Richard Clewin Griffith & John Herbert White

Modern Chess Openings is one of the most well-known and widely used reference books on chess openings. It provides a broad overview of opening theory across many different systems, including main lines and popular variations for both White and Black. The book is regularly updated to reflect modern competitive play and changes in opening theory. Rather than deep explanations, it focuses on providing structured, encyclopedic coverage of opening moves and variations. It is mainly used by players to study and prepare openings before games, making it a standard reference for serious chess study.