First Steps: The Colle and London Systems

Since reading Lakdawala's first book on the colle, I have gone 3 and 0 using the colle on chess.com. I was looking for something to do against ...f5, the dutch, and I bought this book because it covers it. I like this book more than his other book because it gives just enough information for someone at my level, 1600 on chess.com.

I like it but there are times idk what he's trying to say. Too poetic for me. There was a review posted about the first few lines in the book and that guy is right. Other than that, the times he makes sense, it's good.

I like what Lakdawala offers. His ideas have helped me a lot.

I was expecting, based on the "First Steps" title, that this book would be beneficial for my learning these openings, specifically the first 10-15 moves. I was looking for a "move by move" or "ideas behind the openings" approach. The positive reviews must have come from master (+) level players. The title is most deceiving. In the example games, the first half dozen moves or so are simply presented, with absolutely no justification, no commentary, no basic instruction about the aims of said moves. To me, that's the most important part. I'm a club level player. Players I play don't duplicate black's moves as presented, usually deviating within the first three moves. The book is terrible at explaining general principles, until you get to near-middle and middle- to end-game tactics. Perhaps a 3-star book if the title weren't deceptive, but I'm giving it a 1 based on the "First Steps" part of the title. As black rarely plays the book lines (I'm a 1600 level player), I had no use for this book.

Excellent book and content - very readable.

This book is exceptionally terrible. I wanted to learn the ins and outs of the London System. Instead, I got a book that does not outline its general principles and lines of attack. Instead it indulges in long and complicated variations, instead of concentrating on explaining straightforward plans, clear-cut strategies and standard manoeuvres. DON’T BUY THIS BOOK.

FIRST THINGS FIRST. I want it to be clear that this review is for the KINDLE addition of this book. Once again Everyman Chess has left you wasting your money on one of the kindle versions of their books. This book has NO INDEX of VARIATIONS! No PAGE NUMBERS or ANY OTHER WAY TO CONVENIENTLY NAVIGATE THE BOOK!! If you wish to go back to reference a part of the book you have already read. ( a very common need for an opening book) you have no way of doing it other than scrolling through the pages. It is a shame because the contents of the the book its self is excellent. I wish the people at Everyman would take a lesson from Gambit publishing and learn how a kindle book should be set up. This has been an issue with every kindle book I have bought by Everyman Chess. I returned this book for a refund because it is practically useless as a study and learning tool when you can not navigate the book. Until these issues are corrected I WILL NOT buy another Everyman chess book print or otherwise and I would suggest everyone else to do the same.

Buon libro

The book came on the day specified, and is in fantastic quality, no complaints.

Un ouvrage très intéressant comme introduction générale au système de Londres, mais desservi par l’utilisation d’une police de caractère assez peu lisible car trop petite. Dommage.

As an example of the author's style and "helpfulness," which comes in the first few pages of the book: "This is the main line of the Colle, our Normandy, where we straddle two worlds simultaneously. We can play for either the traditional pure Colle e4 break or we can violate the Semi-Slav’s copyright and play it a move up with a b4 break. Both attempt to free the structure of its interlocking pattern. Most Colleites consider the e4 break a quasi-sacred rite, but I encourage you to also be open to the b4 move-up Semi-Slav plan."Need I say more!

Great book for the improving intermediate player ;the author presents a coherent and fun to play opeming system with complete games and does not overextend with deep variations.The study of chess openings demands a huge amount of time,and those chess enthusiats with reduced time to study will benefit from this work.