Expert: Len Molden - 6/27/2007

Question
QUESTION: dear  sir, i am a  disabled retired chief of police from new jersey who is  very interested in  improving my ability
in playing  the game of chess.

i  would like  to  know the very best  opening move or named opening  opening in detail, move by move that would be good for  white,.  if you  recomend books , please give me  names  and  authors.,  how's the caro- khan opening, i heard so much  about  how great it is, how  may i learn more about it  and it it appropriate for  white.

    thank you   anthony e. solis jr.
         314  south railroad avenue

         rio grande, new jersey  08242

      phone  609-886-4162  email  antne003@comcast.net

ANSWER: Hi Anthony - The general consensus backed by statistical data is that the best first move for White is either 1.e4 or 1.d4 though there are other good moves as well like 1.c4, 1.Nf3.  All of these moves can transpose into the same lines depending on how play progresses.

It's a matter of style as to which you choose to go with.  For learning about the opening and how to play it correctly including move by move details (variations) I recommend that you get these two books together:

http://www.chessmastery.com/chess-opening-ideas.html

Regards,

Len Molden

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: dear mr.  len  MOLDEN,  THANKS FOR  YOUR  SPEEDY  AND  GREAT  ANSWERS WITH  REFERENCE BOOKS TO  LOOK AT.  I  HAVE READ  THESE  ARE  THE BEST  MOVES  BECAUSE THEY  LEAD  TO  EASY FAST  DEPLOYMENT OF  YOUR PIECES THE BACK RANKS, I  HAD GOOD  RESULTS FROM  E 4  AND  D 4,.  HOWEVER  WHEN I  PLAY  THE  COMPUTER  OPPONENTS ON CHESS MASTER CHALLENGER, I LOSE OFTEN, I  EVEN TRYED  BOTH THE E 4 AND D 4  MOVES  WHILE I  TRYED  TO  DEPLOY  A  PAWN STRUCTURE DIAGONALLY ON MY LET  SIDE,  I ALSO  LEFT SIDE  MY  KNIGHTS COMING OUT TO  PROTECT THE CENTER,  AND THEN I PUT  MY  BISHOPS  ON THEIR  DIAGONALS  GOING  THROUGH THE CENTER  AND THEN I  CASTLED ON MY  KING SIDE,    I WAS  ATTEMPTING TO CREATE  A STRONG PAWN  STRUCTURE,  BUT AFTER  A FEW  GAMES,  THE  HIGH  RATED  COMPUTER  OPPONENTS  FIGURED   IT
OUT AND BEAT ME  AGAIN

HOW  CAN I  BEAT  THESE COMPUTER  OPPONENTS?

         THANK YOU  ANTHONY E.  A SOLIS JR.

Answer
Hi Anthony - Unfortunately defeating computer opponents is not an easy task as they don't make any outright mistakes.  

Personally, I gave up playing computer chess a few years ago because it became too difficult to beat them and I would just get frustrated.  Besides, I felt as though I wasn't really learning anything as human opponents would rarely play the same way.

Now if I want a game when I'm at home, I play on the Internet at: http://www.chessclub.com

Regards,

Len