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.

    Sveshnikov Sicilian
    The Sveshnikov variation of the Sicilian Defense leads to dynamic positions with free piece play and provides enterprising players with the type of active game on which they can thrive. It became fashionable in the 1970s under the influence of Evgeny Sveshnikov and other grandmasters from Chelyabinsk, and has remained at the cutting edge of opening theory ever since. In recent years it has been a favorite of the exciting young stars Vladimir Kramnik and Alexei Shirov, and of the author himself, all of whom have introduced important new ideas.
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    Sveshnikov Sicilian

    Catalog Code: B0209EM

    Regular Price: $19.95

    Special Price: $7.98


    New Ideas in the Sveshnikov Sicilian
    The Sicilian Defence features many dramatic variations, but for sheer violence, few can equal the Sveshnikov. Black aims for maximum piece activity at the cost of a shattered pawn structure. Black's aim is to seize the initiative, regardless of the cost. If he is successful, then the pawns will look after themselves. On the other hand, white is looking to use black's weaknesses as spring-boards for a ferocious attack of his own.
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    New Ideas in the Sveshnikov Sicilian

    Catalog Code: B0045BT

    Regular Price: $9.95

    Special Price: $3.98


    Beating the Anti-King's Indian
    This book provides a complete repertoire for King's Indian players against all of white's attempts to avoid the main lines. How to defuse attacking systems such as the Four Pawns. Aggressive lines against Exchange Variations. Recommended psychology against unambitious opponents
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    Beating the Anti-King's Indian

    Catalog Code: B0050BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    The Fianchetto King's Indian
    This is White's fianchetto against the King's Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3. An ideal choice for those who want to deny King's Indian players their usual attacking plans. White's harmonious scheme of development, envisaging strong pressure against Black's queenside, has appealed to many of the all-time greats - Alekhine, Botvinnik, Karpov, and Kasparov.
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    The Fianchetto King's Indian

    Catalog Code: B0063BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    Understanding the Spanish
    Understanding an opening is more important the knowing a mass of variations. For no opening is this more true than for the Spanish. The most famous of chess openings leads to a deep strategic maneuvering battle. Experienced GM's seem almost clairvoyant when handling the positions. It is not a sixth sense, but a knowledge of the typical maneuvers and themes that enable them to have their pieces where they need them, when they need them. This book provides a complete course in helping the reader to understand those themes.
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    Understanding the Spanish

    Catalog Code: B0070BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Player
    The average club or tournament player has little time for an exhaustive study of opening theory, but does need to obtain a satisfactory middle-game position. This work is intended to provide all he needs to know to reach interesting and sharp positions which offer good prospects for the imaginative player. The authors give one line against each popular variation, with particular care being taken to choose systems which will suit the attacking player's style.
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    An Opening Repertoire for the Attacking Player

    Catalog Code: B0113BT
    Our Price: $12.95

    An Opening Repertoire For the Attacking Player
    One of the hardest tasks competitive chess players face is the development of an opening repertoire suited to their own style of play. In this book, Grandmaster Gufeld makes the job easier by providing an ideal framework for a practical opening repertoire, specifically tailored for those who relish attacking play.
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    An Opening Repertoire For the Attacking Player

    Catalog Code: B0265EM
    Our Price: $17.95

    Inside Chess Opening Novelties: KID Bayonet Attack
    White attacks the Queenside with 9.b4 in the Classical Variation of the King's Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7. The Introduction explains what is happening, then each of ten chapters has a short comment on theory. There is a total of 200 games with the main ones having notes.
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    Inside Chess Opening Novelties: KID Bayonet Attack

    Catalog Code: CB0003XX
    Our Price: $9.95

    Chess Openings Lexicon
    If you're looking for an easy-to-use guide for identifying, classifying and describing all of the Chess openings and their variations, look no further than this book!!

    When it comes to the chess openings, most chess players are completely confused by the endless number of openings and their variations.
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    Chess Openings Lexicon

    Catalog Code: CB0017CD
    Our Price: $6.95

    The Anti-Meran Botvinnik
    Recent analysis and forgotten ideas on this Slav Defense variation where White plays 5.Bg5 and a later sac 9.Nxg5. Any 1.d4 player who hopes to fight for an advantage against the otherwise solid Semi-Slav must be prepared from both sides of the board.
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    The Anti-Meran Botvinnik

    Catalog Code: CB0017XX
    Our Price: $9.95

    The Fighting Fajarowicz
    The Budapest, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5, is really a counterattack rather than a defense. It appeals to players who like to challenge White for the initiative early in the game. This particularly applies to the Fajarowicz Variation, 3.dxe4 Ne4, in which(by contrast with the 3..Ng4 main line of the Budapest) Black puts more emphasis on fighting for key squares than on seeking the early recapture of the pawn he has given up. This book contains 3 different sections: 1)Ideas for black to aim for and areas to avoid; 2)A 12 chapter Analysis section(including one with explanation on what to do if white avoids the Fajarowicz on move 3; and 3)A Complete Games section with well over 300 games ranging from unannotated to lightly annotated for you to study.
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    The Fighting Fajarowicz

    Catalog Code: CB0019CD
    Our Price: $7.95

    The Dynamic Philidor Counter-Gambit
    Black defends his King's pawn before proceding with similar play as in the Greco Counter-Gambit. Suddenly White does not have positional play against a Philidor Defense, but is thrown into tactical complications of this gambit. You, as Black, will know what to do while your opponent eats time on his clock trying, repeat trying, to find his way. Black is playing to win.
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    The Dynamic Philidor Counter-Gambit

    Catalog Code: CB0068CD
    Our Price: $5.95

    Winning with the Giuoco Piano and the Max Lange Attack
    here are 30 important theoretical revisions in this 2nd edition. Nine chapters cover 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4. Learn both a positional and a dynamic attacking weapon to shatter your opponents' King's pawn defenses.
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    Winning with the Giuoco Piano and the Max Lange Attack

    Catalog Code: CB0070CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    How to Play the Torre Attack - Second, Thoroughly Revised Edition
    White plays 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 followed by Bg5. The Torre Attack is a very flexible opening employed by white which involves quick development and fight for control of the e4 square. A standard setup would involve placing the queen's knight on d2, light-squared bishop to d3, king's rook to e1 after a quick castling, and pawn to e3 or e4. However, there is a flexibility that allows for many different setups, depending on the strategic path that the white player wishes to employ and black's setup. This flexible, dynamic system has been employed by virtually every top GM at some point in their career, even at the World Championship match level. Schiller shows why this opening system should be part of every player's repertoire.
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    How to Play the Torre Attack - Second, Thoroughly Revised Edition

    Catalog Code: CB0075CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights
    Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights
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    Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights

    Catalog Code: CB0096CD
    Our Price: $7.95

    More Chess Openings - Traps and Zaps - VOLUME 2
    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.
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    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.
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    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."
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    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.
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    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.
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    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!
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    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.
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    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."
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    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
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    Max Lange Attack and the Anti-Max Lange

    Catalog Code: CB0061CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    Beating the English Opening
    Beating the English Opening
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    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
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    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.
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    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!
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    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.
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    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.
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    The Baltic Defense to the Queen's Gambit

    Catalog Code: CB0082CD
    Our Price: $7.95

    The Fighting French
    The Fighting French
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    The Fighting French

    Catalog Code: CB0104CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit
    How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit
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    How to Play Against the Staunton Gambit

    Catalog Code: CB0108CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    Winning with the Pirc
    The Pirc Defense is back in favor 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 followed by 3..g6. The problem of Black's counterplay has been solved. You must be ready to play Black's thrust in the center with the popular ..e5. Then there are other plans depending on what White does. Against some setups Black must counter with ..c5, then at other times play ..c6 followed by ..b5. We give you that analysis so you can set back and hope someone plays 1.e4 against you.
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    Winning with the Pirc

    Catalog Code: CB0117CD
    Our Price: $8.95

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