Gift Ideas
Gift Cards
New Arrivals
My Cart
CHESS BOOKS
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess
Idiot-Proof Instructions for Learning the Rules of the Classic Game of Kings
Idiot-Proof Instructions for Learning the Rules of the Classic Game of Kings
You're no idiot, of course. You know that chess is perhaps the most enjoyable - and challenging - game in the world. For those who play, chess provides a lifetime of fun. But how do you make the first move to learn the rules--or improve beyond feeling like a pawn? Don't cry checkmate just yet. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, Third Edition, will guide your every move across the board.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess
Idiot-Proof Instructions for Learning the Rules of the Classic Game of Kings
Catalog Code: B0052OB
Our Price: $18.95
Colle System: Zukertort Variation 5. b3
The variation is named after Johannes Hermann Zukertort, the first player to deminstrate the wonderful attacking potential of the white bishops lined up on the b1-h7 and b2-g7 diagonals. As we will see, there are many move orders by Black in the Colle-Zukertort, but white usually gets by with a single sequence: 1.d4, 2.e3, 3.Bd3, and 4.Nf3 - although in this book we will see a lot of other orders. The center is usually closed or semi-open in the Colle-Zukertort and this enables white to perform some elaborate maneuvers and execute long-range plans denied him when the center is open. Positional play is supreme. The chapters are: 1)Zukertort 5.b3 vs. Koltanowski 5.c3, 2)How White Wins, 3)How White Loses, 4)Common Strategic Mistakes, 5)Main Line Zukertort Vatiation 5.b3 Analysis.
Colle System: Zukertort Variation 5. b3
Catalog Code: CB0040CD
Our Price: $7.95
French Defense - Classical System
French Defense - Classical System
French Defense - Classical System
Catalog Code: CB0053CD
Our Price: $12.95
How to Play the Belgrade Gambit
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nd5 the author examines both the accepted and declined. This gambit has been reinvigorated by some new ideas and is fully playable. An excellent edition to your fighting arsenal.
How to Play the Belgrade Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0072CD
Our Price: $4.95
The Colle System Koltanowski Variation: 5. c3
1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 and other moves where Black does not play c5. There aren't as many strategic plans and positional themes as in the Queen's Gambit; but there are still quite a lot - and that's enough for 95 percent of serious players. Against an amateur opponent, the Colle is a deadly weapon, a quick killer. Edgar Colle and his fellow Belgian native, GM George Koltanowski, registered a string of sparkling victories, many of them in less than thirty moves, with this system. He even had the great Alekhine on the ropes with it.
The Colle System Koltanowski Variation: 5. c3
Catalog Code: CB0079CD
Our Price: $12.95
Four Gambits to Beat the French
Four Gambits to Beat the French
Four Gambits to Beat the French
Catalog Code: CB0086CD
Our Price: $12.95
Nimzovich Attack: Norfolk Gambits
This is Volume 1 in the author's new series Chess Openings For Hustlers. "You will find similar lines of attack and similar combination situations in several different lines. These can be either very useful (if you take the time to learn them) or very treacherous. The one thing the Norfolk Gambit should not do is bore you"-author. "Be warned: If you are a `bean counter' obsessed with saving pawns for an extended end-game, do not play these gambits! However, if you are willing to commit to an attack which will decimate the 'bean counters' of the chess world, this book is for you"- Phillip A. York.
Nimzovich Attack: Norfolk Gambits
Catalog Code: CB0018CD
Our Price: $4.95
King's Indian Defense: Yugoslav Variation 6 ...c5
There is no reason that the variation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 c5 fell out of fashion. Soltis proves this by giving you excellent analysis and strategy in this variation. He brings back a 1950's variation to surprise your opponents. This system has a bit of a Benoni feel to it by attacking white's center with 6..c5 instead of 6..e5. This should be called the Gligoric system since it was the veteran GM Svetozar Gligoric who first demonstrated Black's resources most successfully. This system is a dangerous surprise weapon in the King's Indian that can be employed at all levels.
King's Indian Defense: Yugoslav Variation 6 ...c5
Catalog Code: CB0029CD
Our Price: $9.95
Masterpieces of Attack: GM Marcel Sisniega Campbell
This book focuses on one of the strongest Mexican players ever. Manuel Sisniega, respected and feared for his daring attacking chess, won many beautiful games in his active 20 year tournament career. Never afraid to play sharp gambit systems against strong opposition, he won many masterpieces through direct assault on the enemy king. Velasco annotates most of his best games, and shows that Sisniega is a player for attacking players to emulate.
Masterpieces of Attack: GM Marcel Sisniega Campbell
Catalog Code: CB0030CD
Our Price: $5.95
Winning with the English Opening
Essentially, Soltis advocates a 1 c4, 2 g3 sequence against virtually any set-up by Black. The rare exception is the response 2?d5 after either 1?e6 or 1?c6, when 3 b3 is recommended, although even here, the King?s Bishop does end up fianchettoed, but just a few moves later.The book maintains the same basic coverage as the second edition. It is divided into four sections: I ? c4 e5; II ? c4 c5; III ? c4 Nf6; and IV - c4, others. There are two basic systems presented in the book: The set-up credited to Botvinnik, with the KB fianchettoed, the QN on c3, pawns on c4, d3 and e4, and the KN on e2; and a variation of this, with the pawn on e3, with the d?pawn retaining the option of going to either d3 or d4, depending on circumstances.
Winning with the English Opening
Catalog Code: CB0076CD
Our Price: $9.95
Black Defensive System for the Rest of Your Chess Career
Many top flight chess players do well with an armory of different completely unrelated openings. But they are, as we said, top flight players. For the player who is stil learning, we propose an opening repertoire that forms an organic whole using Black's ..d5 and ..c6 in the Queen's Gambit Slav Defense and the Caro-Kann Defense. We give defenses to all other White openings using the same moves(such as Reti, English, King's Indian Attack, Catalan, etc..). The point of this book is to develop an opening system for playing the Black pieces. What we present is not just a series of random variations - which taken individually may be good - but a system that forms a cohesive whole based on common ideas.
Black Defensive System for the Rest of Your Chess Career
Catalog Code: CB0078CD
Our Price: $9.95
Chess Openings Lexicon
If you're looking for an easy-to-use guide for identifying, classifying and describing all of the Chess openings and their variations, look no further than this book!!
When it comes to the chess openings, most chess players are completely confused by the endless number of openings and their variations.
When it comes to the chess openings, most chess players are completely confused by the endless number of openings and their variations.
Chess Openings Lexicon
Catalog Code: CB0017CD
Our Price: $6.95
The Fighting Fajarowicz
The Budapest, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5, is really a counterattack rather than a defense. It appeals to players who like to challenge White for the initiative early in the game. This particularly applies to the Fajarowicz Variation, 3.dxe4 Ne4, in which(by contrast with the 3..Ng4 main line of the Budapest) Black puts more emphasis on fighting for key squares than on seeking the early recapture of the pawn he has given up. This book contains 3 different sections: 1)Ideas for black to aim for and areas to avoid; 2)A 12 chapter Analysis section(including one with explanation on what to do if white avoids the Fajarowicz on move 3; and 3)A Complete Games section with well over 300 games ranging from unannotated to lightly annotated for you to study.
The Fighting Fajarowicz
Catalog Code: CB0019CD
Our Price: $7.95
Chess: Improving and Staying Sharp
This book emphasizes topics that strong players need to study in order to improve and stay sharp. Contents: Lesson 1:Attack and Counterattack, Lesson 2:Tactical Exercises I, Lesson 3:Art of Strategy, Lesson 4: Tactical Exercises II, Lesson 5:Art of the Endgame, Lesson 6:Tactical Exercises III, Epilogue: Odds and Ends.
Chess: Improving and Staying Sharp
Catalog Code: CB0032CD
Our Price: $4.95
The Dynamic Philidor Counter-Gambit
Black defends his King's pawn before proceding with similar play as in the Greco Counter-Gambit. Suddenly White does not have positional play against a Philidor Defense, but is thrown into tactical complications of this gambit. You, as Black, will know what to do while your opponent eats time on his clock trying, repeat trying, to find his way. Black is playing to win.
The Dynamic Philidor Counter-Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0068CD
Our Price: $5.95
Winning with the Giuoco Piano and the Max Lange Attack
here are 30 important theoretical revisions in this 2nd edition. Nine chapters cover 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4. Learn both a positional and a dynamic attacking weapon to shatter your opponents' King's pawn defenses.
Winning with the Giuoco Piano and the Max Lange Attack
Catalog Code: CB0070CD
Our Price: $9.95
How to Play the Torre Attack - Second, Thoroughly Revised Edition
White plays 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 followed by Bg5. The Torre Attack is a very flexible opening employed by white which involves quick development and fight for control of the e4 square. A standard setup would involve placing the queen's knight on d2, light-squared bishop to d3, king's rook to e1 after a quick castling, and pawn to e3 or e4. However, there is a flexibility that allows for many different setups, depending on the strategic path that the white player wishes to employ and black's setup. This flexible, dynamic system has been employed by virtually every top GM at some point in their career, even at the World Championship match level. Schiller shows why this opening system should be part of every player's repertoire.
How to Play the Torre Attack - Second, Thoroughly Revised Edition
Catalog Code: CB0075CD
Our Price: $4.95
Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights
Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights
Evan's Gambit and a System vs. 2 Knights
Catalog Code: CB0096CD
Our Price: $7.95
Hypermodern Strategy
Hypermodern Strategy
Hypermodern Strategy
Catalog Code: CB0100CD
Our Price: $4.95
The Trompowsky Attack
One of the most dynamic and attacking of all chess openings, the search for new ideas in the Trompowsky has gone beyond the rare and bizarre into the realm of the unorthodox and even bizarre. Somewhere in between lies a widely misunderstood and often mishandled device known as the Trompowsky Attack. Still a relatively young and evolving opening, this really took off in the 1980's and early 90's. This dynamic, attacking system has become a staple in the repertoires of many GM's. Of particular note, England's Julian Hodgson is often credited as the leading innovator of new, fresh Trompowsky ideas
The Trompowsky Attack
Catalog Code: CB0002CD
Our Price: $7.95
Grand Prix Attack
When faced with the Sicilian Defense, you have to make the choice to either wade through a maze of variations in the main line or diverge early into a relatively lesser known system. The early advance of white's f-pawn fits this objective perfectly. White gains more space in the center and kingside with 2.f4, forming the basis for lasting pressure and often leading to violent attacks against the black kingside. After 1.e4 c5 2.f4, this variation fell out of fashion int he early 90's due to 2..d5. But take heart! Smith and Hall show that this variation still has some venom!
Grand Prix Attack
Catalog Code: CB0026CD
Our Price: $4.95
My Love Affair with Tchigorin
By one of America's best players of the 1930's-40's and a world renown "Romantic". His pre-game comments and annotation of all games will delight you. The long introduction tells of how Santasiere is going to share the joys of one of the greatest chess artists of all time with us. He then encourages us to play romantic, fighting chess like Tchigorin, instead of unoriginal chess. This book could certainly be recommended for the Romantic chess player.
My Love Affair with Tchigorin
Catalog Code: CB0031CD
Our Price: $7.95
The Catalan
The Catalan Opening is currently in the repertoire of most all of the world's elite players. It has even been played at the World Championship level many times! This is largely because it combines strategic pressure with possibilities for a very sharp, complicated tactical struggle. This is perfect for those who insist on decisive chess. However, there are also some quieter, more solid lines. The Catalan combines the Queen's Gambit pawn duo(d4 and c4) with the hypermodern fianchettoed KB as with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3. From g2, the KB strikes through the center squares e4 and d5 and beyond to c6, b7, and a8, applying pressure to Black's Queenside. Another important advantage of the Catalan is that it can be used to side step popular Black defenses such as the Nimzo-Indian and Queen's-Indian. It can also be reached by transpositions from many different move orders. This is very good against strong opposition!
The Catalan
Catalog Code: CB0034CD
Our Price: $4.95
How To Play the Winawer Countergambit
This dynamic gambit 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e5 is played by top players. Both accepted and declined are covered. Dismissed by theory until quite recently, it has enjoyed a considerable renaissance in the 1990's. This book is a survey of the opening, with the largest collection of complete game from players past and present.
How To Play the Winawer Countergambit
Catalog Code: CB0035CD
Our Price: $4.95
American Chess Art
There is no longer any excuse for study enthusiasts familiar with the contemporary scene to remain uninformed, as I admit to have been myself, about the development of composition on the other side of the Atlantic. All is now revealed by the man most competent to do so. Walter Korn, for many years the leading American endgame columnist, traces the evolution of the endgame study. Walter Korn writes with feeling. He shares the suffering and elation of those he writes about. He has been through it all himself and his descriptive writing stems from a deep love of his subject and of the work of his compatriots. A warm hearted book." - an excerpt from a review by C.M. Bent in the British Chess Magazine.
American Chess Art
Catalog Code: CB0038CD
Our Price: $4.95
Fischer's Weapon: Winning with the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation
This is a revised and expanded 2nd edition of the 1st edition published in 1992. Added are 23 important theoretical revisions and one game.When the first edition of this book appeared in 1992, it evoked a good deal of interest - particularly after a certain day that September. What prompted the interest that day was a curious incident off the coast of what was then Yugoslovia — FISCHER-SPASSKY, Ninth Match Game - Sveti Sefan 1992.
Fischer's Weapon: Winning with the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation
Catalog Code: CB0042CD
Our Price: $9.95
Essential Chess Endings for Advanced Players
This book deals with how to develop endgame technique in essential, but practical endings for advanced players (Class B and above). The eleven chapters are:
(1) A Review of Basic Endgames,
(2) Knight Endings-Part One,
(3) Knight Endings-Part Two,
(4) Bishop vs Knight,
(5) Bishops of Opposite Color,
(6) Rook Endings,
(7) Double Rook Endings,
(8) Rook & Bishop vs Rook & Bishop,
(9) Queen and Rook vs Queen and Rook,
(10) Queen Endings, and
(11) Queen and Bishop vs Queen and Knight.
This book will provide the advanced player with practical advice on how to play positions and is an invaluable guide to the properties of the individual pieces and how they combine together
There is no other endgame book for the stronger player like this one - it is a classic.
(1) A Review of Basic Endgames,
(2) Knight Endings-Part One,
(3) Knight Endings-Part Two,
(4) Bishop vs Knight,
(5) Bishops of Opposite Color,
(6) Rook Endings,
(7) Double Rook Endings,
(8) Rook & Bishop vs Rook & Bishop,
(9) Queen and Rook vs Queen and Rook,
(10) Queen Endings, and
(11) Queen and Bishop vs Queen and Knight.
This book will provide the advanced player with practical advice on how to play positions and is an invaluable guide to the properties of the individual pieces and how they combine together
There is no other endgame book for the stronger player like this one - it is a classic.
Essential Chess Endings for Advanced Players
Catalog Code: CB0046CD
Our Price: $12.95
The Evans Gambit Revolution
Grandmaster are beating Grandmasters whether they accept or decline 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4. Kasparov was one that lead the way. The text may force a re-evaluation of most Evans Gambit analysis. The author's improvements were sent by the author to Kasparov's agent in London. This is the first modern treatment of the Evans which reflects to a high degree the overwhelming body of games won by White. This book gives good analysis and advice on a very strong and dynamic weapon to use against 1..e5 players.
The Evans Gambit Revolution
Catalog Code: CB0054CD
Our Price: $7.95
The Fischer Attack in the Najdorf
The Fischer Attack in the Najdorf
The Fischer Attack in the Najdorf
Catalog Code: CB0057CD
Our Price: $7.95
A Road to the Expert Title
A Road to the Expert Title
A Road to the Expert Title
Catalog Code: CB0063CD
Our Price: $7.95
The Sicilian Scheveningen for Black
The world's leading players take the Black side and seem to be unbeatable! With this analysis you can have access to Black's system introduced by Spassky and used prominently by Kasparov and many of the world's elite.
The Sicilian Scheveningen for Black
Catalog Code: CB0081CD
Our Price: $9.95
Queen's Gambit Accepted
Queen's Gambit Accepted
Queen's Gambit Accepted
Catalog Code: CB0090CD
Our Price: $4.95
The Tchigorin Defense
The Tchigorin Defense
The Tchigorin Defense
Catalog Code: CB0091CD
Our Price: $4.95
A Road to the Master Title
A Road to the Master Title
A Road to the Master Title
Catalog Code: CB0092CD
Our Price: $7.95
Henning Schara Gambit
Henning Schara Gambit
Henning Schara Gambit
Catalog Code: CB0098CD
Our Price: $7.95
