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

    The French - Tarrasch Variation
    Comprehensive Coverage of an Important Modern Chess Opening
    This book continues the coverage of the French Defence that was begun by Pedersen in The Main Line French: 3 Nc3. It is essential reading for all those who play the French, and for those who meet it with the popular and flexible Tarrasch Variation.
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    The French - Tarrasch Variation
    Comprehensive Coverage of an Important Modern Chess Opening
    Catalog Code: B0028GB
    Our Price: $14.95

    The Sicilian Sozin
    A Life-Long Sozin Devotee Explains the Subtleties of this Aggressive System for White
    This book presents in detail the theory of the Sozin in all its forms, including the razor-sharp Velimirovic Attack.
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    The Sicilian Sozin
    A Life-Long Sozin Devotee Explains the Subtleties of this Aggressive System for White
    Catalog Code: B0042GB
    Our Price: $14.95

    The Symmetrical English
    Authoritative Coverage of a Massive Opening Complex, Including the Hedgehog and Anti-Benoni
    The Symmetrical systems of the English Opening constitute a large and important area of modern chess opening theory. The strategic variety to be found within this book is staggering: from the sedate Symmetrical Variation to the wild gambit lines of the Anti-Benoni, and almost everything in between! This book provides detailed coverage of the theory of all lines stemming from 1 c4 c5.
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    The Symmetrical English
    Authoritative Coverage of a Massive Opening Complex, Including the Hedgehog and Anti-Benoni
    Catalog Code: B0045GB
    Our Price: $22.95

    Attacking with 1. e4
    Fed up with having to learn so much theory? Struggling to keep up with all the latest developments? Then this book will be the answer to all your problems. Grandmaster John Emms offers a new arsenal of opening weapons with which to attack your unsuspecting opponents. Starting with the move 1 e4, the reader is armed with systems against all possible black defenses.
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    Attacking with 1. e4
    Catalog Code: B0061EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    The Queen's Gambit and Catalan for Black
    A Grandmaster Explains a Solid and Dependable Repertoire
    Every chess-player needs a reliable defence against the Queen's Pawn Opening. The fundamental question is whether to go all-out for counterplay, which may involve a great deal of risk, or to adopt a more solid, classical approach, and first carefully neutralize White's initiative. This book shows the potential of the latter approach. By defending the Queen's Gambit Declined, Black puts a firm road-block in the way of White's ambitions.
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    The Queen's Gambit and Catalan for Black
    A Grandmaster Explains a Solid and Dependable Repertoire
    Catalog Code: B0068GB

    Regular Price: $21.95

    Special Price: $8.78


    French Classical
    The French Classical (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6) leads to the type of dynamic, unbalanced positions which appeal to grandmaster and club player alike. Black is prepared to concede space in the center with a view to striking back at his opponent at the earliest opportunity.
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    French Classical
    Catalog Code: B0086EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    The Petroff
    A Detailed Account of the Solid Opening Favoured by Vladimir Kramnik and Other Super-Grandmasters
    The Petroff has for a long time been regarded as a very solid defence. Black avoids the perils of the Scotch, the Italian Game and above all the dreaded Ruy Lopez, and instead opts to neutralize White's initiative with active piece-play. In the Petroff, it is quite common for Black to launch an early counterattack, often gambiting a pawn to do so. For many years, the Petroff enjoyed a steady following, with Karpov, Ivanchuk, Timman, Anand and in particular Yusupov among its supporters at the top level.
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    The Petroff
    A Detailed Account of the Solid Opening Favoured by Vladimir Kramnik and Other Super-Grandmasters
    Catalog Code: B0089GB
    Our Price: $21.95

    Offbeat Spanish
    Meeting the Spanish without 3... A6
    Glenn Flear studies a wide variety of ambitious and offbeat answers for those playing against the Spanish. From the super solid Berlin (as used so successfully by Vladimir Kramnik in his world championship match against Garry Kasparov) to the uncompromising Schliemann, there's enough choice here for any prospective black player facing the Spanish. On the other hand, this book is also perfect for white players looking for the best way to deal with those avoiding the main lines.
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    Offbeat Spanish
    Meeting the Spanish without 3... A6
    Catalog Code: B0179EM

    Regular Price: $19.95

    Special Price: $7.98


    Classical Nimzo-Indian
    The Ever-Popular 4. Qc2
    The 4 Qc2 (or the Classical Variation, as it's commonly known) represents one of White's main choices against the ever-reliable Nimzo-Indian Defence. Ideas and strategies for both white and black players are explained. All the major variations are covered and Lalic updates the theory of these ever-developing lines.
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    Classical Nimzo-Indian
    The Ever-Popular 4. Qc2
    Catalog Code: B0201EM

    Regular Price: $19.95

    Special Price: $7.98


    Dutch Stonewall
    The Stonewall is an ideal choice for those players who are keen to avoid the reams of theory that surround more popular openings such as the King's Indian and Nimzo-Indian Defenses. By playing the Stonewall, Black stakes an immediate claim in the center and lays the foundations for a potentially dangerous kingside attack.
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    Dutch Stonewall
    Catalog Code: B0234EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Understanding Chess Move by Move
    A Top-Class Grandmaster Explains Step-By-Step How Chess Games are Won

    Publisher: Gambit
    Author: John Nunn
    Year of Publication: 2008 Pages: 240
    Notation Type: Figurine (FN)


    Book Description John Nunn is one of the most highly regarded chess writers in the world. He has carefully selected thirty modern games to help the reader understand the most important aspects of chess and to illustrate modern chess principles in action. Virtually every move is explained using words that everyone can understand. Jargon is avoided as far as possible. Almost all the examples are taken from the 1990s and show how key ideas are handled by the grandmasters of today. The emphasis is on general principles that readers will be able to use in their own games, and detailed analysis is only given where it is necessary. Each game contains many lessons, but to guide the reader through the most important ideas in each phase of the game, the thirty games are grouped thematically into those highlighting opening, middlegame and endgame themes. About the Author(s) John Nunn is a grandmaster from England. He has won four individual gold medals and three team silver medals at Chess Olympiads. In the Chess World Cup of 1988/9, he finished sixth overall, ahead of several former World Champions. He is arguably the most highly acclaimed chess writer in the world, with two of his books receiving the prestigious British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award.
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    Understanding Chess Move by Move
    A Top-Class Grandmaster Explains Step-By-Step How Chess Games are Won
    Catalog Code: B0086GB
    Our Price: $22.95

    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."
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    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.
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    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!
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    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.
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    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
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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!"
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    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.
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    The Goring Gambit Accepted and Declined
    Catalog Code: CB0036CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    Winning Against Flank Openings
    Winning Against Flank Openings
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    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.
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    Winning with the English Defense
    Catalog Code: CB0083CD
    Our Price: $9.95

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