Chess Opening Books? Which Ones.

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First time poster here!


I was thinking of buying some chess opening books to build my repertoire. I want to learn the books on the Kings Indian Defence by Gawain Jones to the non e4 openings, the books on Caro Kann for e4, the ones by Johanna Houska and Cyrus Lakdawala, but for white I am still browsing through some options: I am thinking of either the books on the London System by Oscar de Prado, Sverre Johnson and Alfonso Romero or getting the Coffeehouse Repertoire series by Gawain Jones for e4. Between learning the London and these repertoire books, is one better? Should I get both? Is my plan up until this point solid? 

I appreciate any and all help I can get. Thank You!

tygxc

@1

"I was thinking of buying some chess opening books" ++ No good idea

"Kings Indian Defence by Gawain Jones"
"Caro Kann for e4, the ones by Johanna Houska and Cyrus Lakdawala"
"London System by Oscar de Prado, Sverre Johnson and Alfonso Romero"
"Coffeehouse Repertoire series by Gawain Jones"
++ 1 endgame book benefits more than 7 opening books

"Is my plan up until this point solid?" ++ No, not at all.
If you want to play the King's Indian Defence,
then study games of Bronstein, Nezhmetdinov, Tal, Fischer, Kasparov, Radjabov, and Nakamura.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1800188  
If you want to play the Caro-Kann, then study games of Karpov and Anand.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1943478  
If you want to play the London System, then study games of Kramnik and Carlsen.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1908642 

RussBell

With the exception of the very recent books by Gawain Jones on the King's Indian, I own all of the titles you mention.  As for your question - which book is "better" - this tends to be a difficult, if not impossible, question to answer absolutely, on so many different levels that I will refrain from diving into that rabbit hole.  A "better" question would be: 'which book would serve me well in terms of my expectations and current skill level'.  The answer to that question is inherently subjective, and can best be answered by the questioner, based on his/her actual experience with the books in question.

For example, is the book suitable for the typical improving chess amateur/club player, where its value may lie more in how well it presents and explains themes and plans.  Or is the book focused more on providing a comprehensive treatment of current opening "theory", which typically implies reams of variations, sub-variations, sub-sub-variations, etc., an approach which would tend to make it more suitable for a very experienced, even titled, audience.  Either approach could justifiably be considered "better" depending, again, on the expectations and skill level/experience of the reader.

From a personal point of view, as an improving chess amateur, I generally prefer books which emphasize themes and plans.  Specific to the OP's question, an excellent example of such a book is Oscar De Prado's "The London System In 12 Practical Lessons", which I view as providing an excellent introduction to this opening.  In the same sense I also like "Win With The London System" by Sverre Johnsen (see links for both books below). 

For the purpose of gaining a well-informed sense and perspective of a given chess book, some publisher's provide downloadable pdf excerpts/sample pages of their titles on their website.  For example...

https://www.newinchess.com/the-london-system-in-12-lessons

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9119.pdf

http://www.gambitbooks.com/books/Win_with_the_London_System.html

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Win_with_the_London_System.pdf

From the same points of view, I also like Sverre Johnsen's "Win With the Caro-Kann" (in particular his presentation of the aggressive Korchnoi Variation.  The Korchnoi V. has also been referred to as the Tartakower Variation)...

http://www.gambitbooks.com/books/Win_with_the_Caro-Kann.html

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Win_with_the_Caro-Kann.pdf

Notable is that in his well-regarded repertoire book "Playing The Caro-Kann" (also targeted to advanced players) Lars Schandorff has chosen the Korchnoi Variation as the featured main line (though the author inexplicably does not actually refer to it by any name)....

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/390/playing_the_caro-kann_by_lars_schandorff/

Interestingly as well (at least to me) is that GM Daniel Naroditsky also likes the Korchnoi line of the Caro-Kann (which he refers to as the Tartakower Variation)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPVp5TWZR0w

On the other end of the spectrum (i.e., where the focus of the presentation is weighted heavily on "theory", with less of the explanatory "spoon feeding" that most amateurs tend to appreciate) is, for example, Gawain Jone's impressively - if not overwhelmingly - detailed two-volume "Coffehouse Repertoire 1e4" books, which, while appropriate for their intended audience (experienced, advanced and titled players), are, for many amateurs, like drinking from a fire hose.  Are the books comprehensive and well executed? Absolutely.  Might they leave your (amateur) head spinning?  Very possibly...

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/published-books.php

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/396/coffeehouse_repertoire_1e4_volume_1_by_gawain_jones/

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/CoffeehouseRepertoireVol1-excerpt.pdf

lots of helpful resources and instructive food for thought to discover in my blog...

Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-openings-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell