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Rating:  Summary: Learn openings by structure, not moves. Review: I own the series of Mastering the Openings books - on the King's Indian, the Benoni/Benko Gambit, the Spanish, the French, and the Nimzoindian - and love them. The only one I can criticize is the one on the Nimzo, by Tony Kosten. He doesn't break the structures down the same way the other books do. The others, this one included, teach the openings based on the central pawn structure, which is what guides the middlegame plans. Developing players (under 2000 ELO) will find these books very helpful in understanding these openings.
Rating:  Summary: An excellent overview of the KID for club players Review: It's unfortunate that this book is no longer readily available because this is the way the openings should be taught to club players. Rather than give numerous variations or even annotated games, Bellin & Ponzetto give schematic intros to annotated games that illustrate strategic and tactical themes in the major variations of the KID (and not divided up by the variation's name, but by its pawn structure). I personally found this extremely effective and wish similar books were published in all my openings. Books like this are timeless and need to be reprinted often because they focus on ideas, not the latest theory. I do not own the other two books in this series on the Benoni and the Spanish (I play neither), but I have seen them and they, too, are very good. If you see them, buy them.
Rating:  Summary: An excellent overview of the KID for club players Review: It's unfortunate that this book is no longer readily available because this is the way the openings should be taught to club players. Rather than give numerous variations or even annotated games, Bellin & Ponzetto give schematic intros to annotated games that illustrate strategic and tactical themes in the major variations of the KID (and not divided up by the variation's name, but by its pawn structure). I personally found this extremely effective and wish similar books were published in all my openings. Books like this are timeless and need to be reprinted often because they focus on ideas, not the latest theory. I do not own the other two books in this series on the Benoni and the Spanish (I play neither), but I have seen them and they, too, are very good. If you see them, buy them.
Rating:  Summary: Best book available on the KID for players up to 2000 USCF Review: This book is absolutely excellent - it is a shame that it is out of print. The book features a rather unique approach to learning the opening - pawn structure. Each chapter focuses on a different characteristic structure arising out of each of the major variations ; saemisch, classical, orthodox, yugoslav, panov, four pawns, averback, etc. etc. Each pawn structure is carefully dissected as to where the optimal piece placement is, typical and recurring themes and ideas, and finally any tactical motifs that are regular. Each chapter concludes with a couple of Grandmaster level games illustrating the material covered. At the end of the book ,there is a statistical survey of each variation, it strategic and tactical complexity, and its tournament results in master level play. If you play the KID, or would like to, grab this book wherever you can!!
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