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.

    SHOPWORN - Gambit Busters
    Take it, Keep it and Win!
    In this book, Sam Collins tackles this subject head on. He explores in depth the basic gambit approaches, the typical mistakes made at all levels, the world-class defensive and counterattacking techniques displayed by the great players, and how you can learn from them. In addition, he covers some key theory of many popular gambits in modern chess. Be bold, be brave and grab those pawns!
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    SHOPWORN - Gambit Busters
    Take it, Keep it and Win!
    Catalog Code: SWB0318EM
    Our Price: $13.50

    SHOPWORN - Fighting The Ruy Lopez
    The Ruy Lopez is incredibly common at all levels of chess, and everyone who plays 1. e4 e5 as Black needs to have a reliable antidote to this powerful opening. In this book, Milos Pavlovic provides the answer, devising a sound and yet ambitious repertoire for Black, the basis of which is provided by the legendary and ever-popular Marshall Attack.
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    SHOPWORN - Fighting The Ruy Lopez
    Catalog Code: SWB0262EM
    Our Price: $13.00

    SHOPWORN - Play the Queen's Indian
    The Queen's Indian is a dynamic and flexible way to meet 1 d4, and it leads to complex and intricate positions rich in ideas both sides. Such is the high regard for the Quee''s Indian that virtually all the world's top players have utilized it at one time or another.

    In this book, Andrew Greet presents a complete repertoire for Black. He reveals his secrets, offers answers against all of White's possibilities, and highlights the principal tactical and positional plans.
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    SHOPWORN - Play the Queen's Indian
    Catalog Code: SWB0289EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - How to Play Against 1. e4
    It's not easy finding a good opening to play against 1 e4, especially if you don't have endless time available to study the latest theoretical developments. If you choose fashionable openings, it's often a necessity to keep pace with modern theory if you want to succeed with Black. This book provides a solution. Neil McDonald advocates his favorite opening - the very popular French Defence - but chooses a repertoire for Black that requires only the minimum amount of move memorization.
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    SHOPWORN - How to Play Against 1. e4
    Catalog Code: SWB0174EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - Flank Openings
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: SWB0187EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - How to Beat the French Defence
    The Essential Guide to the Tarrasch
    Catalog Code: SWB0239EM
    Our Price: $13.00

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - D-Pawn Attacks
    The Colle-Zukertort, Barry and 150 Attacks
    Catalog Code: SWB0036EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - c3 Sicilian
    Catalog Code: SWB0017EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Fighting the Anti-King's Indian
    How to Handle White's Tricky Ways of Avoiding the Main Lines
    Catalog Code: SWB0158EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Play the Slav
    Catalog Code: SWB0072EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas
    Catalog Code: SWB0081EM
    Our Price: $13.00

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Play 1. b4
    Shock Your Opponents with the Sokolsky
    Catalog Code: SWB0075EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - 1. e4 e5
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: SWB0189EM
    Our Price: $13.00

    SHOPWORN - 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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    SHOPWORN - Play the English
    An Active Opening Repertorie for White
    Catalog Code: SWB0073EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Samisch King's Indian Uncovered
    The Samisch King's Indian continues to be one of the fiercely contested openings in chess. White's play is based around an extremely solid centre, and there's the very real possibility of launching a direct attack against the black king; a welcome change because often it is Black who goes gunning for checkmate in the King's Indian. But the Samisch is flexible too; if White wishes he can instead try to strangle Black with his obvious space advantage. It's these features that have made the Samisch such a popular weapon for White both at club level and with the world's elite. World Champions Botvinnik, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik have all utilized the Samisch at one time or another, a testimony to the strong reputation of this opening.
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    SHOPWORN - Samisch King's Indian Uncovered
    Catalog Code: SWB0127EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Fighting the Anti-Sicilians
    Combating 2. c3, the Closed, the Morra Gambit and Other Tricky Ideas
    The Sicilian Defence is by far Black's most popular answer to 1. e4 at all levels of chess. The reason for this is easy to understand: from the very first move Black unbalances the position and can play for a win without needing to take unjustified risks. This is particularly the case with the Open Sicilian, where Black can take comfort from the knowledge that his superior pawn structure ensures control of the centre and excellent long-term chances.
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    SHOPWORN - Fighting the Anti-Sicilians
    Combating 2. c3, the Closed, the Morra Gambit and Other Tricky Ideas
    Catalog Code: SWB0157EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Sicilian Sveshnikov
    This book is a further addition to Everyman's best-selling Starting Out series, which has been acclaimed for its original approach to tackling chess openings. John Cox revisits the fundamentals of the Sveshnikov, elaborating on the crucial early moves and ideas for both sides in a way that is often neglected in other texts.
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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Sicilian Sveshnikov
    Catalog Code: SWB0025EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - French
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    In Dangerous Weapons: The French, International Master John Watson takes a revolutionary look at one of the most famous and widely-played chess openings: the French Defence. Instead of travelling down well-trodden and analyzed paths, Watson concentrates on fresh or little-explored variations of the French, 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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    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - French
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: SWB0190EM
    Our Price: $13.00

    SHOPWORN - Play 1... Nc6
    A Complete Chess Opening Repertoire For Black
    Are you constantly struggling with the black pieces? Cant make up your mind which openings to play? Are you looking for something new: an all-in-one solution to your problems? Look no further! In this original book, Christoph Wisnewski, who is renowned for his innovative and adventurous opening ideas, provides the reader with an ambitious and all-encompassing repertoire for Black against every main line opening that White can play, based on the initial move 1...Nc6.
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    SHOPWORN - Play 1... Nc6
    A Complete Chess Opening Repertoire For Black
    Catalog Code: SWB0067EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Gambiteer I
    A Hard-Hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for White
    Are you fearless in your approach to chess openings? Do you like to attack your opponents from the very beginning? Are you happy to take calculated risks? Do you loathe trivial positional chess? Do you feel the need to sacrifice pawns early in the game? Are you a Gambiteer? If the answer to these questions is 'yes!', then this is the book for you!
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    SHOPWORN - Gambiteer I
    A Hard-Hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for White
    Catalog Code: SWB0084EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Gambiteer II
    A Hard-Hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for Black
    A Hard-hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for Black based on the Schliemann Gambit and Albin Counter-Gambit. Are you fearless in your approach to chess openings? Do you like to attack your opponents from the very beginning? Are you happy to take calculated risks? Are you a Gambiteer? If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then this is the book for you!
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    SHOPWORN - Gambiteer II
    A Hard-Hitting Chess Opening Repertoire for Black
    Catalog Code: SWB0085EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Classical Sicilian
    In this book, Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik revisit the basics of the Classical Sicilian, elaborating on the crucial early moves and plans for both sides in a way that is often neglected in other texts.
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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Classical Sicilian
    Catalog Code: SWB0018EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - Sicilian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    In Dangerous Weapons: The Sicilian, John Emms and Richard Palliser team up to investigate by far the most popular and widely-played chess opening, but in a revolutionary way. They concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations of the open Sicilian, selecting a wealth of ideas and options for both colours. Many of the carefully chosen weapons are innovative, visually shocking, incredibly tricky, or have been unfairly discarded; they are guaranteed to throw even your most experienced opponent off balance. Whether playing White or Black, a study of this book will leave you assured and fully-armed, and your opponents running for cover!
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    SHOPWORN - Dangerous Weapons - Sicilian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: SWB0192EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - 1. e4
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player
    In 'Starting Out: 1 e4!' Neil McDonald solves this perennial problem by providing the reader with a strong and trustworthy repertoire with the white pieces based on the popular opening move 1 e4. The recommended lines given here have stood the test of time and are regularly employed by Grandmasters. Reading this book will give you the confidence to play these variations against all strengths of player and provide you with reliable opening armoury for years to come
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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - 1. e4
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player
    Catalog Code: SWB0026EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Discovering Chess Openings
    Building a Repertoire From Basic Principles
    There's no denying that the opening is one of the most daunting phases of the game for newcomers to chess. There are literally hundreds of different opening lines, many with unusual sounding names, and some of these go up to twenty or so moves of theory. What is a chess player supposed to do: memorize countless variations?
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    SHOPWORN - Discovering Chess Openings
    Building a Repertoire From Basic Principles
    Catalog Code: SWB0159EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Benoni Systems
    Including the Schmidt Benoni, the Czech Benoni and the Benko Gambit
    Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of Benoni Systems. This book is a study of all the crucial Benoni systems apart from the Modern Benoni. It presents diverse and practical options against the queen's pawn opening for dynamic, tactical players and solid, positional players alike. Included are such daring defenses as the controversial Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit and the Benko Gambit, a favorite with uncompromising Grandmasters such as Veselin Topalov and Vassily Ivanchuk.
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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Benoni Systems
    Including the Schmidt Benoni, the Czech Benoni and the Benko Gambit
    Catalog Code: SWB0298EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Catastrophe in the Opening
    There are not too many feelings more satisfying in chess than winning very quickly by cleverly snaring an opponent in an opening trap. Conversely, all chess players, even budding World Champions, have experienced the utter humiliation of losing in exactly the same manner! In this entertaining and instructive book, Grandmaster James Plaskett presents a wealth of illustrative games that contain disasters in the crucial opening phase of the game, where for one reason or another the battle is concluded prematurely.
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    SHOPWORN - Catastrophe in the Opening
    Catalog Code: SWB0104EM
    Our Price: $12.00

    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Modern Benoni
    The Modern Benoni is one of Blacks most ambitious and audacious defences to the queens pawn opening, and it has been used with devastating effect by such legends as Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. From the very start Black creates an exceptional imbalance in the position, one which leads to dynamic play and gives Black real chances to seize the initiative.
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    SHOPWORN - Starting Out - Modern Benoni
    Catalog Code: SWB0013EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Offbeat King's Indian
    Lesser Known Tries to Counter this Most Popular of Defences
    The King's Indian is one of the most exciting and complex defences that black can employ against the queen's pawn opening. The main lines of the King's Indian are very sharp and tactical but they are also incredibly theoretical in nature it can be a full time job simply keeping up with the latest developments and fashion. So it is not surprising that many playing white choose to look elsewhere for something to counter this popular opening. In Offbeat King's Indian distinguished openings expert Krzysztof Panczyk studies unusual and less theoretical systems for white, ones that are tricky and are likely to throw the King's Indian player off his or her stride early on in the game. Variations investigated include lines with an early Bd3, ones with Nge2,l and ones involving a swift Bg5. By studying this new book, white players can arm themselves with a while new weaponry of lines against the King's Indian, while those playing Black can look closely for the recommended antidotes.
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    SHOPWORN - Offbeat King's Indian
    Lesser Known Tries to Counter this Most Popular of Defences
    Catalog Code: SWB0167EM
    Our Price: $10.00

    SHOPWORN - Winning Chess Openings
    An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess Openings from one of the World's Top Chess Players
    The two greatest challenges for beginning chess players are not only to survive the openings phase, but also to choose appropriate attack and defense formations in the process. WINNING CHESS OPENINGS shows you how to do both. In Yasser Seirawan's entertaining, easy-to-follow style, you're shown formations that can be used with other White or Black pieces.
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    SHOPWORN - Winning Chess Openings
    An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess Openings from one of the World's Top Chess Players
    Catalog Code: SWB0194EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Grunfeld Defence
    The Grunfeld Defence is a dynamic and popular weapon for Black against queen's pawn openings. Former World Champion Bobby Fischer and current world number one Garry Kasparov head a long list of grandmasters that have utilized this opening with continued success.
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    SHOPWORN - Grunfeld Defence
    Catalog Code: SWB0257EM
    Our Price: $12.50

    SHOPWORN - Queen's Gambit Accepted
    The Queen's Gambit Accepted is one of the oldest and most dependable ways for Black to meet White's queen's pawn opening. It leads to dynamic positions with free piece play in which the more enterprising player is likely to prevail. When Nigel Short used the QGA in his match with Anatoly Karpov in 1992, the opening became highly fashionable and it currently features prominently in the repertoires of grandmasters Joel Lautier and Matthew Sadler, among many others. This book provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the Queen's Gambit Accepted available. With an emphasis on currently fashionable lines that readers are likely to encounter in their own games, it provides everything you need to know to play the opening with White or Black. Iakov Neishtadt is an international master at correspondence chess and author of numerous books, including Winning Quickly with White and Winning Quickly with Black.
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    SHOPWORN - Queen's Gambit Accepted
    Catalog Code: SWB0178EM
    Our Price: $12.50

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