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 41

    Play the Sicilian Kan
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black! The Kan is an ideal choice as an opening weapon against 1. e4, as it is one of the easiest variations of the Sicilian to learn and play. This is because, unlike some variations of the Sicilian, you don't need to memorize loads of opening theory in order to be successful.
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    Play the Sicilian Kan
    A Dynamic and Flexible Repertoire for Black
    Catalog Code: B0074EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    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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    Dangerous Weapons - Flank Openings
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0187EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    1. d4 - Grandmaster Repertoire 1 - VOLUME 1
    "Grandmaster Repertoire" is a new series of high quality chess books based on the main lines, written by strong grandmasters. The aim is to provide the reader with a complete repertoire at a level good enough for elite tournaments, and certainly also for the club championship.
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    1. d4 - Grandmaster Repertoire 1 - VOLUME 1
    Catalog Code: B0026QT
    Our Price: $29.95

    The Berlin Wall
    The Berlin variation of the Spanish Opening is one of the best and most popular openings among world-class chess players because there are relatively few forcing lines. Black can play a completely sound chess opening based on understanding, rather than memorising theory.
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    The Berlin Wall
    Catalog Code: B0019QT
    Our Price: $29.95

    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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    How to Beat the French Defence
    The Essential Guide to the Tarrasch
    Catalog Code: B0239EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    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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    Starting Out - c3 Sicilian
    Catalog Code: B0017EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    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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    Starting Out - D-Pawn Attacks
    The Colle-Zukertort, Barry and 150 Attacks
    Catalog Code: B0036EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Mastering the Chess Openings - VOLUME 3
    Flank Openings, Practical Play and General Topics
    In this highly-acclaimed and popular series, John Watson helps chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings. He explains not only the ideas and strategies behind specific openings, but also the interconnections of chess openings taken as a whole. By presenting the common threads that underlie opening play, Watson provides a permanent basis for playing openings of any type.
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    Mastering the Chess Openings - VOLUME 3
    Flank Openings, Practical Play and General Topics
    Catalog Code: B0055GB
    Our Price: $29.95

    Play 1.b3
    The Nimzo-Larsen Attack - A Friend for Life
    The popularity of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack is largely based on its surprise value, but in fact 1.b3 is one of White's more logical first moves, since by immediately developing his queen's bishop, White aims at undermining the black centre.
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    Play 1.b3
    The Nimzo-Larsen Attack - A Friend for Life
    Catalog Code: B0001NIC
    Our Price: $26.95

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 9
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Readers of this series can ignore large areas of the ever expanding chess opening theory. They can concentrate on these surprising ideas, because SOS variations deviate very early from the regular lines in mainstream openings. Ideal for players who don't have enough time to keep abreast with main line theory. Appears twice a year. Ready-to-go chess opening ideas.
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    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 9
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0009SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    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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    Fighting the Anti-King's Indian
    How to Handle White's Tricky Ways of Avoiding the Main Lines
    Catalog Code: B0158EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Chess from Morphy to Botvinnik
    A Century of Chess Evolution
    This book is one of the great classics of chess literature. The author, Imre Konig, was an International Master of Chess and a great analyst as well as an entertaining writer. He describes the development of chess opening theory and discusses lines of play no longer in vogue but which remain powerful weapons for the practical tournament player.This book was originally published in 1950 as "Chess from Morphy to Botwinnik".
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    Chess from Morphy to Botvinnik
    A Century of Chess Evolution
    Catalog Code: B0049IS
    Our Price: $18.95

    Starting Out - The Modern
    The Modern Defence is a dynamic, ambitious and universal opening, one that can be used against virtually every system White can play. Black's provocative strategy is based upon allowing White to construct an imposing pawn centre in the anticipation that a well-timed strike will bring about its downfall.
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    Starting Out - The Modern
    Catalog Code: B0002EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - Benoni and Benko
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    In this book, four renowned opening experts get together to take a revolutionary look at the Benoni, the Benko and all their associated variations. Instead of traveling down well-trodden and analyzed paths, they concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations, selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colors. 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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    Dangerous Weapons - Benoni and Benko
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0193EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    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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    Play the Slav
    Catalog Code: B0072EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    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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    Greatest Ever Chess Opening Ideas
    Catalog Code: B0081EM

    Regular Price: $25.95

    Special Price: $10.38


    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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    Play 1. b4
    Shock Your Opponents with the Sokolsky
    Catalog Code: B0075EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Handbuch Des Schachspiels - GERMAN EDITION
    This is probably the most famous chess book ever written and is certainly the most influential chess book ever written.Paul Rudolf von Bilguer (21 September 1815 - 16 September 1840) was a German chess master and chess theoretician from Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
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    Handbuch Des Schachspiels - GERMAN EDITION
    Catalog Code: B0034IS
    Our Price: $39.95

    Dangerous Weapons - The King's Indian
    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!
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    Dangerous Weapons - The King's Indian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0266EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    222 Opening Traps After 1. d4
    Traps lurk in every stage of a chess game, but they occur especially often in the opening. In this instructional volume, the two internationally recognized masters of the game cover the traps that can be expected after the double advance of the white d-pawn. For every possible opening after 1.d4. including the Queen's Gambit or the King's Indian Defense - there are explanatory texts detailing the most typical trap motifs.
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    222 Opening Traps After 1. d4
    Catalog Code: B0010OE
    Our Price: $29.95

    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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    Dangerous Weapons - 1. e4 e5
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0189EM
    Our Price: $25.95

    Modern Chess Openings - 15TH EDITION
    Completed Revised and Updated
    Modern Chess Openings is the best and most trusted tool for serious chess players on the market. First published over a half-century ago, this is a completely revised and updated edition of the book that has been the standard English language reference on chess openings.
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    Modern Chess Openings - 15TH EDITION
    Completed Revised and Updated
    Catalog Code: B0013RH
    Our Price: $29.95

    Forcing Chess Moves
    The Key to Better Calculation
    This rich book on chess tactics proposes a revolutionary method for finding winning moves. Charles Hertan has made an astonishing discovery: the failure to consider key moves is often due to human bias. Your brain tends to disregard many winning moves because they are counter-intuitive or look unnatural.
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    Forcing Chess Moves
    The Key to Better Calculation
    Catalog Code: B0085NIC
    Our Price: $28.95

    Starting Out - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
    In this book Gawain Jones, one of the world' leading experts on the Grand Prix Attack, provides everything you need to know about this opening. Using illustrative games and drawing upon his own wealth of experience, he introduces the key moves and ideas for both sides, taking care to explain the reasoning behind them - something that has often been neglected or taken for granted.
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    Starting Out - Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
    Catalog Code: B0022EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Dangerous Weapons - Queen's Gambit
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Are you tired of playing the same old openings time and time again? Fed up with constantly having to keep up with modern chess theory? Or perhaps you simply wish to play something new and inspiring, but cannot decide between the numerous options available? Don't despair - help is at hand!

    In Dangerous Weapons: The Queen's Gambit, opening experts Richard Palliser, Glenn Flear and Chris Ward team up to investigate one of the most popular openings in chess history, but in a revolutionary way. They concentrate on little-explored and fun-to-play variations of the Queen's Gambit, 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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    Dangerous Weapons - Queen's Gambit
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0188EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Beating The Open Games
    In this book Marin reveals his own opening repertoire, which he prepared for high-level international competition. But besides giving concrete answers to any worries players might have about facing the Open Games, Marin uses his renowned writing skills to lucidly convey the main strategic ideas.
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    Beating The Open Games
    Catalog Code: B0001QT
    Our Price: $29.95

    Chess Explained - The Nimzo-Indian
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Chess Explained books provide an understanding of an opening and the middlegames to which it leads, enabling you to find the right moves and plans in your own games. It is as if you were sitting at the board with a chess coach answering your questions about the plans for both sides, the ideas behind particular moves, and what specific knowledge you need to have.
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    Chess Explained - The Nimzo-Indian
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0092GB
    Our Price: $23.95

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 8
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Readers of this series can ignore large areas of the ever expanding chess opening theory. They can concentrate on these surprising ideas, because SOS variations deviate very early from the regular lines in mainstream openings. Ideal for players who don't have enough time to keep abreast with main line theory. Appears twice a year. Ready-to-go chess opening ideas."
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    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 8
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0008SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    Play the Semi-Slav
    The Semi-Slav is one of the most popular replies to 1.d4, especially in top level chess

    American IM and theoretical expert David Vigorito provides a full repertoire for Black with two options against the main lines. If you want to play this topical opening you cannot do without this book.
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    Play the Semi-Slav
    Catalog Code: B0010QT
    Our Price: $29.95

    Chess Explained - The French
    Two Experts Explain the Workings of a Profound Opening Complex
    The French Defence is one of the most important chess openings. It's qualities are such that it appeals to a wide range of chess temperaments: it is solid yet uncompromising, and with a variety of chaotic variations to appeal to the most bloodthirsty of players, but also offering more tranquil lines to those seeking a quieter existence. While it is hard for White to avoid at least some imbalance in the position, he also has a wide choice. In some of the most critical lines, he accepts major structural weaknesses in return for piece-play and dynamic chances, while he can also seek to establish a modest space advantage without such heavy positional commitments.
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    Chess Explained - The French
    Two Experts Explain the Workings of a Profound Opening Complex
    Catalog Code: B0122GB
    Our Price: $23.95

    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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    Play the English
    An Active Opening Repertorie for White
    Catalog Code: B0073EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK E
    The fourth thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Volume E, brings an additional 144 pages of brand new material with games up to 2008.
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    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK E
    Catalog Code: B0005ECO
    Our Price: $49.95

    Easiest Sicilian
    The book presents a Black repertoire with 1. e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6, based on the most aggressive Sveshnikov lines. It also covers The Rossolimo (3 Bb5) and Alapin (3 c3). It's written by GM Atanas Kolev (author of the hugely popular "The Sharpest Sicilian") and young Macedonian GM Trajko Nedev who acted as his sparring partner.
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    Easiest Sicilian
    Catalog Code: B0009EU
    Our Price: $29.95

    The Fabulous Budapest Gambit
    Much More Than Just a Sharp Weapon
    The Fabulous Budapest Gambit does not shower you with long computer-generated variations, but provides crystal-clear insights into the wide spectrum of this opening, explaining the plans for both White and Black.

    Moskalenko's lively style will infect you and encourage you to start playing this opening which is a great weapon at any level, from club player to grandmaster.
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    The Fabulous Budapest Gambit
    Much More Than Just a Sharp Weapon
    Catalog Code: B0040NIC
    Our Price: $24.95

    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

    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3-II - 2nd
    This volume covers the Black Knights, Tango and Romanishin Variation, Queen's Indian English, Hedgehog Defence English, Double Fianchetto Defence, English without Nc6 and Semi-Tarrasch Defence.
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    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3-II - 2nd
    Catalog Code: B0031EU
    Our Price: $31.95

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