How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire

A user-friendly guide to choosing and planning your openings

All chess-players who have progressed beyond beginner level need an opening repertoire. However, there are many different types of repertoire, and dozens of openings to choose between.

From novice to grandmaster, a player’s basic task when choosing a repertoire is the same: he needs to select openings that suit his playing style and that he can play with confidence. The repertoire should not require more memory work and study than he is capable of, or has time for.

In this book, the first to focus on these issues, Steve Giddins provides common-sense guidance on questions such as:

• Whether to play main lines, offbeat openings or ‘universal’ systems
• How to avoid being ‘move-ordered’
• How to use computers
• If and when to depart from or change your repertoire

The book is rounded off with a look at the use of ‘role models’ and a close look at the repertoires of leading players past and present.

Steve Giddins is a FIDE Master from England who plays regularly in international events and has frequently contributed to the British Chess Magazine. This is his second book for Gambit.

"a truly pleasurable romp through the eccentricities and changing landscape of contemporary openings. ... some of Giddins' insights will surprise you and I wholeheartedly recommend his book." - John Watson, TWIC

"one of the best instruction books I've read in recent years for improving players." - Leonard Barden, Evening Standard

"This work is full of sensible advice and especially those club players who lack access to a coach or to the advice of a strong player will find much in it which can easily be put to practical use." - Richard Palliser

"another name has been added to my "worthwhile chess author" list. ... an excellent book. It's about a subject that many players always agonize over, it's well thought out, it forces us to think, and it adds a dollop of humor here and there that makes reading this book a very enjoyable experience." - IM Jeremy Silman

"A book like this might have saved me a lot of heart-ache" - Alan Sutton, En Passant

"...one of the real gems is in his last chapter when about eight top GMs' opening repertoires are covered. You'll be able to see what they played, how their repertoires evolved and why studying any GM's repertoire is a great way to help your chess." - Michael Stevenson, NZ Chess