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.

    Classical Dutch
    The Classical Dutch is an ambitious and underrated defence to queen's pawn openings. With his first few moves Black creates an asymmetrical pawn structure which unbalances the position from a very early stage, allowing both white and black players to fight for the initiative.
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    Classical Dutch
    Catalog Code: B0300EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    Winning Chess Openings
    Learn 25 Essential Opening Strategies Today!
    This popular book has taught tens of thousands of beginning players the key concepts of the opening, the most crucial part of every chess game. You'll learn the best opening moves from both Black's and White's perspectives. More than twenty-five essential openings are shown: King's Gambit, Center Game, Scotch Game, Giucco Piano, Vienna Game, Bishop's Opening, Ruy Lopez, French, Caro-Kann, Sicilian, Alekhine, Pirc, Modern, Queen's Gambit, Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, Dutch, King's Indian, Benoni, English, Bird's, Reti's, and King's Indian Attack.
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    Winning Chess Openings
    Learn 25 Essential Opening Strategies Today!
    Catalog Code: B0024CZ
    Our Price: $9.95

    Gambit Chess Openings
    The Complete and Definitive Reference to Gambit Chess Openings
    Gambits, where one side sacrifices material for an advance in development, are the most exciting and popular openings in chess! This book contains every important gambit opening and variation ever played - more than two thousand opening strategies in all!
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    Gambit Chess Openings
    The Complete and Definitive Reference to Gambit Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0023CZ
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Nimzo-Indian
    The Nimzo-Indian is one of the soundest and most popular defences against 1 d4, offering Black the chance to unbalance the game early on and play for a win without undue risk. Advocates include virtually all of the world's top players, including Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand and Anatoly Karpov. In this revolutionary book, Grandmaster Chris Ward revisits the basic principles behind the Nimzo-Indian and its many variations.
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    Starting Out - Nimzo-Indian
    Catalog Code: B0023EM
    Our Price: $23.95

    Starting Out - The King's Indian
    The King's Indian is one of the most exciting defences in chess and is favoured by ambitious and aggressive players. At the highest level it has been a major weapon for World Champions Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher goes back to the basics of the King's Indian, studying the key principles of its many variations.
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    Starting Out - The King's Indian
    Catalog Code: B0038EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit
    The Queen's Gambit Declined is one of the most popular and fundamental chess openings of all time and it has been the battleground for countless world-class encounters throughout the history of chess. Adherents include a long list of World champions, including Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Kramnik.
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    Starting Out - Queen's Gambit
    Catalog Code: B0041EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Caro-Kann
    In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher goes back to the basics of the Caro-Kann, studying the key principles of its many variations. Throughout the book there is an abundance of notes, tips, warnings and exercises to help the improving player, while important strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.
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    Starting Out - Caro-Kann
    Catalog Code: B0043EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    The Grunfeld for the Attacking Player
    A Modern Guide to An Aggressive Chess Opening
    Grandmaster Bogdan Lilac provides a complete repertoire with the aggressive Grunfeld Defense, based around complete illustrative games. The Grunfeld has been a favorite of World Champions Fischer and Kasparov, and its young contemporary adherents include Vishwanathan Anand and Peter Leko.
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    The Grunfeld for the Attacking Player
    A Modern Guide to An Aggressive Chess Opening
    Catalog Code: B0049BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    Sicilian Kan
    The Sicilian Kan is one of the most flexible and easy to play variations of the entire Sicilian complex. In contrast to opening monsters such as the infamous Dragon and Najdorf Variations, Black players are not forced to memorize massive chunks of opening theory. Success in the Sicilian Kan is more dependent on understanding certain principles and a system of development.
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    Sicilian Kan
    Catalog Code: B0056EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    Meeting 1. d4
    This book is especially useful for players who have neither the time nor inclination to learn reams of the latest opening theory. Throughout this work, Aagaard & Lund delve into the strategies, ideas and tactics for Black, while also showing the possible traps and pitfalls.
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    Meeting 1. d4
    Catalog Code: B0064EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Grunfeld Defence
    The Grunfeld Defence is a dynamic and popular weapon for Black against queen's pawn openings. Former World Champion Bobby Fischer and current world number one Garry Kasparov head a long list of grandmasters that have utilized this opening with continued success.
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    Grunfeld Defence
    Catalog Code: B0257EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    E-BOOK - Starting Out - Caro-Kann
    In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher goes back to the basics of the Caro-Kann, studying the key principles of its many variations. Throughout the book there is an abundance of notes, tips, warnings and exercises to help the improving player, while important strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.
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    E-BOOK - Starting Out - Caro-Kann
    Catalog Code: E-B0043EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    Sicilian ...e6 and ...d6 Systems
    The variations of the Sicilian in which Black sets up a pawn centre with ...e6 and ...d6 have been popularized by such fighting players as Kasparov and Andersson. The play can become extremely sharp and many lines have been analyzed to move 20. This comprehensive work provides everything the modern tournament player needs to know about the Scheveningen and only a Grandmaster of the calibre of Kasparov can provide the strategy explanation necessary for an opening of this complexity.
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    Sicilian ...e6 and ...d6 Systems
    Catalog Code: B0013AC
    Our Price: $14.95

    Sicilian - Paulsen
    The Paulsen System of the Sicilian challenges one of the common perceptions of the Sicilian Defense: That there is no safe way to play the Sicilian. The Paulsen System is generally regarded as one of the most solid, safe ways to play the Sicilian against 1.e4, while also giving plenty of opportunities for counter-attack. This flexible system can allow Black to arrange his pieces in several different ways. Taimanov shows us how to handle each variation that White can throw at you, and gives many fragments of important games.
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    Sicilian - Paulsen
    Catalog Code: B0082BT
    Our Price: $19.95

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