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 37 to 66 of 66

    Sacrifices in the Sicilian
    The Sicilian Defense is the most exciting of all chess openings and the most popular at all levels of play. The attacking and tactical possibilities of the Sicilian are numerous. There are many sacrificial ideas that occur time and again in the Sicilian, and it is the task of this book to clarify and analyze them
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    Sacrifices in the Sicilian

    Catalog Code: B0070IS
    Our Price: $25.95

    Win With The Stonewall Dutch
    Rock Solid or Flexible - Your Choice!
    The Stonewall Dutch is a traditional favourite amongst club players, as it offers Black ready-made attacking plans on the kingside. As Grandmaster Bent Larsen has noted, the Dutch also has the tendency to 'bring out the coward' in opponents, giving it an added practical sting. However, up until the late 1980s, the Stonewall wasn't fully trusted at grandmaster level, despite its earlier use by Alekhine and Botvinnik. Black's attacking plans were too one-sided, and White's methods too well worked out.
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    Win With The Stonewall Dutch

    Rock Solid or Flexible - Your Choice!
    Catalog Code: B0137GB
    Our Price: $29.95

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 10
    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 10

    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0010SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    Beat the KID
    The King's Indian Defence is one of Black's most ambitious and popular replies to 1.d4 so White needs to be well prepared. Jan Markos shows the way with three separate repertoires for White. Each of the lines he explains has a different style, ranging from solidly positional to wildly attacking.
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    Beat the KID

    Catalog Code: B0003QT
    Our Price: $29.95

    The Black Lion
    The Chess Predator's Choice Against Both 1. e4 and 1. d4
    More than 85% of all chess games start with either 1.e4 or 1.d4. The Black Lion presents a flexible, logical and sensible way for Black to meet both of these moves. This robust, multipurpose opening system looks quiet, like a sleeping lion - hence the name. But when this predator is provoked, and the game heats up, Black eats its prey in an extremely swift and efficient way.
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    The Black Lion

    The Chess Predator's Choice Against Both 1. e4 and 1. d4
    Catalog Code: b0062NIC
    Our Price: $27.95

    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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    How to Play Against 1. e4

    Catalog Code: B0174EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Chess Openings for Black Explained
    A Complete Repertoire
    Chess Openings for Black, Explained gives you a complete repertoire of carefully selected, interrelated openings. Three-time U.S. champion and master teacher Lev Alburt, along with his grandmaster co-authors, provides everything you need to know to defend with confidence against each and every one of White's first moves.
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    Chess Openings for Black Explained

    A Complete Repertoire
    Catalog Code: B0009LV
    Our Price: $29.95

    Ten Ways to Succeed in the Opening
    First published in 2001 and recently reprinted in 2009 this book is one of three designed for young players. The other two are Ten Ways to Succeed in the Middle Game, and Ten Ways to Succeed in the Endgame.
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    Ten Ways to Succeed in the Opening

    Catalog Code: B0001PA
    Our Price: $9.95

    Play 2... Nf6 in the Sicilian
    Nimzowitsch-Rubinstein Variation
    On the map of modern chess theory there is a 'blank spot' - The Nimzowitsch-Rubinstein Variation of the Sicilian Defence (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6) Everyone has heard of it, but no one really knows anything about it. The literature devoted to this topic is extremely scanty. Two or three articles, a few brochures, one ancient monograph (in German) - and that's all. The book of international master Grigory Bogdanovisch fills this gap. The author, a recognized expert on the Variation, has summarized and fully systemized his many years of experience in the given field.
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    Play 2... Nf6 in the Sicilian

    Nimzowitsch-Rubinstein Variation
    Catalog Code: B0050EU
    Our Price: $28.95

    King's Gambit
    The present book by Nikolai Kalinichenko, an international grandmaster in correspondence play, gives a systematic analysis of the King's Gambit using more than 300 annotated games, classic and modern, providing the reader with a sound knowledge of all the standard variations, together with their typical strategic and tactical ideas.
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    King's Gambit

    Catalog Code: B0051EU
    Our Price: $28.95

    Starting Out - The Trompowsky
    The Trompowsky Attack is well known as an ambitious and aggressive opening. Initially an offbeat line favoured by club players, in recent history it has undergone somewhat of a transformation. Thanks to the efforts and innovations of Grandmasters such as Mickey Adams and Julian Hodgson, it has been fine-tuned into a powerful attacking weapon, and today it is seen as an important mainline opening in its own right.
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    Starting Out - The Trompowsky

    Catalog Code: B0296EM
    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

    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


    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

    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


    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

    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


    The Slav
    The Slav Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6) has been one of Black's most reliable defenses to the queen's pawn since its adoption by World Champions Alekhine and Euwe in the 1930s. Nowadays it is very popular both at grandmaster level (it is used regularly by Ivanchuk, Lautier and Short) and with club players. In this book, Grandmaster Matthew Sadler explains the strategy and tactics of this perennial favorite. Through the use of model games for both sides, the author provides a thorough grounding in the key ideas so readers can quickly and confidently start to use the Slav in their own games.
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    The Slav

    Catalog Code: B0113EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    The Complete Najdorf 6. Bg5
    The Definitive Guide to Fischer and Kasparov's Favorite Chess Opening
    The Najdorf Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6) is the most important, popular, and talked about opening in chess. Its name is synonymous with such luminaries as Tal, Fischer, and Kasparov.
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    The Complete Najdorf 6. Bg5

    The Definitive Guide to Fischer and Kasparov's Favorite Chess Opening
    Catalog Code: B0012BT
    Our Price: $26.95

    Leningrad Dutch
    Strategy and Tactics
    This book arms the reader with a dynamic counter to White's 1. d4 and includes up-to-date game references along with fresh analysis and numerous original suggestions. Many 1.d4 players have a secret dread for the Leningrad Dutch and rightly so! Discover why increasing numbers of serious players are turning to the Leningrad Dutch in answer to White's solid 1. d4.
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    Leningrad Dutch

    Strategy and Tactics
    Catalog Code: B0014HY
    Our Price: $9.95

    Beating the King's Indian and Benoni
    Shock Your Opponents with the Four Pawns Attack!
    It seems unfair that Black gets all the attacking chances in the normal lines of the King's Indian. Readers can now take a tip from the World's leading expert of sharp systems and shock their opponent with the Four Pawn Attack! Black has countless ways to go wrong, while White is risking little if well-prepared. Vaisser's hitherto unpublished analysis will give readers the edge they need to send Black's King to the guillotine.
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    Beating the King's Indian and Benoni

    Shock Your Opponents with the Four Pawns Attack!
    Catalog Code: B0051BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    The New Classical King's Indian
    This book focuses on the King's Indian variations that have undergone the most dramatic change in the 1990's: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0. The system with ..Na6 receives full coverage, together with the traditional main lines of 7..Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 followed by Ne1 or Nd2.
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    The New Classical King's Indian

    Catalog Code: B0067BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    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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    Queen's Gambit Accepted

    Catalog Code: B0178EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Caro-Kann Advance
    The Advance variation of the Caro-Kann (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5) is a highly aggressive method of countering one of Black's most solid defenses. White immediately seizes ground in the center and lays the basis of a middlegame attack. Over the past few years Alexei Shirov, Nigel Short, Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky have made major contribution to update the theory of this variation and their example has inspired thousands of club and tournament players to adopt it into their own repertoires. In this book, International Master Byron Jacobs explains the strategy and tactics of this highly fashionable variation. Through the use of model games for both sides, the author provides a thorough grounding in the key ideas, so that readers can quickly and confidently start to use the Advance Caro-Kann in their own games.
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    Caro-Kann Advance

    Catalog Code: B0180EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    Dutch Leningrad
    The Dutch Leningrad (1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6) is one of Black's most dynamic responses to the queen's pawn opening. From the first move, Black stakes a strong claim on the kingside, laying the groundwork for a potential attack on the white king. The Leningrad variation is a popular choice at club and tournament level as well as amongst grandmasters; it is a regular feature in the repertoires of Vassily Ivanchuk, Veselin Topalov and Mikhail Gurevich.
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    Dutch Leningrad

    Catalog Code: B0235EM

    Regular Price: $19.95

    Special Price: $7.98


    500 Sicilian Miniatures
    Sicilian miniatures of games 20 moves or less. They are arranged by Encyclopedia of Chess Openings classification system. Light notes are added at critical positions.
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    500 Sicilian Miniatures

    Catalog Code: CB0005XX
    Our Price: $9.95

    Nimzovich Attack: Norfolk Gambits
    This is Volume 1 in the author's new series Chess Openings For Hustlers. "You will find similar lines of attack and similar combination situations in several different lines. These can be either very useful (if you take the time to learn them) or very treacherous. The one thing the Norfolk Gambit should not do is bore you"-author. "Be warned: If you are a `bean counter' obsessed with saving pawns for an extended end-game, do not play these gambits! However, if you are willing to commit to an attack which will decimate the 'bean counters' of the chess world, this book is for you"- Phillip A. York.
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    Nimzovich Attack: Norfolk Gambits

    Catalog Code: CB0018CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    King's Indian Defense: Yugoslav Variation 6 ...c5
    There is no reason that the variation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 c5 fell out of fashion. Soltis proves this by giving you excellent analysis and strategy in this variation. He brings back a 1950's variation to surprise your opponents. This system has a bit of a Benoni feel to it by attacking white's center with 6..c5 instead of 6..e5. This should be called the Gligoric system since it was the veteran GM Svetozar Gligoric who first demonstrated Black's resources most successfully. This system is a dangerous surprise weapon in the King's Indian that can be employed at all levels.
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    King's Indian Defense: Yugoslav Variation 6 ...c5

    Catalog Code: CB0029CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    Winning with 1. c4
    Winning with 1. c4
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    Winning with 1. c4

    Catalog Code: CB0041CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    Black Defensive System for the Rest of Your Chess Career
    Many top flight chess players do well with an armory of different completely unrelated openings. But they are, as we said, top flight players. For the player who is stil learning, we propose an opening repertoire that forms an organic whole using Black's ..d5 and ..c6 in the Queen's Gambit Slav Defense and the Caro-Kann Defense. We give defenses to all other White openings using the same moves(such as Reti, English, King's Indian Attack, Catalan, etc..). The point of this book is to develop an opening system for playing the Black pieces. What we present is not just a series of random variations - which taken individually may be good - but a system that forms a cohesive whole based on common ideas.
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    Black Defensive System for the Rest of Your Chess Career

    Catalog Code: CB0078CD
    Our Price: $9.95

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