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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.
Bird's Opening
Coverage of an Underrated and Dynamic Choice for White
Coverage of an Underrated and Dynamic Choice for White
Bird's Opening is an underrated and dynamic choice for White that immediately directs the game into relatively unexplored territory, setting Black players early problems and forcing them to think for themselves rather than having the luxury of relying on the theory of more mainstream openings. It's also a very flexible option that can lead to both sharp gambit play, such as the notorious From's Gambit, as well as quieter positional lines.
Bird's Opening
Coverage of an Underrated and Dynamic Choice for White
Catalog Code: B0278EM
Our Price: $23.95
Starting Out - Benoni Systems
Including the Schmidt Benoni, the Czech Benoni and the Benko Gambit
Including the Schmidt Benoni, the Czech Benoni and the Benko Gambit
Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of Benoni Systems. This book is a study of all the crucial Benoni systems apart from the Modern Benoni. It presents diverse and practical options against the queen's pawn opening for dynamic, tactical players and solid, positional players alike. Included are such daring defenses as the controversial Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit and the Benko Gambit, a favorite with uncompromising Grandmasters such as Veselin Topalov and Vassily Ivanchuk.
Starting Out - Benoni Systems
Including the Schmidt Benoni, the Czech Benoni and the Benko Gambit
Catalog Code: B0298EM
Our Price: $24.95
Starting Out - King's Indian Attack
The King's Indian Attack was a firm favourite of the legendary Bobby Fischer, and more recently it has been utilised with great success by world-class Grandmasters such as Alexander Morozevich. The renowned chess coach Mark Dvoretsky regards the King's Indian Attack as a perfect weapon on which to base an opening repertoire.
Starting Out - King's Indian Attack
Catalog Code: B0003EM
Our Price: $24.95
Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 3
No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
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.
Secrets of Opening Surprises - VOLUME 3
No Time to Study Opening Theory? Shock Your Opponent with an SOS!
Catalog Code: B0003SOS
Our Price: $21.95
Starting Out - Slav and Semi-Slav
The very closely linked Slav and Semi-Slav Defences are two of the most popular and combative openings that Black can play against the Queen's Gambit. They have provided the battleground for thousands of exciting encounters between the world's chess elite, including Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Alexei Shirov and Alexander Morozevich.
Starting Out - Slav and Semi-Slav
Catalog Code: B0004EM
Our Price: $24.95
Starting Out - Dutch Defence
The Dutch Defence is an ambitious and underrated counter to the queen's pawn opening. With his very first move Black creates an asymmetrical pawn structure, thus unbalancing the position from a very early stage and allowing both White and Black players to fight for the initiative. Black also has many options within the Dutch Defence, from the ultra-solid Stonewall formation through to the fluid Classical System and the dynamic Leningrad Variation.
Starting Out - Dutch Defence
Catalog Code: B0006EM
Our Price: $24.95
Challenging the Grunfeld
The young Scottish IM delivers a profound yet entertaining survey of the statistically most dangerous line against the Grunfeld Defence: the Modern Exchange Variation with 8.Rb1. Dearing has achieved the very difficult balance between analytical depth and general explanation which is seldom achieved even by seasoned writers.
Challenging the Grunfeld
Catalog Code: B0011QT
Our Price: $24.95
Starting Out - Alekhine Defence
Alekhine's Defence is a sharp and controversial opening in which Black attacks from the very first move, provoking White into lunging forward in the centre. White is often able to construct an impressively large central pawn formation, but Black's hope is that this becomes over-stretched and disintegrates in the face of a vicious counterattack. Unsurprisingly, Alekhine's Defence has always been a favourite amongst uncompromising players such as Fischer and Alekhine himself, while more recently it's been utilised by the likes of Ivanchuk and Short.
Starting Out - Alekhine Defence
Catalog Code: B0012EM
Our Price: $24.95
Spanish Exchange Variation
A Fischer Favorite - White Repertoire for Tournament Players
A Fischer Favorite - White Repertoire for Tournament Players
The Spanish Exchange Variation lets you play one of the major chess openings, the Ruy Lopez, without the risk of drowning in the huge flow of information now available to the modern chess-player. White's play in this opening is often very thematic, thus an understanding of the typical positions is more important than concrete knowledge of variations.
Spanish Exchange Variation
A Fischer Favorite - White Repertoire for Tournament Players
Catalog Code: B0012OE
Our Price: $29.95
Win with the London System
Dynamic New Approaches to Make Your Opponents Crumble!
Dynamic New Approaches to Make Your Opponents Crumble!
The London System is a perennial favorite of club players, as it is a very sound and solid system with a real practical sting. The authors of this new book seek to maximize this sting in two principal ways.
Win with the London System
Dynamic New Approaches to Make Your Opponents Crumble!
Catalog Code: B0014GB
Our Price: $25.95
Leningrad System
A Complete Weapon Against 1. d4
A Complete Weapon Against 1. d4
The Leningrad System is one of the sharpest and most interesting replies to 1. d4. Since this typical set-up is also playable against the flank openings 1. c4 and 1. Nf3, it provides the Black player with a genuine universal weapon.
Leningrad System
A Complete Weapon Against 1. d4
Catalog Code: B0017OE
Our Price: $34.95
First Chess Openings
The Easiest Introduction to Openings
The Easiest Introduction to Openings
This great beginning book shows players how to confidently start out a chess game with solid near-foolproof openings. Easy-to-read and targeted to novice and new chess player, the oversized format is filled with large diagrams, clear explanations, and ideas and concepts that are easy for new players.
First Chess Openings
The Easiest Introduction to Openings
Catalog Code: B0018CZ
Our Price: $12.95
Tiger's Modern
In this book Swedish grandmaster Tiger Hillarp Persson presents his own favourite defence against 1.e4, the Modern Defence with a6. With his trademark laidback approach, he explains the different White replies to his system. His repertoire is based on deep understanding, common themes, and interesting games, rather than simply theory to be memorized.
Tiger's Modern
Catalog Code: B0021QT
Our Price: $24.95
Scotch Game Explained
Used to brilliant effect by Garry Kasparov and numerous imitators, the Scotch Game is one of the most popular openings among today's club players. The Scotch Game Explained, unlike most openings books, offers a back-to-basics approach tailored to novices and intermediate player
Scotch Game Explained
Catalog Code: B0030BT
Our Price: $21.95
Sicilian Bb5 Revealed
The Sicilian Bb5 is the most popular and successful Anti-Sicilian variation. Vassily Ivanchuk used it to score a stunning win against Gary Kasparov at Linares in 1991. This book provides full coverage of both 2...d6 3. Bb5+ and 2...Nc6 3.Bb5. It shows you how to implement in your own games the ideas that have worked so successfully at the highest level.
Sicilian Bb5 Revealed
Catalog Code: B0031BT
Our Price: $21.95
Starting Out - Scotch Game
The Scotch Game is one of the oldest openings in chess and has a great history, but it was catapulted back into the limelight due to the enterprise of World Champion Garry Kasparov, who completely rejuvenated the opening with an abundance of original ideas for White.
Starting Out - Scotch Game
Catalog Code: B0037EM
Our Price: $24.95
Starting Out - Sicilian Dragon
In Starting Out: The Sicilian Dragon Andrew Martin studies this famous opening in a simplistic way, introducing the crucial initial moves and ideas and taking care to explain the reasoning behind them, something that has sometimes been 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 Sicilian Dragon and of opening play in general.
Starting Out - Sicilian Dragon
Catalog Code: B0040EM
Our Price: $24.95
A Complete Guide to the Grivas Sicilian
4... Qb6 - A Subtle and Reliable System for Black Explained in Detail
4... Qb6 - A Subtle and Reliable System for Black Explained in Detail
This book is in every way a definitive guide: Efstratios Grivas provides the inside story on a variation of the Sicilian Defence that he has worked for more than 20 years to perfect, and which rightly bears his name. The Grivas Sicilian (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qb6) has proved itself sound and reliable in practice, but is also far less well investigated than most Sicilian systems.
A Complete Guide to the Grivas Sicilian
4... Qb6 - A Subtle and Reliable System for Black Explained in Detail
Catalog Code: B0052GB
Regular Price: $23.95
Special Price: $9.58
Play 1. e4 e5
A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Open Games
A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Open Games
Play 1 e4 e5! Nigel Davies provides a complete answer to this perennial problem by offering a concise and practical repertoire for the Black player, whilst crucially including a dependable defence to the Ruy Lopez - White's most popular attacking try in the Open Games. Davies is the perfect choice for this subject, having been battle-hardened by years of international competition in these openings.
Play 1. e4 e5
A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Open Games
Catalog Code: B0068EM
Our Price: $24.95
Catastrophe in the Opening
There are not too many feelings more satisfying in chess than winning very quickly by cleverly snaring an opponent in an opening trap. Conversely, all chess players, even budding World Champions, have experienced the utter humiliation of losing in exactly the same manner! In this entertaining and instructive book, Grandmaster James Plaskett presents a wealth of illustrative games that contain disasters in the crucial opening phase of the game, where for one reason or another the battle is concluded prematurely.
Catastrophe in the Opening
Catalog Code: B0104EM
Regular Price: $23.95
Special Price: $9.58
Offbeat Nimzo-Indian
A Selection of Aggressive Anti-Nimzo Lines including 4. a3, 4. f3 and 4. Bg5
A Selection of Aggressive Anti-Nimzo Lines including 4. a3, 4. f3 and 4. Bg5
The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of Black's most reliable ways of meeting the queen's pawn opening. It's popular at all levels of chess and a constant source of anxiety for White players. How can White find a worthwhile line against this incredibly firm defence? How can White set his Nimzo opponent difficult tasks from the outset? Perhaps it's time to look somewhere different from the well-trodden main lines.
Offbeat Nimzo-Indian
A Selection of Aggressive Anti-Nimzo Lines including 4. a3, 4. f3 and 4. Bg5
Catalog Code: B0130EM
Regular Price: $19.95
Special Price: $7.98
Tango!
A Dynamic Answer to 1. e4
A Dynamic Answer to 1. e4
Tired of constantly defending passive positions with the black pieces against 1. d4? Looking for something new and exciting to unleash at the chessboard? This book provides an answer to these perennial questions. International Master and renowned openings theoretician Richard Palliser presents a complete repertoire for Black against queen's pawn openings based on the dynamic and very much underrated Black Knights Tango. Using illustrative games, Palliser gives a thorough grounding on the key tactics and strategies behind this ambitious opening, while also highlighting the various tricks and traps that both sides have to watch out for. Studying in depth both the main lines and White's more offbeat tries for an advantage, Palliser gives the readers the required knowledge and confidence to immediately try the Tango in their own games.
Tango!
A Dynamic Answer to 1. e4
Catalog Code: B0161EM
Our Price: $24.95
Italian Game and Evan's Gambit
The Italian Game (sometimes referred to as the Giuoco Piano) is one of the oldest openings around, and also one of the first lines a player learns when he or she is introduced to chess. It leads to play that is easy to understand: both sides develop their pieces logically and begin attacks on the opposing kings. The Italian Game gives both White and Black the opportunity to play either aggressively and in gambit fashion, or in a restrained and positional manner. One of White's most exciting and attacking options is the legendary Evans Gambit, which has been brought back into the limelight in this modern era by such uncompromising players as World Champion Garry Kasparov, Alexander Morozevich,and England's Nigel Short.
Italian Game and Evan's Gambit
Catalog Code: B0232EM
Our Price: $24.95
Dealing with d4 Deviations
Fighting the Trompowsky, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer, Stonewall, Colle and Other Problem Openings
Fighting the Trompowsky, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer, Stonewall, Colle and Other Problem Openings
This book fills an enormous void in chess literature. There are a countless number of players who are very happy to defend the black side of the Queen's Gambit or play the Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, Bogo-Indian or Benoni. However, more often than not they have been forced to muddle their way through a whole variety of annoying sidelines White has at his or her disposal, including the dreaded Trompowsky, the tricky Blackmar-Diemer Gambit and the tiresome Colle Variation.
Dealing with d4 Deviations
Fighting the Trompowsky, Torre, Blackmar-Diemer, Stonewall, Colle and Other Problem Openings
Catalog Code: B0241EM
Our Price: $24.95
Trompowsky
From relative obscurity to one of White's favorite queen's pawn openings, the rise in popularity of the Trompowsky Attack over the last decade or so has been quite staggering. Largely inspired by a group of English players headed by Julian Hodgson and Michael Adams, the "Tromp" has been enthusiastically taken up by club players and Grandmasters alike. Even the World number one Garry Kasparov has tried his hand at this dynamic opening.
Trompowsky
Catalog Code: B0258EM
Our Price: $24.95
Play the King's Indian
A Complete Repertoire for Black in the Most Dynamic of Openings
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.
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.
Starting Out - Grunfeld
Catalog Code: B0274EM
Our Price: $24.95
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.
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!
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two Knights Defence
Catalog Code: B0057EM
Our Price: $24.95
Offbeat King's Indian
Lesser Known Tries to Counter this Most Popular of Defences
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.
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!
Scandinavian
Catalog Code: B0172EM
Our Price: $24.95
