it depends on which opening you want to learn. But in any case, I would suggest specific opening books with text explanations rather than ECO codes.

Good luck

What edition of ECO is best?

thank you in advance,

Walter Raugh

Also browse through Gambit books at http://www.gambitbooks.com/BooksBySubject.html

hope this helps and good luck

As for the moves, sorry, Qxg4 and Qxg3 was a typo, I meant Qxf4 and Qxf3, respectively. I was working from memory and don’t even have the letters down for the ranks, it seems

I don’t have any chess books. Do you have suggestions? I have bought a couple of cheap computer programs to get to a very basic level of play (Majestic Chess because it seemed entertaining, and one of the chessmaster series for slightly more serious play.)
I’ve seen a bit of hype for the Fritz programs, and I also downloaded some “opening books” on Ubuntu, though I’ve not looked into how to use them yet.
Any recommendations (for Books, software, etc)?

If White starts with 1. Kh2, Black King has an escape square on g5 (and then as you wrote h6 and so on). That is why the reason why White is starting with a check, 1. Bf6+, which takes/covers g5 away from Black King and then proceeds with 2. Kh2.

Do you have any chess books?

I am fairly new to chess and happened upon your website. I had a question about the first scenario presented in your “Chess Composition - Henri Rinck” piece:

If
1. Kh2
2. Bg3+ is mate,
Unless:
1…Qxd4, where 2. Nxd4 captures black queen,
1…Qxg3, where 2. hxg3 captures black queen,
1…g5, where 2. Bf2 mates

…I just saw 1…Qg4
Which still seems like it puts black in a very awkward position. 1. Kh2 Qg4 2. g3 Kg5 3. f4 Kh6, or 3. Be3 Kf6… Either way the King gains access to white tiles and the queen runs rampant…

Is this all obvious at a glance to an experienced chess player?

Thanks,
Andy