Hi, someone here ready to use this old (but very good!) book as my main reference in my repertoire (occasionally, I'd have to say). The few times I am going to use 1.c4 in important games it's not worth to get a massive "up-to-date" repertoire source. This one is perfect because it's direct, easy and to the point.

Any major change I would have to consider? At my level of opposition (mainly <2000 fide OTB) I don't expect great refutations, I only want playable games knowing plans, typical structures, pawn breaks to accomplish, etc. I basically want to use the 1.c4 e5 part (part 1 if I am not mistaken) and some ideas in the part 3 (other responses but 1...e5 and 1....c5).

Right now I am using it exclusively in blitz (all my games start now with 1.c4), and getting good positions. I am in training mode

My two main concerns (in advance) would be the c6 systems (2...c6 / 3...c6) and, mainly and basically, the e5-Nc6-f5 complex (trying to double my pawns with Bb4 and Bxc3). Happily for me, not seen in any single game. Very few 1.c4 e5 games, btw. Lots of 1.c4 Nf6 and 1.c4 c6.

thx !

TonyRo wrote on 12/28/21 at 13:17:35:

Well, I do have quite a few copies, but only of the original printing where a couple of pages were in the wrong order, I don't know why I kept them. They immediately destroyed this print run and corrected the mistake back in 1999. 

MW wrote on 12/27/21 at 00:16:54:

The book is actually over 20 years old (it came out in 1999)! They are also re-printing Win With the London System and Win with the Stonewall Dutch, two other very out-of-date opening books. My guess is they are re-printing the books that sold best but how many people are going to buy these extremely out-of-date opening books now?

I imagine Tony's home desk is made out of copies of The Dynamic English. They're just everywhere. 

TonyRo wrote on 12/27/21 at 01:53:42:


I couldn't agree more Tony. The trend towards encyclopedic coverage is an unwelcome (and unhealthy) one. The Dynamic English is just a perfect size and format for me.

I felt much the same about the first edition of Donaldson's small book "A Strategic Opening Repertoire" and was very disappointed to see the second edition had been so bulked out with games that IMHO added little to the reader's understanding (but I suppose it was still a reasonably small book by modern standards).

Without a major up-date something of a commercial risk I would have thought .....if it still sells after 8 years without an up-date imagine how well it would do with an up-date.

I still have my original copy so I won't be tempted!

Great book in its day, but I'm not sure why you would re-print an opening book 7-8 years old without a major up-date. No doubt some marketing guru will provide the answer, because I don't get it!

Pale Horse, Pale Rider wrote on 07/21/14 at 14:53:21:


Yes, looking at one page at random on my Kindle Fire:

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Where A & B are links. Also, there are links to chapters, lines, and notes. The page I'm looking at has 10 links to other pages. It's probably the most thorough job of linking I've seen in an ebook.

TonyRo wrote on 07/21/14 at 12:43:27:


Are the links clickable? Like

1. c4 Sf6 2. g3 the theory branches off

Line A: 2...e5
Line B: 2...c6

are the reference designed as links? I have only on opening book on kindle and got annoyed really fast because it was a pain to hop to the line I was searching for. Only the Chapters in the Table of Contents were clickable ...

Carld wrote on 07/20/14 at 17:17:20:


Kindle, I suppose? I must say I like them, too.

Carld wrote on 03/25/13 at 18:20:18:

I would to, of late, I have got more lazy and only buy e-books.

Still an awesome book.

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Tom Lehrer, I believe.

And mentioning him:"Index I copy from old Vladivostok telephone directory." - does that remind anyone of certain opening books, by the way? (I am certainly not referring to The Dynamic English, a book I very much enjoyed)

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Well, it's a given that making illegal photocopies is illegal. 

But you're allowed to make copies for your personal use.  I know from being a teacher you're also allowed to make as many photocopies as you want for educational uses--there are some qualifications there, like length and etc.  There are probably similar qualifications for burning CDs.

Winning with the Philidor was very good, it should get a second edition  !

It is a shame that a lot of chess players are so stingy that some are always asking me for photocopies or illegal DVD/CD copies. My invariable reply: Buy it!

In that way we may have Mr. Kosten more inclined to indeed reach immortality 

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Really?  I rather like Carsten Hansen's books and also the fairly recent Raetsky/Chetverik book on the 1...e5 lines.  And of course there are the old Watson books (he updated the Symmetrical one at some point, much of it completely new because of the explosion in Hedgehog theory apart from anything else, but of course that is now out of date too), and the series by Bagirov.  All excellent in their time and certainly much more detailed.

Not that I don't like Tony's book, you understand - far from it, I have used it quite a bit myself at times.

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Sure! they will be reading Winning with the Philidor!

Hmmm! I don't think that people will be reading The Dynamic English in 100 years time!

Tony, Tony, Tony...

It's the not money, it's the chance at immortality.  Shakespeare, Poe, Voltaire, .... Kosten!   

Well, I'm glad to hear that the book is selling well. I know I bought it because I read a favorable review by IM Silman.

However, why must authors wait for publishers to ask them to write a book? Can't it be the other way around, the author contacting the publishers about writing a book?

If there is one area that probably needs updating is the chapter vs. the English defence. In the book it's only 2 pages. Yet, in the chesspublishing database, 1 c4 b6 has a tremendous score for black. Not that I face it all the time as White, but it's something to think about.


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The publishers haven't mentioned anything to me, yet! I guess they will think about it when this edition runs out of steam, but it is still selling well.