Chess Home | Chess Middle Game | Chess Endgames | Chess Tactics | Strategic Opening Repertoire | Sicilian Dragon Books | King's Gambit Books | Caro-Kann Books | Bookmark Discovering Chess Openings by John Emms In Discovering Chess Openings John Emms argues that studying openings doesn't have to be hard work - it can be both enjoyable and enlightening. The key to successful opening play is not simply learning lines off by heart; instead it's the understanding of the basic principles, and here the reader is guided through the vital themes: swift development, central control and king safety. Discovering Chess Openings: Building Opening Skills from Basic Principles Understanding the Chess Openings by Sam Collins This major new work surveys all chess openings, providing a guide to every critical main line and featuring descriptions of the typical strategies for both sides. These commentaries will be welcomed by all club and tournament players, as they will help them to handle the middlegame positions arising from each opening better, and will equip them to find the best continuation when their opponents deviate from the standard paths. Covers all chess openings, with verbal explanations of the ideas. This is the first book of the modern era to do this. Understanding the Chess Openings