FCO: FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS

Author: Paul van der Sterren

Gambit Publications (2009)

480 pages

$28.95

 

Reviewed by John Donaldson

 

Former Candidate Paul van der Sterren has produced a one-volume introduction to the openings in English based on his three volume DE WERELD VAN DE SCHAAKOPENINGEN published in the Netherlands earlier this decade. The result, FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS, is a whopper of a book coming in at 480 oversize (almost 10’ by 7’) pages.

 

A modern day version of Reuben Fine’s IDEAS BEHIND THE CHESS OPENINGS, FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS primarily uses words to describe the ideas and motivations behind different opening systems. The emphasis is on understanding rather than memorization with van der Sterren rarely going beyond move ten. The contents page shows that all major openings are covered.

 

Contents

Symbols and Notation 5

Introduction 6

The First Move 8

1 d4 9

Queen’s Gambit Declined 11

Slav and Semi-Slav 27

Queen’s Gambit Accepted 40

Other 1 d4 d5 Openings 46

Nimzo-Indian Defense 57

Queen’s Indian Defense 77

Bogo-Indian Defense 89

King’s Indian Defense 93

Grünfeld Defense 121

Benoni and Benko 140

Other 1 d4 Nf6 Openings 159

Dutch Defense 174

Other 1 d4 Openings 185

Flank Openings 198

Symmetrical English 199

Reversed Sicilian 222

1 c4 Nf6 and Other English Lines 233

Réti Opening 248

Other Flank Openings 261

1 e4 269

Ruy Lopez 272

Italian Game 301

Scotch Opening 312

Four Knights Game 318

Petroff Defense 322

King’s Gambit 328

Other 1 e4 e5 Openings 337

French Defense 347

Caro-Kann Defense 375

Sicilian Defense 389

Alekhine Defense 447

Pirc Defense 453

Other 1 e4 Openings 461

Index of Named Opening Lines 469

Index of Variations 472

 

van der Sterren  explains things clearly and carefully. FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS is aimed at club players but those up to master level will benefit from some of his observations. That said, this book is primarily aimed at those from 1400 to 1800 who are looking for a guide to explain good opening play. Those within this rating range will be well served by this book.

 

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