I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect opening. But for me it is the perfect opening.

Suggesting a book is difficult. If you want to play the Bishop's gambit then get Johansson's book. If you prefer 3.Nf3 there really aren't any books that are both good and up to date.
This Forum is a good place to begin your studies. What you need to know first is:
- what to do against the patzer defences e.g. 2...exf4, 3...d6 4...Nf6/4...Bg4.
- How to use the f-file.
- How to avoid Black defending pawn-f4 (e.g. in the classical) and prevent the opening of the f-file.
- Avoid a few traps. I.e. don't play fxe5 early on.
- What to do if Black checks with the bishop on h4.
- What to do in the centre. Allowing Black to block with d7-d5 is a concession and should normally be prevented by exd5 (or exd6 e.p.)
- and the concepts get more sophisticated as you progress. E.g. When is e4-e5 good? Which endgames are good? When is d4-d5-d6 good. Should White break on the kingside with g2-g3 or h2-h4?

After that you can find a line against each Black defence. Not necessarily the best one, but one you feel comfortable with. Play some blitz games with different variations to decide, which one warrants further study.

JonHecht wrote on 02/24/07 at 23:52:41:


If you are 1800 don't worry about it! Fedorov got to 2680 before he had quit the KG.

I have an Elo of 2130 and have only lost two games in the last 5 years with the KG. One where I blundered in a completely winning position and the other against IM Kim Pilgaard, where I also had a big advantage (Pilgaard switched variations after that game!).
Most people don't dare play 1...e5 against me, even if they have never played anything else their whole life. One club-mate (Elo 2150) who does play 1...e5 has twice come to the game prepared to his teeth with a secret variations against the KG, while I had no idea what he was going to play beyond 2.f4. He got two draws and was very pleased.
Even the scary 2...exf4 3.Nf3 g5 lines are ok to play because most people don't know what to do and if they do they will get a draw at most.
In my experience people are so scared of the KG that they will play something else. So play the KG if you really like the Caro-Kann 

Play the KG - you will not be disappointed.

I used to play Queen's gambit, getting tired of it and wanted to switch to an aggressive e4 repertoire not that I played d4 for a year, and dabbled in Nf3. Maybe Italian game?

JonHecht wrote on 02/24/07 at 06:48:17:


Yes, after 2...exf4, play 3. Bc4.  A couple of King's Gambit verities are, (1) when checked early along the e-file, Kf2 is often good and (2) with pawns on d4 and e4, the queen very often belongs on d3.