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 4. f3 Nimzo-Indian
    The Most Aggressive Response to the Nimzo Explained by One of it's Leading Exponents
    The Nimzo-Indian is an extremely popular and reliable defence, upon which most world champions have relied at some point in their careers. Black controls the vital e4-square with his pieces, and retains total flexibility with his central pawns. By playing 4. f3, White challenges Black's idea head-on. Either Black grants White control of e4, or else he must commit his pawn to d5, whereupon White can begin concrete action in the center.
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    Play the 4. f3 Nimzo-Indian
    The Most Aggressive Response to the Nimzo Explained by One of it's Leading Exponents
    Catalog Code: B0035GB
    Our Price: $14.95

    Easy Guide to the Nge2 King's Indian
    Winning with the Hungarian Attack
    This book guides you through the main themes of the Hungarian Attack and presents you with a well-organized repertoire, which also includes lines against Benoni. The co-author Forintos is the world's leading expert on this opening and this guide contains a complete and potentially deadly system against the King's Indian and has the first thorough coverage of an aggressive system with surprise value.
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    Easy Guide to the Nge2 King's Indian
    Winning with the Hungarian Attack
    Catalog Code: B0045EM

    Regular Price: $18.95

    Special Price: $7.58


    Play the Open Games as Black
    What to Do When White Avoids the Ruy Lopez
    his book fills a gaping chasm in chess literature. For years, those who wish to take on the black side of the Ruy Lopez have had to muddle their way through against the variety of alternative openings at White's disposal. This book gives a choice of systems for Black, to counter anything White might try in order to avoid the Ruy Lopez - the Scotch, King's Gambit, Italian Game, Four Knights, etc.
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    Play the Open Games as Black
    What to Do When White Avoids the Ruy Lopez
    Catalog Code: B0015GB
    Our Price: $23.95

    Modern Defence
    The Modern Defence leads to sharp and dynamic positions from the very first few moves. Black concedes space in the center with a view to launching a counterattack based on his powerful bishop fianchetto. As leading grandmasters such as Alexei Shirov, Mikhail Gurevich and Jon Speelman himself have shown on numerous occasions, when it works, the Modern Defence is truly a spectacular weapon. This book will show you how to put it to use in your own games.
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    Modern Defence
    Catalog Code: B0165EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    The Meran System
    Unravels the Mysteries of a Rich and Complex Chess Opening
    The Meran is an opening rich in both strategy and tactics, making it ideal for players seeking to win with either colour. It occupies an important place in the repertoires of many of the world's top players, with Anand, Kramnik, Kasparov and Karpov regularly taking one side or the other.
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    The Meran System
    Unravels the Mysteries of a Rich and Complex Chess Opening
    Catalog Code: B0006GB

    Regular Price: $21.95

    Special Price: $8.78


    Improve Your Opening Play
    Grandmaster Chris Ward explains the important ideas behind every major opening, unravelling among others the secrets of the Sicilian, the mysteries of the Modern and the fundamentals of the French. He emphasizes the need to understand the key elements of each opening rather than simply memorize a series of complicated variations which leave you stranded if the opponent varies from the expected route.
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    Improve Your Opening Play
    Catalog Code: B0214EM

    Regular Price: $14.95

    Special Price: $5.98


    Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
    Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
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    Play the Nimzo-Bogo Indians - Winning Against 1. d4
    Catalog Code: CB0093CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    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

    Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
    Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
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    Beating the Ruy Lopez with the Fianchetto Variation
    Catalog Code: CB0087CD
    Our Price: $6.95

    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

    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

    Winning with 1. d4
    Winning with 1. d4
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    Winning with 1. d4
    Catalog Code: CB0111CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    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

    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

    The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
    The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
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    The Englund Gambit and the Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit Complex
    Catalog Code: CB0095CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    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

    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

    Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
    Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
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    Play the Sicilian Defense: Winning Against 1. e4
    Catalog Code: CB0089CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    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

    The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
    The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
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    The Aggressive Nimzowitsh Sicilian
    Catalog Code: CB0085CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    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

    Winning Against Flank Openings
    Winning Against Flank Openings
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    Winning Against Flank Openings
    Catalog Code: CB0060CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    The Modern Defense
    The Modern Defense
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    The Modern Defense
    Catalog Code: CB0109CD
    Our Price: $14.95

    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

    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

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