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

    The Veresov
    Surprise Your Opponents with the Tricky 2. Nc3!
    The Veresov could be the one for you! It's a surprisingly tricky system that, in the right hands, can be forged into a powerful attacking weapon. White forgoes the normal queen's pawn opening ideas in favor of speedy development of the queenside pieces. One advantage of this underrated line is that players with the black pieces are less likely to be familiar with all the subtleties here than in a more mainstream opening.
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    The Veresov
    Surprise Your Opponents with the Tricky 2. Nc3!
    Catalog Code: B0284EM

    Regular Price: $24.95

    Special Price: $9.98


    EBOOK - Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern
    The authors of these books are very skilled and experienced chess writers, who are used to writing for players of all levels and are renowned for their ability to explain ideas in a lucid and straightforward manner.
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    EBOOK - Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern
    Catalog Code: E-B0014EM
    Our Price: $19.95

    Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern
    The authors of these books are very skilled and experienced chess writers, who are used to writing for players of all levels and are renowned for their ability to explain ideas in a lucid and straightforward manner.
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    Starting Out: The Pirc/Modern
    Catalog Code: B0014EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Opening Developments
    School of Chess Excellence - VOLUME 4
    The fourth in Mark Dvoretsky's School of Chess Excellence series, this book analyzes opening problems that players may face in any game. As always, there are numerous examples to help illustrate the best choices to make for chess success.
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    Opening Developments
    School of Chess Excellence - VOLUME 4
    Catalog Code: B0004OE
    Our Price: $34.95

    Complete Defense to King Pawn Openings
    Win Against Any King Pawn Opening!
    Based on the powerful Caro-Kann, a favorite weapon of great players, you'll learn how to come right out of the gate and defend against 1.e4, the most popular first move in chess. This is a great beginner's book because readers need to learn just one strong opening system, and it can be used to combat all of White's 1.e4 openings.
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    Complete Defense to King Pawn Openings
    Win Against Any King Pawn Opening!
    Catalog Code: B0008CZ
    Our Price: $18.95

    Starting Out - Ruy Lopez
    Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of the Ruy Lopez.

    The Ruy Lopez is one of the most famous of all chess openings. It has a long and distinguished history and has been played by virtually all of the strongest Grandmasters: Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand - the list goes on!
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    Starting Out - Ruy Lopez
    Catalog Code: B0016EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire
    A User-Friendly Guide to Choosing and Planning Your Openings
    In this book, the first to focus on these issues, Steve Giddins provides common-sense guidance on one of the perennial problems facing chess-players. He tackles questions such as: whether to play main lines, offbeat openings or 'universal' systems; how to avoid being 'move-ordered'; how to use computers; if and when to depart from or change your repertoire.
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    How to Build Your Chess Opening Repertoire
    A User-Friendly Guide to Choosing and Planning Your Openings
    Catalog Code: B0019GB
    Our Price: $19.95

    Opening For White According to Anand 1. e4 - VOLUME II
    his volume is devoted to the main lines of one of the most popular and interesting openings in chess theory - the Ruy Lopez.
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    Opening For White According to Anand 1. e4 - VOLUME II
    Catalog Code: B0021EU
    Our Price: $31.95

    Unorthodox Chess Openings
    The Complete and Definitive Reference to Unorthodox Chess Openings
    This exciting guide to all the major unorthodox openings used by chess players, contains more than 1,500 contentious, unconventional, arrogant, and outright strange opening strategies. From their tricky tactical surprises to their bizarre names, these openings fly in the face of tradition. You'll meet such openings as the Orangutang, Halloween Gambit, Frankenstein-Dracula Variation, Double Duck, and even the Drunken King.
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    Unorthodox Chess Openings
    The Complete and Definitive Reference to Unorthodox Chess Openings
    Catalog Code: B0022CZ
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - English
    Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of the English Opening. The English is a sophisticated and popular opening system that is suitable for all types of players and can lead to both positional and tactical middlegames. Many of the world's top players, including Kasparov and Kramnik, include the English in their openings weaponry.
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    Starting Out - English
    Catalog Code: B0024EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    Starting Out - The French
    The French is one of Black's soundest defences to 1 e4 and is very popular at all levels of chess. Club players enjoy its super-solid structure, while at the top it's played by famous grandmasters such as Vishy Anand and the young Russian star Alexander Morozevich.
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    Starting Out - The French
    Catalog Code: B0039EM
    Our Price: $24.95

    The Sveshnikov Sicilian
    The Sveshnikov Sicilian is arguably the most dynamic line in the whole of the Sicilian Defence. Black takes on certain structural weaknesses but gains active piece play as compensation, which is very much in keeping with the modern style of play. Black is not content to equalize but from the very startsets out to wrest the advantage from his opponent's hands.
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    The Sveshnikov Sicilian
    Catalog Code: B0042BT
    Our Price: $21.95

    The Nimzo-Indian - 4. e3
    Comprehensive Coverage of the Long-Established Main Line of the Nimzo
    Ever since Nimzowitsch introduced his flexible, dynamic defence to the queen's pawn, debate has raged over White's best reply. Many variations have been in and out of fashion, but one line in particular has proved an enduring weapon - the sound and solid 4 e3 line, known as the Rubinstein Variation. The 4 e3 Nimzo is extraordinarily rich in strategy. All manner of different central pawn-structures can arise, such as the blocked centre characteristic of the Hübner Variation and a variety of IQP positions.
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    The Nimzo-Indian - 4. e3
    Comprehensive Coverage of the Long-Established Main Line of the Nimzo
    Catalog Code: B0078GB

    Regular Price: $23.95

    Special Price: $9.58


    Understanding the Leningrad Dutch
    An Experienced Chess Trainer's Guide to a Dynamic Opening System
    For many years, the Leningrad Dutch was viewed with some suspicion in view of the slight positional weaknesses created in Black's position. However, in the 1980s, dynamic new approaches were introduced by such players as Sergei Dolmatov, Evgeny Bareev, Mikhail Gurevich and especially Vladimir Malaniuk that changed the way people thought about the Leningrad Dutch. These players showed how an active approach could compensate for these defects, and offer Black excellent winning chances.
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    Understanding the Leningrad Dutch
    An Experienced Chess Trainer's Guide to a Dynamic Opening System
    Catalog Code: B0083GB
    Our Price: $21.95

    Winning Chess Openings
    An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess Openings from one of the World's Top Chess Players
    The two greatest challenges for beginning chess players are not only to survive the openings phase, but also to choose appropriate attack and defense formations in the process. WINNING CHESS OPENINGS shows you how to do both. In Yasser Seirawan's entertaining, easy-to-follow style, you're shown formations that can be used with other White or Black pieces.
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    Winning Chess Openings
    An Introduction to the Moves, Strategies, and Philosophy of Chess Openings from one of the World's Top Chess Players
    Catalog Code: B0194EM
    Our Price: $24.95

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