The Best Chess Openings Book for Anyone Under 1800 – Best Chess Book for Beginners and Intermediate

50 Comments

1. This book is my favorite about openings because so many just feel like plain old reference tables with no clear description of the meaning behind each move, and this one does explain it all in a way that even a 650 Elo noob like me can understand, would also highly recommend.

2. I also think this is a foundational first reference for all openings and getting an understanding several moves deep. It is a strong pillar in my library and it will get you at good start to your games. Then if you find an opening you have more interest in, you can get a more specific book to go further in depth on that one. Modern Chess Openings could be a decent second book for seeing deeper into opening main lines, but it doesn't have the explanations like FCO.

3. As a beginner, can I just go and pick one opening (let's say Caro-Kann) and read it, or would I need to read the book sequentially and at least pick up the basic (most simple) openings first until I get to more Complex openings.

4. Youtube can be a fun way to learn some things (like your vids), but comprehensive books written by strong, talented teachers are better overall. They're the next best thing to having a personal coach, and not many people can afford that.

5. Yay, you learned alekhine

6. Thanks man! The book really helped me even though i didn't study all of it but i am still studying it, and my rating is just raising thankfully

7. I can get the book for free(ebooks) 🗿🗿🗿

8. I just got the book Modern Chess Openings 15th edition and I was super happy excited to read it but it's a little confusing and I read a comment on a different site that said this is a bad book and won't help me improve. I have seen a few of your videos but I haven't seen you talk about this book, but I trust your opinion, should I think about getting FCO as well? I am still pretty new to chess and I want an in depth book about openings, history and theories on all the openings.

9. I thought this e4 Nf6 is the Petrov or Russian defense? Why Alekhine defense?

10. Ordered the book. Thanks, Nelson. You're awesome!

11. B O N G C L O U D

12. How to evaluate the chess position

13. Just wanna say.. i like the thumbnail

14. Thank you for recommending it Sir. I've been thinking of getting it for awhile.

15. Very good content in this channel. I came here by searching how to break the 1500 rating and I found so awesome content.

    There is one video I would love to see is how to learn all that damn openings and defences and all that variations. Or do I have to learn all of it if my goal is not a 2000 rating?
    How should I read an opening book? I mean how much time I should dedicate to an opening to learn? Is it enough just reading and trying it on a board or should I like to play it for a week to understand completely?

    Another difficulty I’m having is to play a defiance to learn it, but in online games it’s like 1 of 10 games is the game I can use the defense I just learned.

    I think those questions has a lot of players like me, and will love to see a video about this topic.

16. Thanks for the tip, and for your great videos. You explain things so clearly and I’m learning so much. Now if you could just recommend a book on how to stop blundering…

17. I would like to know your opinion on the idea that any player with an elo of somewhere below 1000, or maybe even below 1500, should not put in that much effort into learning openings. That below 1500, you cannot memorize your way to success. Instead, I have seen YT chess video where it is suggested that players who want to improve, should just find an easy to play opening that will get you into a playable middle game. If you have even a slight negative position it does not matter, because you can win in the middle game with superior tactics and positional play. Therefore, spend a minimal amount of time learning openings, and a lot of time improving your tactics and positional play. And I would add – in 10 minute games, work on exercises to train your mind to think faster to see a sound playable move, that could improve your position.

18. Thank you for making this!

19. I learned one opening with white and one for both but primary black

20. My first chess book i
    Was chess for dummies but I am going to buy another one soon

21. Thanks for the reference!

22. Such a useful video, thanks Nelson. I'm ordering the FCO book. Do you have a UK link so you get your cut?

23. Thanks ^^

24. Great vid! Do u have a Japan link for FCO or nah? I'm definitely gonna get it

25. Any book for endgame ?

26. I'm Sorry I Want It But I Don't Have The Money

27. Man Nelson is seriously the best chess YouTuber.

28. Do you recommend getting chessbase if you are like 1400-1500 rapid as a supplement to this? I was thinking it could be useful to see what game look like in these various opening position to get a sense of the middle game ideas. Or is that too much for my level would you say?

29. Is Ruy Lopez your relative😁😁😁

30. Can you please make a video on the English Opening? thxkbai

31. I've got MCO 14,just alittle outdated.

32. Chess Opening Essentials: The Ideas & Plans Behind ALL Chess Openings, The Complete 1. e4. Plz give reviews on this volumes….is it better than FCO? Or not …

33. Chess Opening Essentials: The Ideas & Plans Behind ALL Chess Openings, The Complete 1. e4

34. This was a really helpful video! I just got my first chess book (Art of Attack in Chess) and am definitely going to add your suggestion to my next book haul. Do you think you would be interested in more book reviews/recs in the future? Thanks again for all of the content! 😀

35. I’ve seen this video before, but as I try to progress my game I must say, this book is such a need. It gives u more than enough information on a topic that u can apply immediately while at the same time encourages you to search elsewhere to continue said topic

36. I just bought this book at Barnes and nobles and looked it up when I got home and hour video came up. I've been watching all yout videos so I thought that was cool. Considering returning it and buying through your link.

37. I have this book. I love it this book. Thanks

38. Great video. With so many openings and explanations in the FCO, do you suggest just picking one or two openings for white to learn? Also for black, how do you pick what to use against white with so many openings? Suggestions, please. Thank you.

39. find a pdf file for the book 😉👌

40. Little tip… piracy is easy and safe nowadays, personally I would never pirate software; just stating a fact.

41. This book is exactly what I was needing. Thanks 🙏 maybe this will help an “older” dude like me learn to play a decent game. Your help is awesome 🤩

42. FCO Book arrived today. And it is everything you said it was. Thanks for the suggestion. Happy birthday to me.

43. 0:10
    Well , thats not really what ive said , what i said was "Well nelson , why do i need to buy a book when i can print it for free from online websites"

44. Its just sad for those that cannot buy it

45. Dworezki

46. Great video

47. Definitely agree with @AndrewzProductions. It is going to be really helpful in my games.

48. the book finally arrived, spent a whole day reading it and im way better than 1 day ago!!

49. Does this book contain information on the Reti opening? If not, is there another book that does?

50. Thanks i'll search the name of the book + pdf free

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