Opening book with good explenation

As a beginner I first tried to understand the concepts of an opening without memorizing or studying openings. 

I believe I have some understanding of these concepts but I'm missing the information on how to apply them based upon the context of my opponent. 

I don't see the pro's and cons of the moves my opponent does in the opening and I seem to be just doing my part: trying to occupy/defend the centre, developing my pieces and castle. 

I am at a point where I understand there is much more to openings than these concepts because the development of pieces need to be done with care and attention based upon your opponent his moves. 

Because of this, I'm looking for a book that explains these concepts applied to the well known openings so I can start understanding why each move is done in a particular way. 

I bought Fundamental Chess Openings because it got some good reviews however I feel it doesn't help me much because it doesn't go into details of each move. It does provide conclusions like "black is in slightly better position" after opening X or "white has the initiative" after opening Y but it does not explain why or how we came to this. 

I don't just want to memorize these moves but I want to understand them as well. I personally feel that that's the only way to really master openings. 

Can anybody recommend any books that will fit my needs?

I think you're looking at the wrong category of book.  FCO is about the best around at explaining openings, but you are right; it doesn't explain the why behind every move.  Oh you could try Reuben Fine's old warhorse The Ideas Behind The Chess Openings (available in algebraic) or one of the multi volume opening series like Chess Opening Essentials 1-4 but I don't think you'd be much happier.

No, I think what you're looking for is an instructive anthology like Irving Chernev's Logical Chess Move by Move Every Move Explained.  There is a whole list of books like that over at Coach Heisman's website, but Chernev is probably the easiest and most recommended.

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm#anthologies

Thanks. I already have logical chess and I enjoy that book. Every move is explained in great detail which is exactly what I like.

I just noticed that in the back, it has a list of games grouped by opening. Maybe that's a good starting point. 

Thanks for the pointer. 

You're welcome.  Maybe now that we've "4 posted" our way into the main forum, someone else will have some ideas.  Of course, you could always get a coach...

CHESS:  5334 Problems, Positions, and Games, by Polgar.

Also, we Yanks are always available help you folks across the pond with the language.  You may want to run your topic through spell check and even proof read it before posting.

Yeah, I know about the spelling but for some stupid reason, this TinyMCE editor does not work well with the build in spell checker from chrome... 

Thanks for the tip ;)

Back on topic, you are on the right track.  Chess is not a game of memorization but a game of understanding.  The basics of opening play you have already heard.  Development of pieces (ususally knights before bishops, bishops before rooks, Castle to connect the rooks and get the King away from the center, avoid traps (Noah's Ark, etc.), don't get your queen out there too early because the strength of the queen is also the weakness and there is no greater waste of time than having your queen pushed all over the board.  Also, when teaching chess, I tell the player you have to be able to count to at least 4 when attacking or defending a piece or square.  Another trait of beginners is:  see a capture and make it...if you are going into a closed game with lots of pawns on the board, that knight might serve you better than the bishop you just took.  Here is the biggest tip:  learn chess from the endgame to the opening, not the other way around.  That is the reason for 5334.  Bobby Fischer teaches chess is also excellent for learning basic mating patterns and seeing them in the middle game.  GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

I've heard the "start from endgame to opening" many times but I don't understand it. 

In many games I play the middle or end game is one sided. Rarely I see an even battle, especially in the end game. 
If I look at my losing games, I notice that this is because I am behind during or shortly after opening and the opponent keeps a tight grips on me.

That's also why I wanted to go deeper in the opening study because at the moment I feel that is a weak point.

Maybe you could reason that it's because of lack of knowledge about middle and endgame that I cannot get back in the game. That might be true but when understanding opening theory, and my openings become better than my middle and endgame get better as well.

I haven't read that much about middle and endgame but I notice that not many resources are learning you how to fight back. Usually they start out with an even opening, that's where I find it difficult to apply the techniques. 

...when you understand the endgame, Philodor's position, Rook and Pawn endings, and various mating patterns and techniques, you have a goal.

Any plan is better than no plan and no wind favors a vessel without a destination.

There are so many books about chess, it is important to find the jewel among the semi-precious gems or pyrite from the gold.  What you study will determine your success of failure.

It is easy to become bored with chess, but the fault is not the game; the fault is with the student.

One more item:  I don't like to give advice.

A smart person doesn't need it and a fool doesn't take it.

Hi Passero82,

I was looking for similar explanations and found the following useful:

John Nunn's Understanding chess move by move and the World's most instructive amateur game book-Dan Heisman-

I have just brought Understanding the chess openings-Sam Collins-which seems pretty good explaining openings-otherwise i sometimes look in wikipedia or see if a group exists for opening and see what's posted in their forum about opening your interested in.

Oh and Not a book but chessopenings.com on YouTube is very good at explaining particular openings

Hi, If u liked "Logical Chess" you may like other books on annotated games.

You can learna  lot from them, and all the mover are explained in detail:

"Chess, the art of logical Thinking" by Mc Donald

"50 essential chess lessons" by Steve Giddins

If you really insist on learning the openings first, I strongly recommend you learn ONE opening for White and ONE defense for Black thoroughly.  Don't hop around from King's pawn, to Queen's pawn, to English, to Bird's, etc. you wil get become more and more confused and frustrated and you will not acquire the kind of deep understanding necessary.  I further suggest that the opening you select to "know" starts with 1. e4 for White and with Blacks answer to 1. e4 e5.  if White does the normal 2. Nf3 try something really boring like Philodor's.  You have to walk before you run with sissors in your hand.

Today I went to the local chess shop which is actually a huge shop :) 

They recommended Winning chess Openings. I already read 2 chapters and it's a great book. It first goes into king's openings, then queen's openings and then much more detailed info. 

It really explains all the moves and the why and the advantages/disadvantegs of certain variations. It really opens my mind and I feel this is exactly the resource I was looking for :) 

Thanks for the tips though :) 

ps: I also bought Strategies from the same series and over time I will probabl also buy the rest if they are all as good as the openings book. 

Is that the  Yasser Seirawan book you have?

I've heard it's good

Yup. I bought them in the Chess and Bridge shop in London but they are cheaper on amazon... 

Neat thanks, I've brought stuff from chess and bridge shop before they are always helpful

What about Openings For Amateurs by Pete Tamburro. Great book. Probably one of the best modern day books.  Written very well.

My favorite opening book is Understanding the Chess Openings by Sam Collins. I have five opening books including MCO and FCO. In some of these tomes one loses sight of the forest for the trees.

I use Collins book first and most. He has explanations rather than lists or trees. Understandably a 224 page book has less than the bigger ones, but he is sufficient for most purposes. If I want to learn or review an opening I sit back and read Collins. He is a former Irish Champion.