What is the best way to improve your opening knowledge? Memorizing variations? Not really.

In the first volume of Dariusz’ trilogy, the author helps you to understand the instructive patterns that arise from the immensely popular Nimzo-Indian Defense. Packed with plenty new ideas, his methods consider the different ways White has at his disposal. His unique approach shows Black has nothing to fear, on the contrary! Thinkers is convinced you will enjoy the read!

Every player who meets 1.e4 with 1...e5 needs a reliable response to the Ruy Lopez, and The Berlin Defence is an ideal solution. Ever since Vladimir Kramnik used the Berlin to shut down Garry Kasparov’s best efforts in their 2000 World Championship match, practically all of the world’s top players have successfully incorporated the “Berlin Wall” into their repertoires.

GM Michael Roiz presents a complete repertoire for Black after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6, offering top-class antidotes to anything White may try. From the famous Endgame Variation to recently fashionable tries such as 4.d3, Roiz combines cutting-edge analysis with insightful positional guidance.

Grandmaster Michael Roiz reached the top 40 in the world. He has won Olympiad Team Silver for Israel, as well as many tournaments over the years. In recent years he has focused more on seconding elite grandmasters in top tournaments such as the Candidates and so far one World Championship match.

Coffeehouse Repertoire is a 1.e4 player’s dream: an arsenal of ideas from a world-class grandmaster to surprise and confound your opponents, combining coffeehouse trickery with complete theoretical soundness.

In Volume 2, GM Gawain Jones shows how to fight for an advantage against 1...e5, plus the French, Pirc, Modern, Philidor and other miscellaneous Defences, using lines which feature a potent combination of surprise value, objective soundness and practical effectiveness.

Volume 1 completes the Coffeehouse 1.e4 Repertoire, and covered the Sicilian, Caro-Kann, Scandinavian and Alekhine’s Defences.

Your chess engine can do so much more than just calculate variations!

Every chess player, from club level up, can improve their game by using engines. That is the message of Matthew Sadler’s thought-provoking new book, based on many years of experience with the world’s best chess software. You may not be able to replicate their dazzling-deep calculations, but there is so much more your engine can do for you than just checking variations!

Working on chess tactics and checkmates will help you win more games. It develops your pattern recognition and your ‘board vision’ – your ability to capitalize on opportunities. This Workbook features a complete set of fundamental tactics, checkmate patterns, exercises, hints, and solutions.

Peter Giannatos selected 738 exercises based on ten years of experience with thousands of pupils at the prize-winning Charlotte Chess Center. All problems are clean, without unnecessary fluff that detracts from their instructive value. The Workbook has ample room for writing down the solutions to the exercises. This is helpful for both students and coaches, who can assign homework from the book without having to worry about being unable to review the solutions. And writing down the correct chess moves will greatly accelerate your learning process.

Everyone’s First Chess Workbook offers you a treasure trove of chess knowledge and more than enough lessons to keep you busy for a year!

В этой книге представлены редкие и интересные дебютные варианты (за белых), которые призваны быстро подготовить вас к партии или соревнованию. Также вы сможете познакомиться с ловушками, теоретическими новинками и оригинальными анализами действующего гроссмейстера. Здесь вы найдёте и позиции для решения, которые помогут улучшить вашу тактическую подготовку.

Книга предназначена для широкого круга читателей, увлечённых шахматами.

Книга гроссмейстера Ильи Смирина «Сицилианские сражения» – не дебютная работа, она о том, что происходит на доске уже после воспроизведения теоретических ходов. Автор, признанный эксперт по Сицилианской защите, разъясняет свое видение позиционных и, особенно, динамических возможностей дебюта. Структура этой книги такая же, как и предыдущей – «Староиндийские сражения». Каждую из 10-ти глав предваряет подборка упражнений по рассматриваемой теме, дается краткий обзор содержания на одном или более примерах, в которых тема раскрывается максимально ясно. Затем эта же тема, но в уже более сложных игровых «декорациях» изучается на партиях автора.

Большое число дополнительных партий (в том числе и в примечаниях) автора и других шахматистов помогает лучшему восприятию дебютных идей.

В книге есть всё – и жертвы, и позиционные шедевры, что должно сделать ее чтение увлекательным.

В своей новой книге гроссмейстер Зенон Франко глубоко анализирует 30 «чёрных» поучительных побед (включая партии 2020 года) чемпиона мира Магнуса Карлсена. Книга не перегружена вариантами, акцент – на подробных объяснениях в стиле «ход за ходом», что формирует идеальную платформу для изучения шахмат. В «опорных» точках каждой партии читателю предлагаются тестовые вопросы, что помогает и практическому изучению ключевых приемов шахматной игры, и надежному усвоению обретаемых знаний. Вопросы и ответы вовлекают читателя в процесс обучения и помогают ему отслеживать рост своей шахматной силы. Большинство партий взято из недавнего творчества Карлсена. Почти все его соперники супергроссмейстеры, – экс-чемпионы мира Виши Ананд и Владимир Крамник, а также Фабиано Каруана, Сергей Карякин, Шахрияр Мамедьяров, Алексей Широв, Максим Вашье-Лаграв, Левон Аронян, Аниш Гири и др. 

Книга международного мастера Максима Четверика посвящена дебютным экспериментам, предпринятым за доской (как правило, с классическим контролем времени) игроками в гроссмейстерском чине. 50 партий, приведенных полностью и 33 тестовых задания иллюстрируют необычные разветвления в полном спектре шахматных начал.

Исследование новых и возрождение старых дебютных редкостей актуально в связи с бурным развитием теории. Освоение длинных вариантов требует недюжинной памяти и более подходит шахматным профессионалам. На примерах креативного творчества гроссмейстеров читателю предлагается оценить качество дебютного эксперимента и решить – уместно ли взять на вооружение идею титулованного игрока.

В книге даётся аналитический обзор всех основных шахматных начал, проиллюстрированных содержательными партиями, включая партии самого последнего времени.

Предпочтение отдано тем дебютным системам, вариантам и ходам, которые выдержали самое серьёзное из всех испытаний - испытание временем. Новое издание дополнено и переработано коренным образом - внесены существенные изменения в аналитическую часть книги с учётом последних достижений современной шахматный теории. Особое внимание в разделе партий уделено творчеству чемпиона мира Магнуса Карлсена.

Книга поможет освоить премудрости дебютной теории не только начинающим шахматистам, но будет полезна и более опытным игрокам.

Strategic Concepts, Typical Plans and Tactical Themes 

The London System is being played by an ever increasing number of players, and it’s easy to see why. Against virtually every Black defence after 1.d4 it offers White an easy-to-learn and reliable set of lines. In the process, White has interesting choices between strategic or more aggressive approaches, while avoiding loads of opening theory. Ideal for players who don’t have much time to study.

Aleksandr Rakhmanov was born on 28 August 1989 in Cherepovets, Russia, and started to play chess at the age of seven. He became an IM in 2006, a GM in 2007 and a FIDE trainer in 2020. His current rating is 2651. His peak ratings are 2676 (classical), 2721 (rapid) and 2704 (blitz). In 2007 he won a hat-trick of bronze medals at the Russian, European and World U-18 championships. In 2017 he took 21st place in the World Rapid Championship in Riyadh and in 2019 won gold medal on 3rd board in the European Club Cup in Montenegro, took 18th place in the FIDE Grand Swiss, probably the strongest chess open ever, and participated in the World Cup. As a chess tourist Aleksandr likes to travel and has visited about fifty countries around the world.

The Dutch is renowned as a fighting weapon against 1.d4, as 1...f5 immediately sets up an unbalanced struggle. Then Black’s kingside fianchetto, which defines the Leningrad Dutch, allows pawn-storming play in similar style to the King’s Indian Defence. Mihail Marin is the ideal author to explain both the strategic ideas and the latest theory.

Leningrad Dutch covers lines where White also fianchettoes the king’s bishop – these lines are the critical test of the Leningrad. The companion volume, Dutch Sidelines, completes Black’s Dutch repertoire.

Coffeehouse Repertoire is a 1.e4 player’s dream: an arsenal of ideas from a world-class grandmaster to surprise and confound your opponents, combining coffeehouse trickery with complete theoretical soundness.

In Volume 1, GM Gawain Jones shows how to put pressure on the Sicilian, Caro-Kann, Scandinavian and Alekhine’s Defences, using lines which feature a potent combination of surprise value, objective soundness and practical effectiveness.

The Coffeehouse 1.e4 Repertoire will be completed in Volume 2, which covers 1...e5, plus the French, Pirc, Modern, Philidor and other miscellaneous Defences.

What does a chess player need who is familiar with the rules, but often gets into trouble right away in the opening?

This question was the starting point for the authors before they began to compile their material. The result is a book that gives explanations to help the reader understand the 'Queen's Gambit' – and instructions to show him how to use it.

And no matter if he is little or even completely unfamiliar with opening theory, this book gives him easy access to this difficult and comprehensive field. The ideas and plans behind each line are explained in detail to ensure that the reader understands them properly instead of just playing moves that he has learned by heart. Even the sense and purpose of single moves are ex- plained, if they are not quite obvious.

Based on the knowledge that the reader will surely acquire by studying this book, it will be easy to build a game and play interesting, entertaining and – last but not least – successful chess.

An aggressive, dynamic approach for meeting 1.d4

This book considers a gambit treatment of the Slav and the Semi-Slav.

White offers the c4-pawn in order to get a space advantage and a long-term initiative. It also covers the Closed Catalan and the modern line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.Ne5. The author’s idea is to throw 1...d5 players off their comfort zone by dragging them into sharp unbalanced positions. If you are fed up with all the mainstream Slav/Meran theory out-there, this book will offer you new refreshing approaches for both sides.

Grandmaster Kiril Georgiev has been one of the strongest Bulgarian players for many years. He was a Junior World Champion and a bronze medalist in Europe. He has played in 15 Olympiads and also coached Bulgarian national team. His peak rating was in the world's top ten. Kiril wrote the books The Sharpest Sicilian, Squeezing the Gambits, Fighting the London System and The Modern English.

The author presents a full opening repertory for the club player, which is analysed in seven volumes. In the books you will find many novelties for both sides, with a full move-to-move presentation. Furthermore, the reader will get access to middlegame strategies, endgame techniques and common tactical motifs, which are patterning the proposed variations.

With the seventh volume Grivas is completing the full opening repertoire!

A total of over 2000 pages in 7 books will give you a chance of having a solid, long time lasting opening repertoire which will make you feel confident in your tournament games.

A great deal for a player who just wants to open the book and get to a solid level in the opening theory instead of spending hundreds of hours on the opening studies.

In the seventh and last volume the openings of the Benoni Defence, the Old Indian Defence, the Modern Defence, the Polish Defence and Various Sidelines are presented.

The author presents a full opening repertory for the club player, which is analysed in seven volumes. In the books you will find many novelties for both sides, with a full move-to-move presentation. Furthermore, the reader will get access to middlegame strategies, endgame techniques and common tactical motifs, which are patterning the proposed variations.

In the sixth volume the openings of the the Janowski Defence, the Orthodox Defence, the Cambridge Springs Defence, Various Slav Systems and the Tartakower Defence are presented.

The author presents a full opening repertory for the club player, which is analyzed in six volumes. In the books, you will find many novelties for both sides, with a full move-to-move presentation. Furthermore, the reader will get access to middlegame strategies, endgame techniques, and common tactical motifs, which are patterning the proposed variations.

In the fifth volume, the openings of the Chigorin Defence, the Queen's Gambit Declined, the Tarrasch Defence, and the Semi-Tarrasch Defence are presented.

In the first book ever exclusively devoted to the Exchange French Variation, American grandmaster Alex Fishbein recognizes that the Exchange French is an opening for a player who likes active piece play, fights for the initiative, excels in positions with possibilities on both sides of the board, and finds strategic and tactical nuances that arise out of almost nothing. And if you play the French as Black, then this book will help you deal with White’s 3.exd5.

Authors of French Defense books from the black perspective have recognized for a while that there is no draw here at all and have proposed lines where Black can create interesting play. Indeed, both sides can create complications. The author shows that playing “boring” moves is actually risky with both White and Black. The Exchange French is a vibrant opening, just like any other, and yet there has been very little literature showing how to play it from the white side. That void is filled with this book.

While the main point of this book is to build a White repertoire, any player of the Black side of the French will benefit by reading it. A good number of the sample games end well for Black, whereas in the games in which White gains the upper hand, Fishbein is careful to note improvements for the second player. I have been playing and writing about the French Defense, including this variation, for many years, but I came across a lot that I hadn’t known in nearly every sub-variation.

I suspect that most readers of this book will be pleasantly surprised to find out how rich the play can become in the French Exchange Variation. That alone is enough to reward a careful reading, and Fishbein’s careful exposition of lines and strategies will undoubtedly translate into extra points over the board. – from the Foreword by John Watson

The Scandinavian Defence is one of the most popular chess openings among amateur players, and it is easy to see why. Black players immediately limit the opening theory they have to know because there is no way White can side-step Black’s first move. What’s more, the Scandinavian requires only very little theoretical knowledge, so it has an extremely low maintenance factor. To cap it all, Black gets a solid structure.

And that’s not even the end of the good news, as Thomas Willemze demonstrates in this compact and practical manual. Playing the Scandinavian teaches invaluable techniques that you can use in almost all of your other games. Pressuring the centre, neutralizing your opponent’s initiative, improving your piece coordination, trading the right pieces and exploiting your opponent’s weak points are all typical ‘Scandinavian’ spin-offs that Thomas Willemze teaches you in his trademark lucid style.

The Scandinavian for Club Players offers everything you need to know to be fully prepared to meet 1.e4. The various lines are enriched with verbal explanations, diagrams, flash-cards and exercises that make this book even more accessible. Willemze not just uses examples from the games of elite grandmasters. As an experienced trainer he knows that discussing club player’s adventures are particularly instructive for his target group.

Thomas Willemze is an International Master from The Netherlands. He is an experienced trainer of amateur players and has been the National Youth Coach of the Dutch Chess Federation. He is the author of the acclaimed ‘What would you play?’ column in New In Chess magazine, aimed at helping club players to improve their decision-making skills. In 2018 he published the best-selling improvement guide The Chess Toolbox, also available as a NIC Interactive eBook and a Chessable video course.

Half a century ago the first edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings was released, as a truly unique, ground-breaking tome. Such monumental work was a logical continuation to the Informant series which came to life a few years earlier. Chess Informant introduced a completely revolutionary system of chess signs, and also created the classification of chess openings, according to codes (ECO codes). Today Chess Informant’s ECO Codes and System of Signs are integral parts of the universal chess culture and heritage.

Over the years, and subsequent editions of five ECO tomes (A, B, C, D and E) all the greatest chess players and analysts contributed to the Encyclopaedias, each focusing on the sections which they were most acquainted with, producing astounding analyses and recommendations.

Eighteen years passed since the previous edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings - Volume B was released. We tried to keep all the major qualities of the previous ECO Volumes intact, but to make the book easier to read and browse through, especially when used as a source of reference. The material we gathered was so rich in details and nuances, so ultimately we decided to publish the ECO B Volume in two parts. We are positive that omitting any of the lines would be a terrible shame, so you will have the pleasure of reading and digesting the material in its completeness.

Finally, we are sure that the human touch should remain crucial, so all the members of the editorial crew gave their absolute best in researching, analysing, evaluating and suggesting lines of the greatest value and strength, thus allowing you to read the book and apply the lines in your own games with complete confidence.

ECO B - Part II contains detailed coverage of ECO codes 50-99

Half a century ago the first edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings was released, as a truly unique, ground-breaking tome. Such monumental work was a logical continuation to the Informant series which came to life a few years earlier. Chess Informant introduced a completely revolutionary system of chess signs, and also created the classification of chess openings, according to codes (ECO codes). Today Chess Informant’s ECO Codes and System of Signs are integral parts of the universal chess culture and heritage.

Over the years, and subsequent editions of five ECO tomes (A, B, C, D and E) all the greatest chess players and analysts contributed to the Encyclopaedias, each focusing on the sections which they were most acquainted with, producing astounding analyses and recommendations.

Eighteen years passed since the previous edition of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings - Volume B was released. We tried to keep all the major qualities of the previous ECO Volumes intact, but to make the book easier to read and browse through, especially when used as a source of reference. The material we gathered was so rich in details and nuances, so ultimately we decided to publish the ECO B Volume in two parts. We are positive that omitting any of the lines would be a terrible shame, so you will have the pleasure of reading and digesting the material in its completeness.

Finally, we are sure that the human touch should remain crucial, so all the members of the editorial crew gave their absolute best in researching, analysing, evaluating and suggesting lines of the greatest value and strength, thus allowing you to read the book and apply the lines in your own games with complete confidence.

ECO B - Part I contains detailed coverage of ECO codes 00-49

Nigel Davies guides you through the Grünfeld Defence.

The Grünfeld Defence is is a combative reply to 1.d4 which has been favoured by many world champions including those two legends of the game, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. It is an opening in the hypermodern style, in that Black generally allows White to build a strong centre early on in the expectation of being able to undermine it in the middlegame play.

Opening Repetoire: The Grünfeld Defence cuts through the dense theory that surrounds this opening and establishes a straightforward repertoire which is based around consistent strategies and concepts. It has all the information necessary to enable the reader to begin playing the Grünfeld with confidence. There are also “Grünfeld-type” suggestions to counter White systems based on the English and Réti openings.

In Opening Repertoire: The Grünfeld Defence, Nigel Davies guides the reader through the complexities of the Grünfeld and carves out a repertoire for Black. He examines all aspects of this highly complex opening and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening and contains instructive commentary on typical middlegame plans.

- A complete repertoire for Black against 1 d4.

- A question and answer approach provides an excellent study method.

Nigel Davies 

is an International Grandmaster and respected coach. He is the author of numerous books and DVDs on the game and is known for the clarity of his explanations.

Viktor Moskalenko’s bestselling books The Flexible French (2008) and The Even More Flexible French (2015) were hailed by reviewers from all over the world as eye-opening, full of new ideas, easy to read, sparkling, and inspirational.

Time has not stood still, and the popular French Defence has seen a lot of new developments, not in the last place thanks to Moskalenko’s books. The Ukrainian grandmaster himself has kept playing and researching his beloved chess opening and decided to write a new book with countless improvements, alternatives, new ideas and fresh weapons that will delight and surprise the reader.

As always, Moskalenko’s analysis is high-level, yet his touch is light and fresh. In his own inimitable style, he whets the reader’s appetite and shares his love for the French with gusto. The wealth of original and dynamic options in every main line proves that the French continues to be a highly intriguing defence that is very much alive.

The Fully-Fledged French is a typical Moskalenko book: practical, accessible, original, entertaining and inspiring.

Viktor Moskalenko (1960) is an International Grandmaster and a FIDE Senior Trainer. Other books by the former Ukrainian champion include Training with Moska, The Fabulous Budapest Gambit, and An Attacking Repertoire for White.

The Caro-Kann is a rare beast among chess openings. While respected as a sound and safe way to start the game, it also avoids symmetry or simplification. This allows Black many ways to keep the game unbalanced and play for a win.

The French Defence is a classical opening that has featured in the repertoire of many elite grandmasters. Black generally concedes a slight spacial disadvantage early but in return gains a sound structure and middlegame opportunities to undermine the white centre. A close study of the French Defence can be very rewarding for all players as the structures and themes that arise are found in numerous other openings. In this book grandmaster Damian Lemos guides the reader through the complexities of this dynamic opening and explores all the important variations.

This series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge.

- Essential guidance and training in the French Defence

- Analyses all key variations

- Utilizes an ideal Q+A approach to chess study

Damian Lemos is a grandmaster from Argentina. He is a former Pan-American junior champion and was only 15 years old when he qualified for the international master title. He went on to become a grandmaster at 18. An active tournament player, he also trains students at ichess.net.

The Caro-Kann is renowned as a top-tier defence to 1.e4, and Lars Schandorff’s Grandmaster Repertoire (2010) book on this opening received rave reviews. As GM Zenon Franco Ocampos put it, “I cannot imagine a better way of converting into a Caro-Kann player.” A decade later, Schandorff is back with a completely new repertoire which improves on his previous work in every way.

Playing the Caro-Kann offers a complete repertoire for Black after 1.e4 c6, based on 2.d4 d5 followed by 3.e5 Bf5 or 3.Nc3/3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6. With cutting-edge analysis, thorough explanations of positional motifs and instructively annotated illustrative games, this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Caro-Kann.

Lars Schandorff is a Danish grandmaster who is renowned for his opening preparation and skills as an author.

“To utilize the Giuoco Pianissimo successfully, a club player needs only to master the general ideas of this setup, without overloading their brain with hundreds of variations. At the same time, they find themselves in the pleasant company of the world’s elite, and may even pick up recommendations to improve their opening from top grandmasters. Of course, such interactions will bring an amateur some concrete benefits in the opening, but more importantly it will increase their understanding of the game as a whole, because they will start to learn from the games of high-level players, with a vested interest!” ~ Alexander Kalinin & Nikolai Kalinichenko

This book is written with the intention to introduce the reader to the creative chess ideas of Michael Basman. He gave up more intense regular tournament chess around the turn of the millennium, to concentrate his energy on the development of school chess. And that is what he is mainly known for in recent times, as the motor who made the UK Chess Challenge blossom. Nowadays the yearly nation-wide school competition still attracts around 40,000 children, and that is not even the record. […]

In my first volume of the Anti-Sicilians, we will be examining the Rossolimo variation. The Sveshnikov and Classical Sicilians, where Black begins with 2 ... Nc6, have consistently been a popular way for Black to acquire counter-attacking chances straight from the opening. These openings are the favorites of many top level Grandmasters; none more so than Magnus Carlsen, who most famously fashioned the Sveshnikov Sicilian against Fabiano Caruana in the 2018 World Championship match. The Rossolimo variation with 3.Bb5 is the clearest indication that we are attempting to frustrate Black’s counterplay. By delaying opening the center, we can simply wait for Black to show us how he intends to continue before we make any big commitments. Most importantly, we have the positional threat of Bxc6, which Black has to be wary of if he himself tries to open the center too quickly. In nearly all variations our principal aim is to achieve rapid development, ensuring optimal conditions for a timely central break. In the main three systems (3 ... d6, 3 ... e6 and 3 ... g6), my multiple suggestions are based on the dual concepts of playing as actively as possible, whilst simultaneously frustrating Black’s ideals.

Europe's youngest FIDE accredited trainer, IM Armin Juhasz, is an active player and a successful coach living in Budapest, Hungary. Born in 1998 he is currently 22 years of age and earned the IM title when 17. In 2016 he achieved his highest ELO of 2424. Armin has twice won the Hungarian Youth Championship.

Justin Tan is an International Grandmaster who has represented Australia in numerous international events. He is currently based in the UK and was previously British under-21 champion, British blitz champion and joint second runner-up at the British Championship.

Justin has been a l.e4 specialist throughout his playing career and is recognised for his deep opening preparation, especially in the open games. He is a monthly columnist for ChessPublishing's section on 1.e4, where he publishes his analyses of key 1.e4 games and the latest trends.

The first volume dealt with the Najdorf and Scheveningen variations, and it is now time to pay attention to three other extremely popular systems: the Taimanov, Kan and Richter-Rauzer variations. After careful consideration within the Thinkers Publishing team, we decided that it made sense to group these variations together. In particular, the first two are closely related and share the feature that, in both cases, Black plays …e7-e6 and …a7-a6 at an early stage. They typically have the idea of retaining more options for their king’s bishop by postponing …d7-d6 (or even omitting it entirely.) The bishop may go to b4 or c5 in different lines.

The Sicilian Defence is the most popular reply to 1 e4. With 1...c5 Black comes out fighting, immediately challenging any sense of a “natural white advantage”. Sicilian Defence players are often very well prepared theoretically and the tremendous dynamism of the Sicilian can often disturb their opponents. In this book, German FIDE master Jonas Hacker provides a complete repertoire for White when facing the Sicilian. The recommended systems are based on solid strategic considerations. The backbone of the repertoire is the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 f3!? This is a perfect line to throw Najdorf and Dragon players off their stride. White will (usually) follow up with c2-c4 and establish a useful space advantage. Many of the other recommended lines are also based around the space-gaining c2-c4 advance providing cohesion across the whole repertoire.

In Opening Repertoire: Beating the Sicilian, Jonas Hacker guides the reader through the complexities of the Sicilian and carves out a repertoire for White. He examines all aspects of this highly complex opening and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening and contains instructive commentary on typical middlegame plans.

- A complete repertoire for White against the Sicilian.

- A question and answer approach provides an excellent study method.

Jonas Hacker is a German FIDE Master. He has more than five years teaching experience and is a professional chess coach.

The Modern Benoni is one of the most controversial but also dynamic answers to 1.d4.

This opening remained the favorite of famous attacking players as Tal, Kasparov, Gashimov and Topalov.

From the outset, Black creates a new pawn structure and deploying his active piece play against White’s central majority.

In his book, Alexey Kovalchuk focuses on a set of new ideas and deep analyses supported by his silicon friends. His book supplies all Black needs to know to fight for the initiative from move two!

006 Key to Symbols

009 Foreword by Le Quang Liem

010 Introduction

PART I - Alternatives to the modern major lines

015 Chapter 1 - Questionable setups for Black

019 Chapter 2 - Bird’s Defense

031 Chapter 3 - Schliemann Defense

053 Chapter 4 - Cozio Defense

073 Chapter 5 - Smyslov Defense

091 Chapter 6 - Classical Defense

111 Chapter 7 - Steinitz Defense

145 Chapter 8 - Norwegian Variation

151 Chapter 9 - Averbakh Variation

PART II - Berlin Defense

173 Chapter 10 - 4.0-0: Sidelines on move 4

179 Chapter 11 - 4.0-0: Sidelines on move 5 and 6

201 Chapter 12 – 4.0-0: Black plays 7...Nf5

239 Chapter 13 – 4.0-0: Black plays 7...Nxe5

303 Chapter 14 - 4.d3: Sidelines on move 4

315 Chapter 15 - 4.d3: Black plays 4...d6

337 Chapter 16 - 4.d3: Black plays 4...Bc5

PART III - Ruy Lopez Open Defense

391 Chapter 17 - Sidelines on move 6 and 7

405 Chapter 18 - White plays 8.Nxe5

425 Chapter 19 - White plays 8.dxe5 (9...Bc5 and 9...Nc5)

469 Chapter 20 - White plays 8.dxe5 (9...Be7)

SPIS TREŚCI:

006 Key to Symbols

009 Foreword by Le Quang Liem

010 Introduction

PART I – Systems with ... Bc5

015 Chapter 1 – Moller Defense

057 Chapter 2 – Archangelsk Defense

PART II – Closed Ruy Lopez

105 Chapter 3 – Rare Lines

135 Chapter 4 – Zaitsev Variation

173 Chapter 5 – Chigorin Variation

201 Chapter 6 – Breyer Variation

225 Chapter 7 – Anti-Marshall

PART III – Modern Line with d3

287 Chapter 8 – Rare Lines

297 Chapter 9 – Main Line

Pentala Harikrishna shows you the ins and outs of the French Defense.