Expert: Louis Lima - 3/13/2007

Question
Hi,

I have seen many chess openings in literature like beginners chess but I haven't seen a book or site that explores the weakness of a deviation from the proposed opening sequence.  Where can I get something like that on the variety of openings?

Thanks!

Answer
Dear David,

I take it that your description of what a proposed opening sequence means is the "main line" that the autor recommends in a book. Am I correct?  For instance, a book might offer the main line of an opening and then explore the deviations.

If that is the case, then I really don't think there is such a book. The body of opening theory is so inmense, the closest I imagine would be the Informant Encyclopedia of Openings. I could probably suggest a book for a particular opening or opening variation if I am familiar with it.

Your question does intrigue me a bit. Coud you kindly e-mail me at TenderDragon@Optonline.Net and tell me why would you need such a book? In my opinion such book would not improve your chess one bit. It might increase your understanding of the opening, but it has zero application because most players below the expert level are very likely to deviate quickly in the game (the game has such infinite possibilities, very likely the deviations in your games won't even be on such books). Also, deviations are very subjective sometimes, unless they are blunders, and thus subjective to interpretation by the authors. It's really not a productive way to work on your chess progress.

It might be best to get a book that gives you some ideas of typical opening plans and other strategic factors instead. For instance, the books by Robert Bellin "Understanding the Ruy Lopez with the Read-and-Play Method" (they have another one for the Kings Indian, and another one for the Benoni and Benko Gambit)would do, but these books are out of print I think so you will need to find them on Amazon.com or Ebay. - Other terrific book is John Nunn's Understanding Chess Move-by-Move.

Warmly,
Louis