Yvette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great classic chess book. I'm not a fan of descriptive notation, but the knowledge Horowitz drops will encourage a contemporary player to muscle through the old notation. A must read.

[John Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written book for intermediate chess players, held back by its notation being descriptive rather than algebraic (instead of 1.e4, written as 1.P-K4). You can pick it up quickly but still a headache at times.

[Herman Schmit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a paper copy of this from the 1960s on my bedstand for a long time. I like the descriptions of the games and the what-if scenarios. Probably not great for super technical chess people.

[Lino Matteo · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be clear, the version I read was even older - 1972, and the original was from 1951. It was something to do. It was useful.

Perhaps I should get a more recent edition?

[a.m. kozak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has some commentary on openings and likely countermoves but I've found lots of resources online much easier to follow and more comprehensive. Mostly interesting because it's an old book.

[bluetyson]

isbn,original