The Blue Book of Chess

The Blue Book of Chess is a book about chess by a chess master Howard Staunton intended for teaching the rudiments of the game of chess, and giving an analysis of all the recognized openings. The main goal was to simplify a great variety and the delicate distinctions of the openings, showing such moves as are recognized to be the best. At each opening, the student of the game is presented with the variations made by experienced players in accordance with circumstances. The book is illustrated with a great variety of actually played games by numerous chess masters in order to make the understanding the subject easier.

Howard Staunton (1810-1874) was an English chess master who is generally regarded as the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, largely as a result of his 1843 victory over Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant. His chess articles and books were widely read and encouraged the development of chess in the United Kingdom, and his Chess-Player's Handbook was a reference for decades.