Chess Openings for Kids

I liked this book a lot and - more importantly - my 6 year old son loves it too. The 8 year old does not like it. I think this represents more that this book is not a simple good/bad well/badly written book. It is a technical book, and it appeals to those for whom chess is valued. A dabbling child might not benefit much from it, in much the same way that an adult would profit from this book too. This book is therefore not just for children, not at all. I found the material well described, it is suitable for all ages to read - I would suggest a child should be older than 8 to get personal benefit from this book, but that is what a parent is for. If your child has independently developed an interest in chess, then s/he should benefit greatly from this addition to the library. OK, it is not a comprehensive tome, but it does precisely what it claims to do. This information should stand you in good stead until well into your chess development.

HARDBACK IS BEST FOR THIS BOOK SINCE IT IS A BOOK WORTH SAVING TO READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Got this for my 10 year old nephew who just got into chess. It's informative, but need to really be into it or the instructions on the moves may overwhelm a kid that just wants to get better, not become a grandmaster!

This book gives a start from a grandmasters point of view. No "just play this and you'll be fine No blah blah jadda jadda but the 50 major chess openings listed with a few strategic characteristics and plans. Everybody is entitled to have his own opinion about chess. But if you want to play successful you eventually need to look into chess openings (and the why's and what's of it). And this book is a great way to start.

It must be said that this is definitely not a kids book. That is, unless your kid is an intuitively chess minded blood relation of Bobby Fischer or Boris Spassky. The language and ideas presented are complex. Then again, sometimes children like reading more mature, grown up books. And there is much value to be had here. It's an excellent reference for the 50 most famous openings of which you've probably heard or maybe never: Ruy Lopez, Grūnfeld, Karo-Cann, Sicilian Dragon, Queen's Gambit, Queens Indian, Bogo Indian, etc.; the whole works; all neatly laid out with diagrams. You get to know their names, memorise some sequences down the umpteenth move, and enjoy a little discussion of the value of knowing when to memorise and when to play according to 'opening principles'. There is much useful knowledge buried here in the detail and not a few useful tricks. I'm glad I now have it on the shelf as a reference. But it also can be overwhelming. Where can I find a simple book on openings that will help me, a mere mortal, to approach the opening with some confidence? I'm looking forward to other soon to be released titles from this author: 'Nuclear Physics to Practise at Home'; 'Cloning for Amateurs'; 'Easy Steps for Navigating Love Across Ethnic Boundaries'.

Good coverage of the principles of strategy. Easy to understand but not talking down to the reader. Bought for my teen grandchildren to get a start on their chess studies.

The book is good for kids as expected. I ordered it for a 8 years old kid and he liked it a lot. The book is very complete and very clear. The price was good and is hardcover.

Kids that grow out of recreational scholastic chess and want to start with "serious" scholastic chess and or tournament chess can definitely make good use of this book. SoT Expert-Player and Coach

I thought used book will be very old and folded pages or markings, but this way as good as new. Great buy.

My Grandson enjoyed it. Very helpful and interesting.

This doesn't read like one for kids. Even if you play on the boards -it is hard to track the move variants. I think it is for advanced beginners and Lichess link like in the new kindle chess books would have been helpful. Update: I have updated the review to 5 stars because it does open the link to Lichess. However, now I say that there should have been option for 4.5 stars in Amazon reviews 😊

Yes, it's the same classic old openings, well they have to be doesn't they! The difference is that they are presented in a fairly succinct manner and since the real problem is finding an opponent who will play them from the script it's the first 2 or 3 moves that are the ones to try to remember.

will not recommend this book, at least, in 2011 edition. We started to read it, but it is almost impossible to track the flow of moves. Very bad format. Moves are written withing the text, which makes extremely hard to follow. Please separate moves from comments.