CHESS OPENING BOOKS

The first phase of a chess game is known as the Chess Opening. It is during this phase of the chess game that the initial moves are made. Similarly, those moves are commonly referred to in the chess world as the “Chess Opening”. While there are literally billions of possible positions after the first 4 moves have been made in a game of chess (288 billion to be exact), only a small number of these chess openings have been studied by chess professionals and chess computers and deemed to be sound for practical play.

To help differentiate one chess opening from another, each chess opening is given a unique name to identify it. While it is common for a chess opening to be named after the player/s that introduced them to popular play, including the Benko Gambit (after Grandmaster Pal Benko), the Sicilian Najdorf (named after Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf) and the Philidor Defense (named after Francois-Andre Danican Philidor), this is not always the case Some chess openings are named after the locations and/or cultures in which they originated, including the London System, the French Defense, the Sicilian Defense, The English Opening and the Vienna Game. While others are named after the pieces that are moved during that opening, including the Queen’s Pawn Gambit and the King’s Indian Defense.

There are 6 basic objectives during the chess opening. They are Piece Development, Control of the Center of the Board, King Safety, Prevention of Pawn Weakness, Piece Coordination and to Create positions in which the player is more comfortable than the opponent.

    Play the Sicilian Kan
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black! The Kan is an ideal choice as an opening weapon against 1. e4, as it is one of the easiest variations of the Sicilian to learn and play. This is because, unlike some variations of the Sicilian, you don't need to memorize loads of opening theory in order to be successful.
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    Play the Sicilian Kan
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black
    Catalog Code: B0074EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    Dangerous Weapons - Flank Openings
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Are you tired of playing the same old openings time and time again? Perhaps it's time for a change, but you cannot decide between the numerous options available. Here's the answer: choose Dangerous Weapons and amaze your opponents with new and exciting opening ideas!

    In this book, three renowned opening experts get together to take a revolutionary look at Flank Openings. Instead of travelling down well-trodden and analyzed paths, they concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colors.
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    Dangerous Weapons - Flank Openings
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0187EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    How to Beat the French Defence
    The Essential Guide to the Tarrasch
    In How to Beat the French Defence, Andreas Tzermiadianos meets this difficult challenge head on. He advocates his favorite weapon against the French - the Tarrasch Variation. Drawing upon his wealth of playing experience and study of this line, Tzermiadianos reveals an abundance of opening ideas and novelties, and provides the reader with a complete repertoire which is aimed at posing Black serious problems. Read this book and you will be able to fight the French Defence with renewed confidence and vitality.
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    How to Beat the French Defence
    The Essential Guide to the Tarrasch
    Catalog Code: B0239EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    Starting Out - c3 Sicilian
    In this book, c3 Sicilian expert John Emms goes back to basics: he explains in depth the reasoning behind the critical early moves - something that is often neglected - and uses instructive games to demonstrate key plans for both White and Black.
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    Starting Out - c3 Sicilian
    Catalog Code: B0017EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - D-Pawn Attacks
    The Colle-Zukertort, Barry and 150 Attacks
    In this book Richard Palliser provides in-depth coverage of three of the most dangerous attacking set-ups available to White: the Colle-Zukertort, the Barry, and the 150 attacks. In recent years these three opening weapons have considerably gained in popularity, especially at club level, and it's easy to see why.
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    Starting Out - D-Pawn Attacks
    The Colle-Zukertort, Barry and 150 Attacks
    Catalog Code: B0036EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Fighting the Anti-King's Indian
    How to Handle White's Tricky Ways of Avoiding the Main Lines
    The truth is you will reach your favorite opening in barely half the games you play against 1. d4, and that's why this book is a godsend to those players fed up with blindly searching for the right way to play against these annoying White systems designed to avoid the main lines: the Trompowsky; the London System; the Torre Attack; the Barry Attack; the Colle System; the Veresov; the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit - the list goes on and on!
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    Fighting the Anti-King's Indian
    How to Handle White's Tricky Ways of Avoiding the Main Lines
    Catalog Code: B0158EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Starting Out - The Modern
    The Modern Defence is a dynamic, ambitious and universal opening, one that can be used against virtually every system White can play. Black's provocative strategy is based upon allowing White to construct an imposing pawn centre in the anticipation that a well-timed strike will bring about its downfall.
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    Starting Out - The Modern
    Catalog Code: B0002EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - Benoni and Benko
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    In this book, four renowned opening experts get together to take a revolutionary look at the Benoni, the Benko and all their associated variations. Instead of traveling down well-trodden and analyzed paths, they concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colors. Whether playing White or Black, a study of this book will leave you confident and fully-armed, and your opponents running for cover!
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    Dangerous Weapons - Benoni and Benko
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0193EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    Play the Slav
    The Slav has a well-deserved reputation as one of Black's strongest answers to 1 d4, and it's no coincidence that it has been used by almost all the World Champions in chess history. Put simply, the Slav is a classy opening, one which combines reliability with the promise of dynamic counterplay. In this book, James Vigus presents a comprehensive and trustworthy repertoire for Black.
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    Play the Slav
    Catalog Code: B0072EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas
    What are the greatest opening ideas in chess history? This is a fascinating question that would undoubtedly spark endless debate and discussion amongst all the experts and enthusiasts of the game. From the invention and development of openings which are now considered to be mainline, to the wealth of stunning one-move novelties which have convincingly overturned previous expert assessments, there is certainly a plethora of brilliant ideas to choose from - everyone will have their own opinion on this subject!
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    Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas
    Catalog Code: B0081EM

    Regular Price: $25.95

    Special Price: $10.38


    Play 1. b4
    Shock Your Opponents with the Sokolsky
    Do you wish to surprise your opponents on the first move? Do you enjoy playing creatively from the beginning of the game? Look no further than 1 b4! With this aggressive pawn lunge White takes the game into relatively unknown territory and forces Black players onto their own devices. Those facing 1 b4 are not allowed to fall into the comfort zone of established theory; instead they have to think for themselves from very early on.
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    Play 1. b4
    Shock Your Opponents with the Sokolsky
    Catalog Code: B0075EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - The King's Indian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Are you tired of playing the same old openings time and time again? Perhaps it's time for a change, but you cannot decide between the numerous options available? Here's the answer: choose Dangerous Weapons and amaze your opponents with new and exciting opening ideas!
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    Dangerous Weapons - The King's Indian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0266EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - 1. e4 e5
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Are you tired of constantly having to keep up with modern chess theory?

    Or perhaps you simply wish to try out something new and inspiring, but cannot decide amongst the embarrassment of choices available?

    Look no further for the answer! In Dangerous Weapons: 1 e4 e5, renowned opening experts John Emms, Glenn Flear and Andrew Greet take a revolutionary look at one of the most famous and widely-played chess openings. Instead of travelling down well-trodden and analysed paths, the authors concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colours.
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    Dangerous Weapons - 1. e4 e5
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0189EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    Starting Out - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
    In this book Gawain Jones, one of the world' leading experts on the Grand Prix Attack, provides everything you need to know about this opening. Using illustrative games and drawing upon his own wealth of experience, he introduces the key moves and ideas for both sides, taking care to explain the reasoning behind them - something that has often been neglected or taken for granted.
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    Starting Out - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
    Catalog Code: B0022EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - Queen's Gambit
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Are you tired of playing the same old openings time and time again? Fed up with constantly having to keep up with modern chess theory? Or perhaps you simply wish to play something new and inspiring, but cannot decide between the numerous options available? Don't despair - help is at hand!

    In Dangerous Weapons: The Queen's Gambit, opening experts Richard Palliser, Glenn Flear and Chris Ward team up to investigate one of the most popular openings in chess history, but in a revolutionary way. They concentrate on little-explored and fun-to-play variations of the Queen's Gambit, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colours. Whether playing White or Black, a study of this book will leave you confident and fully-armed, and your opponents running for cover!
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    Dangerous Weapons - Queen's Gambit
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0188EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Play the English
    An Active Opening Repertorie for White
    An active opening repertoire for White! The English is a sophisticated opening which is very popular at all levels of chess: from up-and-coming players to World Champions such as Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik. It has many attractions, including flexibility and diversity: White can play either aggressively or quietly, and positions are rich in both strategy and tactics.
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    Play the English
    An Active Opening Repertorie for White
    Catalog Code: B0073EM
    Our Price: $24.95

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