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.

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 5
    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.
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    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 5
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0005SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK A
    The fourth thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Volume A, brings an additional 104 pages of brand new material.
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    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK A
    Catalog Code: B0001ECO
    Our Price: $39.95

    Experts vs. The Sicilian
    Updated and Revised
    The Sicilian Defence is the most popular opening at all levels of tournament play from Linares to the local club championship. The Sicilian is played regularly by Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, Leko, Topalov, and Shirov - a.k.a. the best players in the world. In this book a multinational line-up of leading experts give recommendations against their own pet lines in the Sicilian Defence. This repertoire book recommends the critical main lines and reveals Black's greatest fears to you. Experts vs. the Sicilian is the no-nonsense opening repertoire for players of all strengths who want to teach the Sicilian players a lesson or two...
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    Experts vs. The Sicilian
    Updated and Revised
    Catalog Code: B0002QT
    Our Price: $27.95

    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK C
    The fifth thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, Volume C, brings an additional 104 pages of brand new material with games up to 2006.
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    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK C
    Catalog Code: B0003ECO
    Our Price: $39.95

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 4
    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 4
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0004SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    The Fearsome Four Pawns Attack
    The King's Indian has long been one of Black's sharpest defenses to 1. d4. The Fearsome Four Pawns Attack is a book that deals with one of the most aggressive systems against this popular defense. The logic of the system is quite simple: With f4 White stakes a maximal claim in the center, which he will follow up by an attack on the enemy king.
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    The Fearsome Four Pawns Attack
    Catalog Code: B0013RE

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Starting Out - Closed Sicilian
    The Closed Sicilian is an ideal weapon for players who wish for an aggressive way to attack the Sicilian but have neither the time nor the inclination to learn the seemingly endless mountains of opening theory associated with Open Sicilians. In the Closed Sicilian an awareness of the typical themes is far more important than memorising variations.
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    Starting Out - Closed Sicilian
    Catalog Code: B0015EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Sicilian Najdorf
    he Sicilian Najdorf is one of Black's sharpest and most popular lines against 1 e4. From the very start Black directs the game into asymmetrical positions in which he or she can play for the win without unjustified risk. For this reason the Najdorf has been a firm favourite amongst the very elite of world chess, including Garry Kasparov and, before him, Bobby Fischer. In Starting Out: Sicilian Najdorf Richard Palliser takes a fresh look at this famous opening.
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    Starting Out - Sicilian Najdorf
    Catalog Code: B0020EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Sicilian Schveningen
    The Scheveningen is an uncompromising and flexible variation of Black's most popular defence to 1 e4, the Sicilian. It's a firm favourite of the world's greatest ever chess player, Garry Kasparov, who used it many times in crucial games, including his world championship matches against Anatoly Karpov and Vishy Anand.
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    Starting Out - Sicilian Schveningen
    Catalog Code: B0021EM
    Our Price: $23.95

    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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    Starting Out - 1. e4
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player
    Catalog Code: B0026EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit Declined
    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. Neil McDonald goes back to the basics of the Queen's Gambit Declined, introducing the keymoves and ideas, and taking care to explain the reasoning behind them - something that is often neglected or taken for granted in other texts.
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    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit Declined
    Catalog Code: B0027EM
    Our Price: $23.95

    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit Accepted
    In Starting Out: Queen's Gambit Accepted Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik take a fresh look at this famous opening. The early moves and ideas are introduced and care is taken to explain the reasoning behind them, something that is often neglected or taken for granted. As with previous works in the popular Everyman Chess Starting Out series, the reader is helped throughout with a plethora of notes, tips and warnings highlighting the vital characteristics of the QGA and of opening play in general.
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    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit Accepted
    Catalog Code: B0028EM
    Our Price: $23.95

    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3 - VOLUME 1A
    A new and thorougly updated edition! Part 1A covers the Old Indian, Grunfeld Indian and King's Indian Defences (mainline but not 7...Nc6). Don't be mistaken: though the games start with 1.Nf3 in fact it covers the d2-d4 openings!
    Alexander Khalifman is famous for his groundbreaking series "Opening for White According to Kramnik", and "Opening for Black According to Anand" which have set new standards for opening books.
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    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3 - VOLUME 1A
    Catalog Code: B0032EU
    Our Price: $27.95

    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3 - VOLUME 1B
    A new and thorougly updated edition! Part 1A covers the Old Indian, Grunfeld Indian and King's Indian Defences (mainline but not 7...Nc6). Don't be mistaken: though the games start with 1.Nf3 in fact it covers the d2-d4 openings!

    Alexander Khalifman is famous for his groundbreaking series "Opening for White According to Kramnik", and "Opening for Black According to Anand" which have set new standards for opening books.
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    Opening For White According to Kramnik 1. Nf3 - VOLUME 1B
    Catalog Code: B0033EU
    Our Price: $27.95

    Starting Out - 1. d4
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player, Building and maintaining an opening repertoire can be a demanding task! For a start, there are an enormous number of different lines to choose from. There's a strong temptation amongst beginners and improving players to opt solely for tricky lines in order to snare unsuspecting opponents, but this approach has only short-term value. As you improve and your opponents become stronger, very often these crafty lines don't stand up to close scrutiny, and suddenly you're back to square one with no suitable opening weapons.
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    Starting Out - 1. d4
    A Reliable Repertoire for the Improving Player
    Catalog Code: B0044EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Chess Explain - The Sicilian Taimanov
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Chess Explained is a new series of books about chess openings. They are not theoretical works in the traditional sense, but more a series of lessons from a chess expert with extensive over-the-board experience with an opening. You will gain an understanding of the opening and the middlegames to which it leads, enabling you to find the right moves and plans in your own games.
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    Chess Explain - The Sicilian Taimanov
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0046GB
    Our Price: $19.95

    Chess Explained - The Classical Sicilian
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Chess Explained is a new series of books about chess openings. They are not theoretical works in the traditional sense, but more a series of lessons from a chess expert with extensive over-the-board experience with an opening. You will gain an understanding of the opening and the middlegames to which it leads, enabling you to find the right moves and plans in your own games.
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    Chess Explained - The Classical Sicilian
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0047GB
    Our Price: $19.95

    Play the Nimzo-Indian
    The Nimzo-Indian is one of Black's most universally popular and respectable answers to 1 d4. It could be said that no other opening allows Black to play for a win from such a sound positional basis, while its flexibility gives rise to a multitude of different positions rich in tactical and positional play.
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    Play the Nimzo-Indian
    Catalog Code: B0069EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Creative Chess Opening Preparation
    How to Seize the Initiative and Pose Novel Problems for the Opponent
    Grandmaster Eingorn is an chess opening trendsetter. Throughout his career, he has introduced many novel concepts in the openings, and some of the systems he has introduced have gone on to become absolute main lines, such as the Rb1 Exchange Grunfeld. Here he explains the methods by which he prepares his openings and works out new systems from scratch, and how readers can do the same.
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    Creative Chess Opening Preparation
    How to Seize the Initiative and Pose Novel Problems for the Opponent
    Catalog Code: B0071GB
    Our Price: $14.95

    Mastering the Chess Openings - VOLUME 1
    Unlock the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings
    For many chess-players, opening study is sheer hard work. It is difficult to know what is important and what is not, and when specific knowledge is vital, or when a more general understanding is sufficient. Tragically often, once the opening is over, a player won't know what plan to follow, or even understand why his pieces are on the squares on which they sit. John Watson seeks to help chess-players achieve a more holistic and insightful view of the openings.
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    Mastering the Chess Openings - VOLUME 1
    Unlock the Mysteries of the Modern Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0075GB
    Our Price: $29.95

    Play the Queen's Gambit
    Few would disagree that the Queen's Gambit is one of the most important openings in chess. It has a long and distinguished history and has been played by virtually all the strongest Grandmasters: Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Anatoly Karpov, Vishy Anand - the list goes on and on! From the very beginning White develops actively, takes the initiative and strives to dominate the center. Most agree that the Queen's Gambit is White's best chance for an opening advantage after 1. d4 d5.
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    Play the Queen's Gambit
    Catalog Code: B0076EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Beating the Fianchetto Defences
    A Challenging Repertoire Versus Five King's Fianchetto Defences
    Grivas provides a full and detailed repertoire for White against five important openings: the Grunfeld, King's Indian, Benoni, Benko and Modern. In each case, he has recommended a line in which he has a wealth of experience, and has played a significant personal role in developing over many years. The recommendations are geared towards posing Black unconventional problems: your opponents will not be able to churn out lengthy memorized variations, but will need to solve problems at the board in positions that are somewhat different in character from those normally reached in these openings.
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    Beating the Fianchetto Defences
    A Challenging Repertoire Versus Five King's Fianchetto Defences
    Catalog Code: B0081GB
    Our Price: $14.95

    Chess Explained - The English Opening
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Chess Explained is a new series of books about chess openings. They are not theoretical works in the traditional sense, but more a series of lessons from a chess expert with extensive over-the-board experience with an opening. You will gain an understanding of the 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 English Opening
    A New Approach to Understanding the Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0094GB
    Our Price: $19.95

    Beating the King's Indian and Grunfeld
    Dealing with the English, Reti, King's Indian Attack and other annoying systems? The King's Indian and the Grunfeld are two of Black's most popular answers to 1 d4; unsurprising given that they were long-time favourites of chess legends Garry Kasparov and, before him, Bobby Fischer. Brimming with complexity and dynamism, these two openings often leave those playing White scratching their heads wondering how to squeeze even the slightest of advantages out of the opening and, just as crucially, how to avoid becoming swamped in a morass of complicated theory.
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    Beating the King's Indian and Grunfeld
    Catalog Code: B0156EM

    Regular Price: $23.95

    Special Price: $9.58


    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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    Discovering Chess Openings
    Building a Repertoire From Basic Principles
    Catalog Code: B0159EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    French Advance
    The Advance Variation is a popular and direct way of meeting the ultra-solid French Defence. Very early on in the game White opts to fix the pawn structure and establishes a genuine space advantage, upon which he later hopes to mount a serious attack. This method of playing against the French Defence has become a firm favourite amongst uncompromising Grandmasters such as Alexei Shirov, England's Nigel Short and the rising star in Russia, Alexander Grischuk.In this book, opening expert Sam Collins explains the strategies and tactics of this dynamic opening, studying both the main lines as well as the more offbeat variations. Through the use of model games for both White and Black, he provides a thorough grounding in the key plans and ideas, so that readers can quickly and confidently begin to use the French Advance in their own games.
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    French Advance
    Catalog Code: B0162EM

    Regular Price: $23.95

    Special Price: $9.58


    Dangerous Weapons - Nimzo-Indian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    In this book, John Emms, Chris Ward and Richard Palliser team up to examine one of the most popular and respected openings at all levels of chess: the Nimzo-Indian. Instead of pursuing the well-trodden paths, they choose an original approach, concentrating on fresh or little-explored variations of the Nimzo, and 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 - Nimzo-Indian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0191EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    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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    Dangerous Weapons - Sicilian
    Dazzle Your Opponents!
    Catalog Code: B0192EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    How to Play the Chess Opening
    With keen appreciation of the amateur's usual limitations, International Grandmaster Eugene Znosko Borovsky explains the importance of rapid development of the pieces, occupation of the center, the relation of the opening to the general plan of the player, and significance of control of the center.
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    How to Play the Chess Opening
    Catalog Code: B0039DV
    Our Price: $7.95

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