Re: How to handle bizarre moves during 'book' openings

I also reommend Fine's "Ideas behind the Chess Opening".  Very well 
written. 

Another book is "Chess Master vs. Chess Amateur" by Euwe and Meiden.  It 
is a collection of games from simuls and shows how masters deal with 
exactly the kind of moves you're talking about.  What I especially liked 
was the fact that it explained the thought processes of a master when 
facing an out-of-the-book move - it did not simply give a series of 
variations.  I found the book, incidentally, in the Huntsville, AL 
public library; so if you find yourself down here, you might check it out!

Patrick Hoerter wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm currently studying various chess openings.
>
> I've noticed that the standard 'book' openings usually proceed for a few
> moves until you reach the 'variation' territory.
>
> What I want to know is this:
>
> Let's say, for example, that I have black, and my opponent opens with 1.e4,
> and I respond with ...c5, going for a Sicilian Defense.
>
> What if my opponent does something bizarre, like b3 or g4, etc? Can we still
> have a Sicilian? How should I proceed when the opponent immediately deviates
> from 'book'? None of the chess books I have purchased (and I have many),
> demonstrates this. They all are stuffed with grandmaster games, many of
> which are 'book' clear through move 10 and beyond. Most of the players I run
> into deviate almost immediately because they don't know the standard
> openings. I sense that I should be able to hammer a mistake like that, but
> I'm at a loss as to how to proceed. In the sample I gave, if we proceed, are
> we still in the Sicilian, or some other, more bizarre formation?
>
> Could you also recommend any books that give the _reasons_ behind the
> various openings, rather than endless repertoires?
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks,
> Patrick
> (Remove the "_" from email address if you wish to reply via email).
>
>
>
>