Chessville Reviews - Starting Out: King’s Indian Attack - by John Emms

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Starting Out: King’s Indian Attack
Reviewed by Rick Kennedy

by John Emms

Everyman Chess, 2005

ISBN: 1857443942

224 pages, softcover

figurine algebraic notation

Dearest Santa, I played 13 different openings in 13 different games at the Club– and lost 13 times. That’s naughty, not nice. Could you please send me an Unbeatable Opening? - Perry

My Dear Perry, Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa thinks you’ve been reading too much of “Kennedy Kids” [“Unbeatable Defense”] ! Here’s a tip: recently Rudolph has been very successful using Grandmaster John Emms’ Starting Out: King’s Indian Attack in all his reindeer games. - Santa

Dearest Santa, I was hoping for something wacky from Myers Openings Bulletin or Randspringer, not an opening characterized by the moves Nf3, g2-g3, Bg2, 0-0, d2-d3 and e4. Are you sure the KIA is right for me? - Perry PawnPusher

Dear Mr. PawnPusher, Openings innovator Hugh Myers has always been a King’s Indian Attack maven. An improvement suggested early in Emms’ KIA book, for Nazarov – Yandemirov, Azov 1991, comes from a game by Rainer Schlenker, Randspringer’s editor. Trust Santa on this one: 50 well-explained games, in the very effective style of Everyman Chess’ “Starting Out” series. - Santa Claus

Dear Santa, So the opening can be played by club members and improving players, not just Masters and Grandmasters? Against any defense? Sounds like too much theory. - Mr. PawnPusher

Dear PawnPusher, GM Emms gives theory, but focuses on the main ideas behind the opening. The book has diagrams, Tips (marked with a light bulb), special Notes (clip board) and Warnings (skull-and-crossbones). Emms has studied up, as his Bibliography shows. The KIA has been great for staid old Donner, as well as for Blitzin. Mrs. Claus plays it like an Expert and you can too. - Mr. S. Claus, Esq.

Dear Mr. Claus, I’d hate to give up 1.e4 – I’ve been studying the Jerome Gambit. - You Know Who

PawnPusher, Play 1.Nf3 and go into a reversed King’s Indian, or play 1.e4 hoping for an open game – if your opponent isn’t cooperative, Starting Out: King’s Indian Attack has chapters on the KIA vs the French, Sicilian, and Caro Kann. There’s even a chapter on facing the Queen’s Indian and Dutch. The book is inexpensive, and I can guarantee delivery by Christmas. Or would you prefer a chess set made out of coal? - He Who Knows if You’ve Been Bad or Good

Dearest Santa, You’ve convinced me! I’ll leave out plenty of cookies and milk. Travel safely!

- Your Friend (I hope) Perry

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