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 King's Indian
    A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Most Dynamic of Openings
    The King's Indian has always been one of the sharpest, most complex and popular openings that Black can play; it still provides the setting for many encounters at the elite level of Grandmaster chess. Straight from the start, Black fights for the initiative and in many variations, while White pursues material gains, it is Black who has the psychological advantage of trying checkmate the opponent's king.
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    Play the King's Indian
    A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Most Dynamic of Openings
    Catalog Code: B0290EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - Grunfeld
    The Grunfeld is an energetic and popular defense to queen's pawn openings and is a favorite of the world number one Garry Kasparov. From the start of the game Black allows White to build an apparently strong centre but then attacks it with all his forces. Play can become extremely sharp and theoretical and this opening very much appeals to dynamic players.
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    Starting Out - Grunfeld
    Catalog Code: B0274EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Tactics in the Chess Opening - VOLUME 1
    Sicilian Defence
    Every chess player loves to win, but nothing compares to winning with a flourish. How happy we are when the tactics work and we decide a game with a cunning trick, a devilish trap or a delightful coup de grace.
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    Tactics in the Chess Opening - VOLUME 1
    Sicilian Defence
    Catalog Code: B0001TITO

    Regular Price: $21.95

    Special Price: $8.78


    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK B
    The fourth thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, Volume B, brings an additional 104 pages of brand new material.
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    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK B
    Catalog Code: B0002ECO
    Our Price: $39.95

    Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 2
    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 2
    No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
    Catalog Code: B0002SOS
    Our Price: $21.95

    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK D
    The fourth thoroughly revised and updated edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Volume D, brings an additional 56 pages of brand new material on 1. d4 d5 & 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 followed by 3...d5: Queen's Gambit (Slav, QG Accepted, Orthodox, Tarrasch, Tartakower, etc.), Gruenfeld, Queen's Pawn, etc.
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    Encyclopedia of Chess Openings - BOOK D
    Catalog Code: B0004ECO
    Our Price: $39.95

    Starting Out - Queen's Indian
    The Queen's Indian is one of Blacks most dependable and respected defences to the queen's pawn opening. Is an established favourite amongst world-class grandmasters such as Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand, Michael Adams and Judit Polgar, not to mention Anatoly Karpov, who has been a loyal Queen's Indian supporter and theory developer for over three decades.
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    Starting Out - Queen's Indian
    Catalog Code: B0011EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Opening For White According to Anand 1. e4 - VOLUME III
    The third volume of the popular series "Opening for White according to Anand -1.e4" deals with the Caro Kann Defence. It has the reputation as the opening of the chess-academics. Capablanca, Botvinnik, Petrosian and Karpov - this list of great chess-champions that have been life-long devotees of the Caro-Kann Defence can be easily extended.
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    Opening For White According to Anand 1. e4 - VOLUME III
    Catalog Code: B0022EU
    Our Price: $28.95

    Controversial Samisch King's Indian
    The Samisch variation is commonly recognized as being the sharpest way of meeting the popular King's Indian Defence, although in its modern use by White, one is just as likely to see positional queenside play as any deadly assault on the black king. In this innovative opening book, Grandmaster Chris War takes a look at its transformation over time.
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    Controversial Samisch King's Indian
    Catalog Code: B0041BT
    Our Price: $9.95

    Two Knights Defence
    In this book, openings theoretician Jan Pinski guides the reader through both the well-trodden paths of the main lines plus the less fashionable side variations of this most complex opening. Using illustrative games, Pinski studies the key ideas and tactics for both Black and White.
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    Two Knights Defence
    Catalog Code: B0057EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Main Line Ruy Lopez
    The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game) is an extremely popular opening and one of the oldest in the history of chess. It has been played by virtually all the greats of the game, providing the battle scene for many world championship clashes involving the likes of Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. Now, for the first time in many years, Grandmaster Glenn Flear investigates the main line of the Lopez, outlining the crucial ideas and tactics for both White and Black.
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    Main Line Ruy Lopez
    Catalog Code: B0122EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    Offbeat King's Indian
    Lesser Known Tries to Counter this Most Popular of Defences
    The King's Indian is one of the most exciting and complex defences that black can employ against the queen's pawn opening. The main lines of the King's Indian are very sharp and tactical but they are also incredibly theoretical in nature it can be a full time job simply keeping up with the latest developments and fashion. So it is not surprising that many playing white choose to look elsewhere for something to counter this popular opening. In Offbeat King's Indian distinguished openings expert Krzysztof Panczyk studies unusual and less theoretical systems for white, ones that are tricky and are likely to throw the King's Indian player off his or her stride early on in the game. Variations investigated include lines with an early Bd3, ones with Nge2,l and ones involving a swift Bg5. By studying this new book, white players can arm themselves with a while new weaponry of lines against the King's Indian, while those playing Black can look closely for the recommended antidotes.
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    Offbeat King's Indian
    Lesser Known Tries to Counter this Most Popular of Defences
    Catalog Code: B0167EM

    Regular Price: $19.95

    Special Price: $7.98


    Scandinavian
    From a theoretical backwater to a fully blown main line opening, the rise of the Scandinavian Defence (1. e4 d5) has been nothing short of meteoric. Over the past fifteen years the Scandinavian has become more and more popular both at club and Grandmaster level. It even managed to obtain an ultimate seal of approval when Vishy Anand employed it in his World Championship match with Garry Kasparov!
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    Scandinavian
    Catalog Code: B0172EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    E.C.O. Busted
    Although E.C.O. is the Bible of modern opening theory, there have been numerous discoveries, both from tournament and postal play, since the latest editions. In these pages you will find hundreds of splendid opening traps, reversals, and pitfalls.
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    E.C.O. Busted
    Catalog Code: B0012HY
    Our Price: $20.95

    White To Play 1. e4 And Win
    Schiller delivers with this book with your first move being 1.e4. This book tells you how to: (1) Beat 1..e5 with the Bishop Opening with some transposition into the Scotch Game; (2) Against 1..c5 with the Closed Sicilian like Spassky; (3) Go after the Caro-Kann with the Exchange Variation, a favorite of Fischer's; (4) Beat the French with three different variations depending on what black does; (5) Play the aggressive "Push" Variation against the Alekhine's Defense; (6)The best line against the Franco-Indian; (7) Against the Modern and Pirc Defenses you will play the Grand Prix Attack; (8)Schiller has some surprises when black plays the Scandinavian Defense(1.e4 d5). Schiller gives a complete and exciting repertoire for all 1.e4 players!
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    White To Play 1. e4 And Win
    Catalog Code: CB0009CD
    Our Price: $6.95

    The Vienna Game and Gambit
    This book covers the Vienna Game and Vienna Gambit along with variations that transpose into the King's Gambit(such as improvements for white in the Steinitz Variation). Force your opponent into lines that you know and are familiar with after 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3, with a quick f4 frequently following. This is certainly an excellent choice for the attacking player!
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    The Vienna Game and Gambit
    Catalog Code: CB0010CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit
    In this Chess Openings for Hustlers Volume II the author looks at both the Accepted 3.exd6 and the Declined 3.Nf3 and 3.Bf4. The idea of this gambit is well worth the effort of the player who wants to learn an aggressive Black defense against 1.d4 where white doesn't control the flow of the game. The book contains 155 games divided into variations with light analysis played by a variety of players ranging from Master to class C. A player index has been provided which lists players grouped by "Class" to help the reader evaluate the games.
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    Blackburne-Hartlaub Gambit
    Catalog Code: CB0020CD
    Our Price: $4.95

    White Opening System: Stonewall Attack, Colle System and Torre Attack
    GM Soltis states: "Every chessplayer dreams of finding an opening that plays itself. After awhile the novice player learnes this is an impossible dream. There are, however, some universal systems of development that a player can adopt when he has the white pieces." By combining three aggressive, easy to understand openings, the author delivers. Not only does Soltis give you opening analysis and ideas, each chapter has Middlegame strategy.
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    White Opening System: Stonewall Attack, Colle System and Torre Attack
    Catalog Code: CB0028CD
    Our Price: $14.95

    2. c3 vs the Sicilian and the Smith Morra Gambit
    Part One:1.e4 c5 2.c3 has gained a wide following through the years. White enjoys the central space advantage conferred by a classical pawn center. With rapid piece development, White will get the advantage against anything Black can play. Part Two: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 and Black declines with 3..Nf6, or 3..d3, or 3..d5. We show you how one system transposes into another and when it can't. In all cases, White will obtain promising vistas for dynamic play.
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    2. c3 vs the Sicilian and the Smith Morra Gambit
    Catalog Code: CB0050CD
    Our Price: $6.95

    Winning with 1. f4
    With the Dutch Defense as Black having a revival at GM level, it is time for a rehabilitation of Bird's Opening 1.f4. The extra move White has makes a big difference. Soltis covers how White should play in: Part 1 :Black Doesn't Fianchetto His King's Bishop. Part 2: Black Plays Modern Systems Including ...g6. Part 3: From's Gambity(a hard gambit to meet - here is how GM's play against it). Part 4: Other Defenses Black May Play.
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    Winning with 1. f4
    Catalog Code: CB0059CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    Opening Ideas and Analysis - VOLUME 2
    Opening Ideas and Analysis - VOLUME 2
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    Opening Ideas and Analysis - VOLUME 2
    Catalog Code: CB0094CD
    Our Price: $9.95

    Romantic King's Gambit
    Romantic King's Gambit
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    Romantic King's Gambit
    Catalog Code: CB0110CD
    Our Price: $7.95

    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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