First Steps: The Queen's Gambit (Everyman Chess)

Andrew Martin is one of my favorite chess writers. I find his instruction tends to hit just at the level I need (I'm an "intermediate" or "improving" player, about 1600 USCF/1700 ICC). This book is probably suitable for players even less experienced than I am, but I find it's still at a good level for someone of my level too. The book gives a good introduction to the Queen's Gambit (but not the Indian Defenses -- just FYI) and all its major variations. The book is not a repertoire book in the sense of examining every single branching line and variation; rather Martin presents chapters on "Piece Deployment for White" and "Piece Deployment for Black" hitting on major concepts, and then each subsequent chapter offers model games of each major variation such as "Exchange Variations," "Queen's Gambit Accepted," "Queen's Gambit Declined," "The Slav," etc. to show the main ideas in practice and give players new to the opening a sense of how these games play out.In terms of formatting for the Kindle edition, this book is excellent with no apparent font glitches (unlike some other books in the "First Steps" series, such as the Caro-Kann book).

Well worth the money. Just the job for club players