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.

    Counter-Gambits
    Black to Play and Win

    Publisher: Dover
    Author: T. D. Harding
    Year of Publication: 2001 Pages: 208
    Notation Type: Algebraic (AN)


    Book Description As noted British chess author T. D. Harding explains in the preface to Counter Gambits: Black to Play and Win, the aim of this book is to show you how to win games with Black. The method? Calculated aggression, right from move one! To offset the distinct advantage White is thought to have because it moves first, Black can engage in dynamic counterplay to avoid those openings that give White the opportunity of early exchanges. Following a brief explanation of symbols, this excellent guide covers such topics as dynamic counterplay, counter-gambits in open games, Black sacrifices in the half-open games, counters to the Queen's Gambit, Indian counter-gambits, and an index to openings and variations. Seventy-seven games, including ten new to this edition, are fully annotated, while more are found in the theoretical notes, with commentary. Among the counter-gambits used in the quest for dynamic counterplay are the Budapest, Blumenfeld, Falkbeer, and Latvian — all illustrated in great detail. A new update "Update 2001," written especially for this edition, examines developments in the field since this book was first published in the 1970s. Players at all skill levels — beginner to advanced — are sure to benefit from this expert analysis of gambits and counter-gambits.
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    Counter-Gambits

    Black to Play and Win
    Catalog Code: B0047DV
    Our Price: $8.95

    Leningrad Dutch
    Strategy and Tactics
    This book arms the reader with a dynamic counter to White's 1. d4 and includes up-to-date game references along with fresh analysis and numerous original suggestions. Many 1.d4 players have a secret dread for the Leningrad Dutch and rightly so! Discover why increasing numbers of serious players are turning to the Leningrad Dutch in answer to White's solid 1. d4.
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    Leningrad Dutch

    Strategy and Tactics
    Catalog Code: B0014HY
    Our Price: $9.95

    E.C.O. Busted
    Although E.C.O. is the Bible of modern opening theory, there have been numerous discoveries, both from tournament and postal play, since the latest editions. In these pages you will find hundreds of splendid opening traps, reversals, and pitfalls.
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    E.C.O. Busted

    Catalog Code: B0012HY
    Our Price: $20.95

    How to Play the Chess Opening
    With keen appreciation of the amateur's usual limitations, International Grandmaster Eugene Znosko Borovsky explains the importance of rapid development of the pieces, occupation of the center, the relation of the opening to the general plan of the player, and significance of control of the center.
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    How to Play the Chess Opening

    Catalog Code: B0039DV
    Our Price: $7.95

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