Foreword

Ever since the first game of chess was recorded—about five hundred years ago or more—no less than twenty thousand chess books, written in different languages, have appeared in print. Consequently, every phase of the game has been con­sidered.

Yet here is another book. . . . Why?

In delving through multitudinous works on chess openings, I have come to the conclusion that only one thing is clear. And that is that all is quiet confusion! The reader is required to memorize an opening by rote, is occasionally told via the sym­bol of an exclamation point or question mark that a move is good, bad or indifferent, and then is left hanging, as it were, in mid air to reason out for himself the whys and wherefores. What part each move plays in the strategic concept of the opening pattern is lightly glossed over or not mentioned at all.

Under the circumstances, there has been room for improve­ment. In this book, I have, therefore, endeavored to present the study of chess openings in a logical, easy-to-understand man­ner, not beyond the grasp of the player who has learned little more than the rules of chess. To begin with, I have outlined and discussed the principles and concepts of opening play, common to all openings. Then, in turn, I have taken specifi­cally, each of the most popular openings—attacks and de­fenses—and have broken them down to their individual moves and grand plans. I have tried to show how the tactical forte of each move ties up with the strategical idea. Lastly, I have appended to each opening a classic, over-the-board, example from actual play in "movie" style.

For those unfamiliar with the term "chess movie," I wish to point out that it is no more than a chess game, recorded by a series of diagrams. The numerous diagrams make for clarity as well as ease of study. For the "movie" obviates the use of a chessboard and men, as the game can be followed from the text.

In closing, I wish to give a word of caution: gaining an ad­vantage in the opening brings victory in the endgame. I must confess, however, that the title has given me a pang of con­science. What I really ought to call the book is "How to Under­stand the Chess Openings." Most players, however, are not interested in understanding; they only want to win. Hence the title. It is clear that with understanding will come many vic­tories.

I. A. Horowitz

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