Answers.Body: <p>One very popular beginners book about openings from the black side is <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1889323187" rel="nofollow">this one</a>. The focus isn't on grandmaster level opening theory, but on keeping everything understandable and manageable. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-27T20:50:26.780Z
Answers.Text: sadly this one does not have a kindle version. Paperback chess book is a pain to read
Answers.UserDisplayName: jf328
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-27T09:02:07.017Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-27T09:02:07.017Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.Body: <p>There are many responses to 1.e4 for black, in order of popularity according to the <a href="http://chesstempo.com/game-database.html" rel="nofollow">Game Database of ChessTempo</a>: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>1....c5 (Sicilian)</li>
  <li>1....e5</li>
  <li>1....e6 (French)</li>
  <li>1....c6 (Caro-Kann)</li>
  <li>etc...</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Each of these openings also have many variations. Futhermore, there are also many books on each of these openings. It is not easy to advise you one, as it depends on many things: your playing strength, your playing style, etc...</p>
  
  <p>A good idea might be to play an opening with black that you don't like to encounter when playing white. This way,</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>You have an opening for black (your initial goal)</li>
  <li>You can also find good continuations to play as white</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>After you made your opening choice, you can search for a book about that specific opening.</p>
  
  <p>Edit: That being said, if you want to broaden your view, here are a couple of books that cover a wide range of openings: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1857442210" rel="nofollow">Nunn's Chess Openings</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1906454132" rel="nofollow">Fundamental Chess Openings</a></li>
  <li><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1857443497" rel="nofollow">Winning Chess Openings</a></li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-27T20:55:55.250Z
Answers.Text: Exactly, I would like a book as a survey of all these without delve too deep so I can find out which one I like. I won't be able to make my choice until I learn a few of them.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jf328
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-28T06:27:42.623Z
Answers.Text: Nunn's book might be interesting for you. Looking at its contents, it seems to cover all the openings. It dates from 1999, but that is still fine to give an overview. http://www.amazon.com/Nunns-Chess-Openings-Cadogan-Books/dp/1857442210
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-28T06:35:17.087Z
Answers.Text: Maybe found an even better one: "Fundamental Chess Openings" by GM Van Der Sterren. It also covers all openings, it's more recent and there's a kindle version! http://www.amazon.com/FCO-Paul-Van-Der-Sterren/dp/1906454132/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Y3FWBGSYFMH8HKGS83G
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-28T11:53:12.407Z
Answers.Text: And maybe also this one: http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Openings-Everyman/dp/1857443497 I'll edit my answer and add these books.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-28T12:08:15.740Z
Answers.Text: I know Nunn's Chess Openings. It's basically like a database of chess theory without explanations. Not suitable for beginners.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-29T09:25:20.107Z
Answers.Text: John Watson's books on the openings are also good.
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-27T09:22:47.893Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-28T12:03:52.393Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-07-28T12:03:52.393Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.Body: <p>It depends on your style and preference for type of game.  Do you want open, closed, semi open?  Do you want slash and burn tactical or do you want quiet slow positional or something in between.  Do you want complex positions or more simpler and quieter ones?</p>
  
  <p>Match the opening to your style and preferences.  Then when you know what type of opening is your best style there will be a book for it.</p>
  
  <p>If you do not like e5  then I would suggest you look at d3 or c3 and see how they fit.  If not a match then c5 or nf6.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-14T19:00:30.067Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-14T19:00:30.067Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: yobamamama
Answers.Body: <p>Generally repertoire books from the Black point of view are more detailed than those from White's viewpoint, as the author really should cover all reasonable tries by White against a certain opening. For reasons of space this standard is not always met for White repertoire books. </p>
  
  <p>If I were you I'd wait for Smerdon's Scandivanian which covers the Portugeuse and Icelandic gambits against 1.e4 and comes out in September and will be brilliant if you like attacking chess.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://www.everymanchess.com/smerdons-scandinavian" rel="nofollow">https://www.everymanchess.com/smerdons-scandinavian</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-07-27T18:12:30.510Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-07-27T18:12:30.510Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: magd
Body: <p>I recently finished Neil McDonald's "Starting Out: 1.e4!". Now I would like to learn some Black responses. Could someone recommend a book at similar level to Neil's, but focus on Black? </p>
  
  <p>I'm not sure whether to read several specific books or find one general book (eg with 4 chapters on play against e4, d4, c4, Nf3). One general book to start with would be my preference (so I can pick my favourites), if there is a good one.</p>
  
  <p>By the way, I don't quite like Neil's recommendation on the Scoth game (trade queens, play an endgame where the opponent has a weak pawn). I tried the Scotch gambit a bit. Is there any good resource to go deeper on the Scotch gambit?</p>
  
Tags: <opening><books><gambits><scotch-game>
Title: Book on Black openings
ThreadText: # Book on Black openings
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-27)
  
  I recently finished Neil McDonald's "Starting Out: 1.e4!". Now I would like to learn some Black responses. Could someone recommend a book at similar level to Neil's, but focus on Black?
  
  I'm not sure whether to read several specific books or find one general book (eg with 4 chapters on play against e4, d4, c4, Nf3). One general book to start with would be my preference (so I can pick my favourites), if there is a good one.
  
  By the way, I don't quite like Neil's recommendation on the Scoth game (trade queens, play an endgame where the opponent has a weak pawn). I tried the Scotch gambit a bit. Is there any good resource to go deeper on the Scotch gambit?
  
  **Tags:** opening, books, gambits, scotch-game
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-27. Score: 2
  
  One very popular beginners book about openings from the black side is [this one](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1889323187). The focus isn't on grandmaster level opening theory, but on keeping everything understandable and manageable.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: sadly this one does not have a kindle version. Paperback chess book is a pain to read  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-27. Score: 1
  
  There are many responses to 1.e4 for black, in order of popularity according to the [Game Database of ChessTempo](http://chesstempo.com/game-database.html):
  
  * 1....c5 (Sicilian)
  * 1....e5
  * 1....e6 (French)
  * 1....c6 (Caro-Kann)
  * etc...
  
  Each of these openings also have many variations. Futhermore, there are also many books on each of these openings. It is not easy to advise you one, as it depends on many things: your playing strength, your playing style, etc...
  
  A good idea might be to play an opening with black that you don't like to encounter when playing white. This way,
  
  * You have an opening for black (your initial goal)
  * You can also find good continuations to play as white
  
  After you made your opening choice, you can search for a book about that specific opening.
  
  Edit: That being said, if you want to broaden your view, here are a couple of books that cover a wide range of openings:
  
  * [Nunn's Chess Openings](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1857442210)
  * [Fundamental Chess Openings](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1906454132)
  * [Winning Chess Openings](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1857443497)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Exactly, I would like a book as a survey of all these without delve too deep so I can find out which one I like. I won't be able to make my choice until I learn a few of them.  
  > **username_2**: Nunn's book might be interesting for you. Looking at its contents, it seems to cover all the openings. It dates from 1999, but that is still fine to give an overview. http://www.amazon.com/Nunns-Chess-Openings-Cadogan-Books/dp/1857442210  
  > **username_2**: Maybe found an even better one: "Fundamental Chess Openings" by GM Van Der Sterren. It also covers all openings, it's more recent and there's a kindle version! http://www.amazon.com/FCO-Paul-Van-Der-Sterren/dp/1906454132/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Y3FWBGSYFMH8HKGS83G  
  > **username_2**: And maybe also this one: http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Openings-Everyman/dp/1857443497 I'll edit my answer and add these books.  
  > **username_1**: I know Nunn's Chess Openings. It's basically like a database of chess theory without explanations. Not suitable for beginners.  
  > **username_3**: John Watson's books on the openings are also good.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2019-12-14. Score: 0
  
  It depends on your style and preference for type of game. Do you want open, closed, semi open? Do you want slash and burn tactical or do you want quiet slow positional or something in between. Do you want complex positions or more simpler and quieter ones?
  
  Match the opening to your style and preferences. Then when you know what type of opening is your best style there will be a book for it.
  
  If you do not like e5 then I would suggest you look at d3 or c3 and see how they fit. If not a match then c5 or nf6.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2015-07-27. Score: 0
  
  Generally repertoire books from the Black point of view are more detailed than those from White's viewpoint, as the author really should cover all reasonable tries by White against a certain opening. For reasons of space this standard is not always met for White repertoire books.
  
  If I were you I'd wait for Smerdon's Scandivanian which covers the Portugeuse and Icelandic gambits against 1.e4 and comes out in September and will be brilliant if you like attacking chess.
  
  <https://www.everymanchess.com/smerdons-scandinavian>
  
  
  ---
  
  