Chess Lessons and Openings for Beginners

A ChessCentral E-Book

Chess Lessons for Beginners

Chess books by Rev. Edward Ernest Cunnington (died 1942) were quite popular at one time. This electronic version of Chess Lessons for Beginners is based on the 23rd edition of that title! A few minutes looking at the contents will account for such appeal, and there is obviously a need for instruction of this caliber today. Not many books aim their remarks at players in, say, the 1300‑1500 rating range, especially observations seasoned with the chess wisdom and sound counsel found here. Because of this volume's clear and pointed explanations, even stronger players will derive benefit from the repetition of common sense chess principles. Therefore we are pleased to offer Chess Lessons for Beginners to a new generation of players, who may discover in Rev. E. E. Cunnington a teacher of the first rank.

The plan of this book consists of 22 annotated games, with commentary aimed especially at beginning players ‑ but Cunnington's idea of a "beginner" includes what we might call an average player. Chess author Tim Sawyer notes that the openings represented here are limited, but that the explanations given hold true for any opening. He writes, "The author demonstrates many general principles of chess from actual play." And that is the real value of this book; the timeless principles formulated in these pages are useful guides for any player, whether beginner or veteran. For well‑played games clearly commented are exactly what is needed by new students of the game, and Cunnington delivers in a way that makes Chess Lessons for Beginners a classic to be read over and over again.

 With this expertly crafted electronic version of Chess Lessons for Beginners you get 4 text documents, hyperlinks and graphic commentary - even a scan of the beautiful cover.

Chess Openings for Beginners

Today there are a number of general opening manuals available, like the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, or Modern Chess Openings, or Batsford Chess Openings and so forth. Editions are updated regularly with the latest chess theory, and each one attempts with varying success to cover all the main openings in chess. Today's "complete" openings guide is massively thick (ECO above runs to 5 volumes), and aims to offer topical tournament preparation for the practical tournament player. In other words, lots of technical information and much of it reduced to abstract chess notation, critical marks and evaluation symbols.

What we have lacked until now is a useful overview of chess openings, presented with enough simple text (explanations yes, words!) to show what is happening on the board. Not in crushing detail, perhaps only a few moves of analysis, but with all the standard alternatives and variations discussed. This manual, E. E. Cunnington's Chess Openings for Beginners, supplies a sore need among players wishing to understand how the openings work, and what are the basic ideas behind the openings in chess. Of course research into opening theory continues to develop, but we're talking about fundamentals – the main contours of the Ruy Lopez, for example, remain what they always were. Chess Openings for Beginners is therefore as vital and rewarding in the 21st century as it was sixty years ago.

Here’s what you get with Chess Openings for Beginners.

* Seven main text documents, with diagrams and explanations
* Hyperlinks and graphic commentary - even a scan of the beautiful cover
* 52 annotated Surveys of all chess openings, as follows:

1. The King’s Knight’s Openings Giuoco Piano; Max Lange Attack; Hungarian Defense; Jerome Gambit; Evans Gambit; Scotch Game; Boden Kieseritsky Gambit; Two Knights' Defense; Alapin's Opening; Petroff Defense; Greco Counter Gambit; Ruy Lopez; Four Knights' Game; Philidor's Defense; Ponziani Opening

2. The King’s Gambits Philidor's Defense; Muzio Gambit; The Salvio Gambit; Kieseritzky Gambit; Allgaier Gambit; Cunningham Gambit; King's Bishop's Gambit; King's Gambit Declined; Falkbeer Counter Gambit

3. Various Openings Bishop's Opening; Vienna Opening; Caro Kann Defense; Center Counter Game; Sicilian Game; Center Game; Danish Gambit; Queen's Pawn Game; Hollandish Defense; Queen's Gambit Accepted; Queen's Gambit Declined; Bird's Opening; French Game; Fianchetto Openings; Miscellaneous

Frankly, to own a high quality electronic rendering of this classic is an opportunity no advancing chess player ought to miss. Download Chess Openings for Beginners today.