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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.
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Items 1 to 36 of 37
Winning with the Slav
"Why do so many GM's play the Slav? Is it the opening's resilience? Its counterattacking potential? Or the ease with which all Black's pieces can find effective postings? Up-to-date and packed with new ideas. Covers all the main lines of the Slav."
Winning with the Slav
Catalog Code: B0091BT
Our Price: $9.95
Winning with the Hypermodern
Hypermodern chess strategy was the single most devastating innovation of the 20th century chess thought. Fueled by such towering figures as Aron Nimzowitsch and Richard Reti, hypermodern ideas forced their way into prominence and blazed the trail for the dynamic adoption by the Soviet chess school of defences such as the King's Indian and the Grunfeld. With both of these championed by Garry Kasparov, arguably the greatest player of all time, it is clear that hypermodern openings and defences are still setting the agenda in the 21st century.
Winning with the Hypermodern
Catalog Code: B0095BT
Our Price: $12.95
The Lisitsin Gambit
The Lisitsin Gambit is a bold, even savage attack against the Dutch. It in no way refutes the Dutch, but it places black on a tight rope, a rope the unwary may easily slip off to their doom on. Further the gambit is much easier to learn than the rest of the lines white may play against the Dutch." - US National Master Stephen Gordon. The Lisitsin Gambit, as well illustrated here, is a very good choice for the attacking player!
The Lisitsin Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0003CD
Our Price: $9.95
A Black Defensive System with 1... d6
Grandmaster Soltis blends this defensive 1..d6 move into a coherent defensive system answering whatever white throws at black. This move frequently transposes into the sharp, attacking, ultra-dynamic King's Indian Defense when played against 1.d4. Against 1.e4, the Pirc(or sometimes also the Modern Defense) arises, bringing a very flexible setup which can vary wild, attacking chess to solid, positional maneuvering. 1..d6 is a flexible way to combat any white first move.
A Black Defensive System with 1... d6
Catalog Code: CB0005CD
Our Price: $9.95
Beating the Alekhine Defense with the Exchange Variation
Beating the Alekhine Defense with the Exchange Variation
Beating the Alekhine Defense with the Exchange Variation
Catalog Code: CB0006CD
Our Price: $9.95
The Veresov Attack
The Veresov Attack is a vigorous opening system which offers a wealth of interesting strategic and tactical chances for white. It is interesting to note that it sort of resembles a sort of "Queenside Ruy Lopez". This often leads to rapid queenside castling with sharpened play. Alternately, white can simply continue to develop his kingside pieces followed by kingside castling. This "dual castling" motif of the Veresov can keep black guessing as to white's true intentions.
The Veresov Attack
Catalog Code: CB0008CD
Our Price: $4.95
A Winning White Repertoire
The main system is the Torre Attack 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 or 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 followed by Bg5. Then you are taught how to meet the Nimzo-Indian, King's Indian, Pirc/Old Indian, Benoni, and Dutch Defenses. This opening is very solid and easy to learn and the non-professional players will find it very handy. However, it is a very powerful opening and has been employed by such chess superstars as Korchnoi, Kasparov, Timman, Petrosian, Bronstein, Yusupov, Keres, Smyslov, and Spassky! Most importantly, this book consists of more than just variations, but 100 deeply annotated complete games as well.
A Winning White Repertoire
Catalog Code: CB0015CD
Our Price: $6.95
Franco-Benoni Defenses
No matter what White plays, Black plays 1..e6 making believe he is going into a French defense. White is fooled for whatever he does, Black plays toward a Benoni 2..c5.
Franco-Benoni Defenses
Catalog Code: CB0021CD
Our Price: $7.95
Winning with the Benko Gambit
Smith & Hall: "The Benko Gambit is a rare sort of opening: Black offers a pawn on the third move to snatch the initiative from White. The psychological effect is instantaneous. White, who thought he would control the opening with the initial tempo is immediately faced with vexing decisions. 'Do I take the pawn and try to keep it?'(Accepted); 'Do I take it for a little white but offer to return it later?' (Semi-Accepted); 'Or do I avoid the gambit altogether?' (Declined). 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5!. In any event we show that whichever course white adopts, black will obtain fluid counter-play. If white commits inaccuracies(even relatively slight ones), Black can quickly seize the initiative. By first studying our familiarization section the student new to the Benko will be given a good overview of all the main variations in the Benko Gambit. Next we present a thorough and up-to-date survey of all the major variations to show how Black can steer play into dynamic counter-play-oriented positions, which will provide exciting games and good practical winning chances. Bash 'em with the Benko!"
Winning with the Benko Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0023CD
Our Price: $7.95
The Goring Gambit Accepted and Declined
The Goring Gambit is one of White's most dynamic choices after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. With 3.d4! White immediately challenges Black's "pawn anchor" on e5 while prying open lines for rapid, aggressive development. After 3..exd4 White can, of course, opt for the Scotch Game with 3.Nxd4 - which is quite sound for White - but we recommend that you choose the gambit with 4.c3, daring Black to grab a pawn with 4..dxc3. If Black accepts, white will get a lead in development and many opportunities for a prolonged initiative. There is a line that modern theory favors black, but we show you how to avoid it. If your opponent is too scared to accept the gambit with 4..dxc3, then there are declining moves with 4..Nf6, 4..d5, and 4..d3. Against all these more sedate lines we will show how to keep Black under pressure. A number of top players have adopted the Goring gambit over time; among them are GM's Tal, Stein, Gufeld, Velimirovic, and Ljubojevic. FM Ken Smith, one of the authors, has been playing middle gambits(Danish, Goring, BDG, & Smith-Morra) all his 47-year chess career.
The Goring Gambit Accepted and Declined
Catalog Code: CB0036CD
Our Price: $9.95
Winning Against Flank Openings
Winning Against Flank Openings
Winning Against Flank Openings
Catalog Code: CB0060CD
Our Price: $4.95
Winning with the English Defense
Answers 1.e4 and all other openings. This is a very flexible system that allows White to build up a large center if so inclined. Black's aim is to attack White's center with all his forces, bringing about sharp, hypermodern play on the board.
Winning with the English Defense
Catalog Code: CB0083CD
Our Price: $9.95
The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
Catalog Code: CB0085CD
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Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
Catalog Code: CB0087CD
Our Price: $6.95
Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
Catalog Code: CB0089CD
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Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
Catalog Code: CB0093CD
Our Price: $9.95
The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
Catalog Code: CB0095CD
Our Price: $4.95
More Chess Openings - Traps and Zaps - VOLUME 2
200 Brand-New Openings for Players of All Levels
200 Brand-New Openings for Players of All Levels
The opening is one of the most important parts of the chess game. Weaken your pawns by mistake, and they're taken. Attack wildly and haphazzardly, and your pieces are picked off. Misuse your queen and she's trapped. Carelessly neglect development and you're mated. You've scarely begun, and the game is over. Fortunately, National Master Bruce Pandolfin's More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2, offers drills and skills to help players of all levels avoid these perils and pitfalls.
More Chess Openings - Traps and Zaps - VOLUME 2
200 Brand-New Openings for Players of All Levels
Catalog Code: B0009SS
Our Price: $17.95
Winning with the Leningrad Dutch 7...Qe8
No matter what white plays, you are given a black winning answer. Many games of the strong GM Dutch defense expert Malaniuk are given. Also games by leading GM's such as Ivanchuk, Beliavsky, and Bareev are demonstrated. This book shows how to play one of the most dynamic, strategically rich defenses in chess.
Winning with the Leningrad Dutch 7...Qe8
Catalog Code: CB0004CD
Our Price: $9.95
Inside Chess Openings
International Chess Enterprises:"Just as every golfer who wants to lower his score practices chipping and putting above all, the ambitious chess player studies the opening. Covering all openings, this book provides and concise and authoritative summary of the best opening moves. No attempt is made to explain the reason behind the moves, though all variations are evaluated using internationally-accepted language-less symbols, thoroughly explained in the preface. The tournament player who wished to brush up on his favorite opening cannot do better than to take a look at Inside Chess Openings before the game."
Inside Chess Openings
Catalog Code: CB0010XX
Our Price: $9.95
Beating the King's Indian and Benoni Defense with 5. Bd3
GM Soltis: "Against the King's Indian Defense and the Benoni Group(all of them: Czech, Modern, etc..)there is a simple, relatively new, yet ambitious setup that can be played effectively against each member of the family...the key element here is the bishop on d3(5.Bd3!)". This book also tells you how to play against the Old Indian and Modern defenses.
Beating the King's Indian and Benoni Defense with 5. Bd3
Catalog Code: CB0022CD
Our Price: $9.95
Beating the Caro-Kann
New opening ideas are created frequently, but few have had the meteoric career of Nigel Short's system against the Caro-Kann defense. Virtually unknown before 1988, it has become a regular customer in super tournaments since the 1990's. And yet it is so simple to handle that a Class B player can master most of the strategies in an afternoon. The British GM's system consists of playing the Advance variation of the Caro-Kann with a relatively modest form of development- modest yet it can pack quite a wallop. What short discovered was not just a new move, but a new concept. Despite the presence of the annoying bishop on the excellent b1-h7 diagonal, Black had not equalized, he announced. Short demonstrated that the bishop could, in fact, become a liability that would be attacked in the general expansion of white's pawns on the kingside. 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5(as well as 3..c5 and 3..Na6)-new strategy against each one.
Beating the Caro-Kann
Catalog Code: CB0024CD
Our Price: $9.95
New Sicilian Gambits
GM Soltis: "If white gets to attack in the Sicilian Defense anyway, why should he offer a pawn or two for the privilege? The answer is that black gets to counterplay in the Sicilian and his counterplay is usually as good as white's. That, in fact, is what makes the Sicilian popular. There are plenty of familiar Sicilian gambits(like the Smith Morra and Wing, which this book doesn't even cover). But in the last few years, a number of new ideas arising out of positional variations, have been discovered and found to pack a wallop for white". Here are six new white gambits against the Sicilian that the reader will have to attempt to destroy black!
New Sicilian Gambits
Catalog Code: CB0025CD
Our Price: $6.95
Beating the Sicilian Defense with the Short-Nunn Attack
Wanted: Opening system needed to combat the most popular defense to 1.e4. Must be sound, flexible, and aggressive. Experience against all Black formations essential. GM's Short and Nunn came forward in the late 1980's and early 1990's to give us one catch-all system. First it was proven successful against one Black setup, and then against another and another. Its successes were registered at the highest levels. Fischer played it against Spassky in the 1992 return match! Still the most popular system against the Najdorf today.
Beating the Sicilian Defense with the Short-Nunn Attack
Catalog Code: CB0037CD
Our Price: $6.95
Winning with the Reti Opening
Smith & Hall: "Nowadays the Reti(1.Nf3 d5 2.c4) is a staple opening of many strong GM's in top tournament play. There is a steady stream of theoretical discoveries for both White and Black. In this book we analyze in depth the main lines of play in this opening. Often we give several good choices for white - just in case Black finds a "new move" in a main line setting. By thorough study of this book you will be well armed to outmaneuver your opponent with White, in the complex and fascinating pathways of the hypermodern Reti."
Winning with the Reti Opening
Catalog Code: CB0052CD
Our Price: $6.95
Max Lange Attack and the Anti-Max Lange
Max Lange Attack and the Anti-Max Lange
Max Lange Attack and the Anti-Max Lange
Catalog Code: CB0061CD
Our Price: $4.95
Beating the English Opening
Beating the English Opening
Beating the English Opening
Catalog Code: CB0062CD
Our Price: $9.95
Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit
Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit
Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0064CD
Our Price: $6.95
Play the Dutch Defense against 1. c4 and 1. Nf3
The authors combine their talent to create an excellent work which supplements works on the Leningrad Dutch and fills in the gaps for players wishing to make the fighting modern Dutch their standard defense. Not only does it give coverage to the neglected English-Dutch(against 1.c4) and Reti-Dutch(against 1.Nf3) formations, but it also contains a comprehensive treatment of Black's best lines against the Lisitsin Gambit(1.Nf3 f5 2.e4) and other irregular White openings as well. All lines of the 1..e5 English Opening where Black plays 1..f5 in the first five moves are covered by transposition, Although the writers concentrate on how to play these lines as Black, White's best moves are shown, making this book a must for White.
Play the Dutch Defense against 1. c4 and 1. Nf3
Catalog Code: CB0073CD
Our Price: $4.95
Beating the Pirc/Modern with the Fianchetto Variation
One of the most solid and consistently successful systems available against 1..d6 and 1..g6 is the subtle Fianchetto. If you play 1.e4, you will want to know how to beat the Pirc/Modern. If you play either of these 2 defenses, you will want to know what will be played against you. The White setup is pawns at e4, d4, and g3, White Knights at c3 and e2, and Bishops at g2 and usually e3 - then attack, attack!
Beating the Pirc/Modern with the Fianchetto Variation
Catalog Code: CB0074CD
Our Price: $4.95
Winning with the King's Gambit - Decline - VOLUME II
When you play 1.e4 e5 2.f4, you hope your opponent plays 2..exf4 where you can blow him off the board. But there is quite a bit to know about the King's Gambit Declined if Black does not play the Accepted Variation. This Volume 2 covers all Declined variations from the Classical Defense, Counterattacking 2..Nf6, Falkbeer, and all others. With the two volumes, you can play the Romantic King's Gambit, an opening for adventurers.
Winning with the King's Gambit - Decline - VOLUME II
Catalog Code: CB0080CD
Our Price: $9.95
The Baltic Defense to the Queen's Gambit
In the past many masters have tried to solve Black's problem of developing the Queen's Bishop after blocking it in by 2..e6(1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6). But there is another school that thinks Black should solve the Bishop problem first, with 2..Bf5. A number of them from the Baltic nations were GM Mikenas and GM Keres. The modern generation is lead by GM's Bagirov, Shirov, and Rausis. We believe books have overlooked 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 or 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Bf5 or 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5.
The Baltic Defense to the Queen's Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0082CD
Our Price: $7.95
How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit
How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit
How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0108CD
Our Price: $4.95
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