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.

    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.
    img

    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.
    img

    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.
    img

    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.
    img

    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.
    img

    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.
    img

    Improve Your Opening Play
    Catalog Code: B0214EM

    Regular Price: $14.95

    Special Price: $5.98


    Chess Opening - Traps and Zaps - VOLUME 1
    202 Openings Designed to Instruct Players of All Levels, Written by America's Leading Chess Writer
    In the first completely instructional book ever written on chess openings, National Master Bruce Pandolfini teaches players how to take charge of the game's crucial opening phase.
    img

    Chess Opening - Traps and Zaps - VOLUME 1
    202 Openings Designed to Instruct Players of All Levels, Written by America's Leading Chess Writer
    Catalog Code: B0008SS
    Our Price: $16.99

    Sicilian - Taimanov
    This modern variation goes 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6. It deals with all of the plans that both White and Black can choose. The author gives many suggestions for new lines of exploration, and gives exceptionally clear explanations of the basic strategies of the system. There are a number of illustratives games which show how the Taimanov strategies carry through to the middlegame and which will give you a genuine understanding of the system.
    img

    Sicilian - Taimanov
    Catalog Code: B0081BT
    Our Price: $19.95

    Dynamic White Openings
    It's time to change your White opening or at least have a second one to diversify your opening system. No longer are the openings in the book called "Irregular" because GM's and IM's are playing them. Covered are the dynamic 1.b4!, the aggressive Grob's Attack 1.g4!, the surprisingly excellent Queen's Knight Attack 1.Nc3!, slow stuff 1.e3 and 1.d3 and 1.a3, & the disreputable 1.h4 & other white first moves.
    img

    Dynamic White Openings
    Catalog Code: CB0016CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    Dynamic Black Defense
    Dynamic Black Defense
    img

    Dynamic Black Defense
    Catalog Code: CB0106CD
    Our Price: $4.95

lb