The King’s Indian Attack, featuring White’s early kingside fianchetto and d3, while usually involving the e4 advance and often a kingside pawn storm, was one of Bobby Fischer’s favourite openings. It is simple to learn without the need to worry about huge blocks of theory and it is taught through 77 illustrative games.
That said, being simple to learn doesn’t mean that the opening doesn’t have its fair share of excitement – and complications. It certainly has – both tactical and positional – once you get into the middlegame, but there is very little that you need to learn by heart after you digest the key ideas from the book’s introduction and illustrative games.
This book features eleven games with Fischer as White.
The book recommends White’s best easy-to-remember set ups against all of Black’s main replies. The key material is delivered as follows:
Chapter 1: The Reversed King’s Indian
Chapter 2: The Reversed Pirc
Chapter 3: KIA vs ...d5 ...c6 and ...Bxf3
Chapter 4: KIA vs ...d5 ...c6 and ...Bh5
Chapter 5: KIA vs Reversed London System
Chapter 6: KIA vs French Defence
Chapter 7: KIA vs ...e5/...d6 Structures
Chapter 8: KIA vs Reversed English Formations
The author himself is a frequent practitioner of the opening. The book features nine games with Cyrus as White and another three as Black. Further, he has taught it to numerous students over the years. Other games feature elite players including Carlsen, Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Petrosian, Botvinnik, Gukesh, Ding, Nepo, Nakamura, Pragg, Svidler, Giri, Timman, Kamsky, Polugaevsky, Erigaisi, Lilienthal and Stahlberg.
Chebanenko's move 4.a6 in the Slav Defence has grown into one of the main systems for Black as it is an extremely flexible and almost universal weapon against the Queen's Gambit. The Chebanenko Slav is very popular among top chess players, and club and internet players like it as well, because it offers Black solidity and active counterplay in all lines. Victor Bologan is a world-class chess player, writes in a very accessible style and has included many tips, tests and tools.
This opening manual completes the Black repertoire against the Sicilian that uses the Kalashnikov as the main line. When possible, Black will opt for the adventurous moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5, covered in the book King’s Kalashnikov. But everyone playing 1...c5 has to be ready when White chooses to avoid the Open Sicilian.
In this volume King gives you the answer to all of the so-called Anti-Sicilians, including the Rossolimo, the Alapin and the Grand Prix Attack. All other, less frequently played variations such as the Morra and the Wing Gambit, are covered as well.
Grandmaster Daniel King has extensive experience playing the Sicilian, having done so for over forty years. His clear explanations and practical approach will help you achieve your own successes with the Sicilian. Additionally, there is a selection of annotated model games by grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Daniel King, which demonstrate how the recommendations are applied in real games.
The two volumes provide a compact and versatile repertoire for Black, focusing on the most important lines, and always aiming for dynamic middlegame play.
Daniel King is an English chess grandmaster, coach, journalist, and broadcaster. He has authored dozens of chess books and courses on a range of topics, including opening preparation and the historical biography of Sultan Khan. His PowerPlay YouTube channel is a must-see destionation for chess players interested in elite chess events and chess book reviews.
Stjepan Tomić (chessreads.com)
“King's Anti-Sicilians is a book that accompanies Daniel King’s Kalashnikov, and with it creates a complete Sicilian repertoire for black. If you’re a Sicilian player and you want to play relatively rare, very sharp systems that will force white to either know tons of theory or improvise in madly complex positions, look no further! It may be insufficient for serious tournament players who may have to supplement it. Still, it will definitely be an easily digestible introduction to Anti-Sicilian variations for players of all levels.”
IM Gary Lane (Australian Chess)
“The explanations are clear and concise, which any club player would appreciate and applaud. This practical opening repertoire suddenly makes defending the Sicilian a lot easier.”
Jan Sybren Zagema (Schaaksite.nl)
“With practical recommendations and a dose of humor, King presents a repertoire in which dynamic and active counterplay is central. With his book King’s Kalashnikov Sicilian, King offers a complete repertoire for the Sicilian that many players will enjoy.”
Battling the Slow Italian Game dives deep into one of modern chess’s most fascinating battlefields. As the Italian Game has evolved from a quiet classical opening into a rich strategic arena, players are increasingly confronted with a critical choice: strike with sharp precision or maneuver with a refined positional touch.
This book explores that crossroads in detail. From dynamic pawn breaks and tactical ideas to subtle maneuvering plans and long-term structural considerations, it reveals how both approaches shape the struggle in the “slow” Italian. Each chapter contrasts concrete, forcing lines with more flexible setups, helping you understand not just what to play, but why different styles succeed in different positions.
Packed with modern theory, instructive model games, and practical recommendations, Battling the Slow Italian Game equips ambitious players with the tools to confidently face one of today’s most popular openings. Whether you thrive on calculation or prefer deep strategic planning, this book will sharpen your understanding and elevate your results in the Italian Game.
The Modernized Slav Defense presents a fresh and forward-looking approach to one of chess’s most reliable and respected openings. Long valued for its solid structure and positional resilience, the Slav Defense has evolved significantly in recent years—embracing dynamic ideas, sharper continuations, and modern move-order subtleties.
This book captures that evolution. Zaven explores contemporary interpretations of the Slav, highlighting flexible setups, timely pawn breaks, and energetic piece play that challenge the outdated notion of the Slav as merely “solid.” Through carefully selected theoretical lines, model games, and clear explanations, readers learn how today’s top players inject ambition and precision into this classical defense.
Designed for practical use at the board, The Modernized Slav Defense equips players with a complete, up-to-date repertoire against 1.d4. Whether you seek dependable foundations or modern counter-attacking chances, this book shows how the Slav Defense can meet the demands of modern chess with confidence and clarity.
In My First Chess Opening Repertoire you will learn how to play the opening. This book gives you a compact and easy-to-learn repertoire for White, starting with the move 1.e4. And it gives you a similar repertoire for Black, with answers to all of White's approaches.
For beginners and improvers, for anyone with a rating up to 1200 (or even higher!), there is probably no better guide than Christof Sielecki, who has already published four opening books and more than a dozen courses on the Chessable platform. He knows exactly what his students need and has indeed received thousands of five-star ratings. The author strikes the perfect balance between fun, easy to understand and theoretically sound opening choices. And he keeps it entertaining with attacking and counterattacking lines!
First you'll learn the general opening principles that will guide you in any situation - even if your opponent doesn't play the exact moves in the book. Then you'll learn specific variations that will improve both your opening play and your general understanding of chess.
With White you will start with 1.e4 and build your repertoire around timeless opening principles with logical moves that almost play themselves. With Black, for example, you will study the Sicilian Defence - an opening that guarantees you the most interesting games and the most attacking opportunities.
This repertoire will allow you to hit the ground running.
Christof Sielecki is an International Master from Germany. He has coached chess for many years and runs a popular YouTube channel called ChessExplained. He won numerous awards with his course on Chessable and has created three volumes of the Keep it Simple opening manuals.
Sean Marsh (CHESS magazine)
“If you are a club player needing to know the very basics of an opening repertoire, then this is the book for you.”
GM Matthew Sadler (New In Chess magazine)
“I’d have said that it was impossible, but reading through the book, I rarely came across any line where I felt that a line was cut short prematurely. Essentially, Sielecki has chosen his lines carefully to make this whole approach work well, and I guess that a lot of unseen work went into achieving this.“
Bored of the same old Spanish and Scotch? Smashing the Spanish! Stunning the Scotch! gives 1...e5 players a bold and practical way to take back the initiative. Face 3.Bb5 with the sharp and surprising Bird’s Defense (3...Nd4) and meet 3.d4 with the nearly forgotten Lolli Variation (3...Nxd4). Both are rare, under-analyzed, and perfect for unsettling White right out of the opening.
Inside, you'll find focused theory, practical guidance, and annotated games – all from Black’s perspective. No overloaded repertoires, just fresh, fighting lines ready for real play.
If you enjoy catching opponents unready and rewriting the script from move three, this book is for you.
Marek Soszynski is a Correspondence Chess Master and a Master of Philosophy. He has authored or co-authored a growing number of chess books including How to Think in Chess, The Great Reshevsky, and Double Trouble Scandinavian Style.
Si estás leyendo esto, es probable que ya conozcas la sensación: esa mezcla de tensión y solidez que se siente al mover 1...e6. He jugado la Defensa Francesa toda mi vida. Ha sido mi trinchera, mi arma de contraataque y, a veces, mi salvavidas en posiciones donde otros habrían colapsado. La conozco íntimamente, no porque haya memorizado mil variantes de una base de datos, sino porque he sufrido y disfrutado sus estructuras en el tablero, con el reloj corriendo y la adrenalina a tope.
Y aquí es donde quiero ser brutalmente honesto contigo: memorizar variantes no te hará un mejor jugador de Francesa. Veo a demasiados estudiantes (y a muchos maestros) caer en la trampa de la "teoría moderna". Se aprenden de memoria 25 jugadas de una línea recomendada por el motor, pero en cuanto el rival hace una jugada "humana" que no estaba en el archivo, se quedan en blanco. Saben la jugada, pero no entienden la posición. Este libro no está diseñado para que memorices; está diseñado para que absorbas patrones.
¿Por qué el estudio de "Partidas Modelo"? El ajedrez se juega por analogía. Cuando estás en la jugada 30, con apuros de tiempo, tu cerebro no calcula variantes infinitas; tu cerebro busca en su archivo interno y dice: "Esto se parece a aquella partida de Radjabov. Aquí el plan es romper con f6". Las 20 partidas que he seleccionado aquí no son aleatorias. Son la "crema y nata" de la práctica magistral de 2025. Son batallas vivas donde la teoría de la Variante Tarrasch (3.Cd2) se puso a prueba al máximo nivel.
Al estudiar estas partidas completas, desde la apertura hasta el final, lograrás algo que el estudio de variantes sueltas no puede darte:
– Entenderás las transiciones: ¿Cuándo cambiar el "alfil malo"? ¿Cuándo aceptar un Peón Aislado a cambio de actividad?
– Aprenderás a defender: La Francesa requiere nervios de acero. Verás cómo los GM de élite aguantan la presión y esperan el momento exacto para el contragolpe.
– Detectarás los finales típicos: Muchos de estos duelos se deciden en finales de torres o caballos que se repiten una y otra vez.
Una Nota sobre la Tecnología (Stockfish y Leela)
Para escribir este análisis, he utilizado la tecnología más avanzada disponible. He consultado los oráculos de silicio (Stockfish 16 y Leela Chess Zero) para asegurar la precisión táctica. No hay nada peor que un libro con errores de cálculo. Sin embargo, el motor es solo una herramienta de control de calidad, no el autor. El motor te dirá que una posición es "+0.45". Eso, para un humano, no significa nada. Mi trabajo aquí ha sido traducir ese número a lenguaje humano: explicarte por qué el blanco está mejor (espacio, casillas débiles) o por qué esa ventaja es ilusoria si el negro logra activar su alfil de casillas blancas. He mantenido las ideas humanas por encima de las líneas de computadora incomprensibles. Quiero que entiendas el plan, no que memorices el código binario.
Cómo usar este libro
No leas esto como una novela. Si tienes un tablero físico, úsalo. Si usas la pantalla de ForwardChess, detente en los momentos críticos. Intenta adivinar la jugada del Maestro antes de verla. Pregúntate: "¿Por qué rechazó el cambio de damas?" o "¿Por qué regaló ese peón?". Estas 20 partidas son un mapa del tesoro de la Francesa moderna. Si las estudias con profundidad, la próxima vez que te jueguen 3.Cd2, no estarás recordando líneas; estarás jugando con la experiencia prestada de los mejores del mundo. Bienvenido a la trinchera. Empecemos.
If you are reading this, you likely already know the feeling: that unique blend of tension and solidity that comes with playing 1...e6. I have played the French Defense my entire life. It has been my trench, my counter-attacking weapon, and at times, my lifeline in positions where others would have collapsed. I know it intimately, not because I memorized a thousand variations from a database, but because I have suffered and enjoyed its structures over the board, with the clock ticking and adrenaline pumping.
And this is where I want to be brutally honest with you: memorizing variations will not make you a better French Defense player. I see too many students (and even many masters) fall into the trap of "modern theory." They memorize 25 moves of a line recommended by an engine, but the moment the opponent plays a "human" move that wasn't in the file, they go blank. They know the move, but they don't understand the position. This book is not designed for you to memorize; it is designed for you to absorb patterns.
Why Study "Model Games"? Chess is played by analogy. When you are on move 30, in time trouble, your brain doesn't calculate infinite variations; your brain searches its internal archive and says: "This looks like that Radjabov game. The plan here is to break with f6." The 20 games I have selected here are not random. They are the "cream of the crop" of master practice from 2025. They are living battles where the theory of the Tarrasch Variation (3.Nd2) was tested at the highest level.
By studying these complete games, from opening to endgame, you will achieve something that studying isolated variations cannot give you:
– Understanding Transitions: When should you trade the "bad bishop"? When should you accept an Isolated Queen's Pawn (IQP) in exchange for activity?
– Learning to Defend: The French requires nerves of steel. You will see how elite GMs withstand pressure and wait for the exact moment to counterpunch.
– Recognizing Typical Endgames: Many of these duels are decided in rook or knight endgames that recur time and time again.
A Note on Technology (Stockfish and Leela)
To write this analysis, I have used the most advanced technology available. I have consulted the silicon oracles (Stockfish 16 and Leela Chess Zero) to ensure tactical precision. There is nothing worse than a book with calculation errors. However, the engine is merely a quality control tool, not the author. The engine might tell you a position is "+0.45". For a human, that number means nothing. My job here has been to translate that number into human language: to explain why White is better (space, weak squares) or why that advantage is illusory if Black manages to activate their light-squared bishop. I have prioritized human ideas over incomprehensible computer lines. I want you to understand the plan, not memorize binary code.
How to Use This Book
Do not read this like a novel. If you have a physical board, use it. If you are using the ForwardChess screen, pause at critical moments. Try to guess the Master's move before revealing it. Ask yourself: "Why did he reject the queen trade?" or "Why did he sacrifice that pawn?". These 20 games are a treasure map of the modern French. If you study them deeply, the next time someone plays 3.Nd2 against you, you won't be recalling lines; you will be playing with the borrowed experience of the best players in the world. Welcome to the trench. Let’s begin.
The Benko and Blumenfeld Gambits have, for decades, been known as ways for Black to fight for the initiative.
While the Benko Gambit has its foundation in positional ideas, the Blumenfeld Gambit is more of a traditional gambit: play for a lead in development, a broad center, and ultimately an attack.
In this book, FM Carsten Hansen covers one hundred miniature games (games that are decided in 25 moves or fewer) across all variations of the Benko and Blumenfeld Gambits: The material is split up into the following chapters:
– Chapter 1: 4.Nf3
– Chapter 2: 4.Qc2, 4.a4 and other 4th Move Options
– Chapter 3: 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3
– Chapter 4: 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6
– Chapter 5: 4.cxb5 axb5 5.f3
– Chapter 6: 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3
– Chapter 7: 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 – 5th and 6th Move Alternatives
– Chapter 8: Accepted – White plays a quick e2-e4
– Chapter 9: Accepted – Fianchetto Lines
– Chapter 10: Blumenfeld Gambit: 5.Bg5 & Minor Lines
– Chapter 11: Blumenfeld Gambit: Accepted
– Chapter 12: The Dzindzi-Indian
Throughout the book, there are hundreds of puzzle positions for both players, where you will be challenged to find the best move or to figure out why a certain move does or does not work.
If you play the Benko or Blumenfeld Gambits (or both), this book will help you be better prepared to recognize tactical patterns for both sides.
In 1904, the American chess player Frank James Marshall was at the top of his game. He had won several tournaments in a row, including the prestigious event in Cambridge Springs 1904, ahead of the reigning world champion Dr. Emanuel Lasker.
In the present work, the reader will find:A biographical sketch of Frank J. Marshall
– Opening Analysis of all relevant openings (as they looked in 1904)
– A selection of thirty-two of his best and most interesting games from the period 1899-1904, all annotated by contemporary players, including many by Marshall himself.
– All games and analyses have been thoroughly reviewed, updated, and expanded by FIDE master Carsten Hansen.
Award-winning author Charles Hertan knows what kids really need to know (and want to know) about getting their pawns and pieces ready for action.
Traditional chess opening books concentrate on the variations in different openings. Charles Hertan believes that for beginners and advanced beginners memorizing lines is not only boring but also a waste of time.
Hertan’s approach is different.
He helps kids to develop a solid understanding of the fundamental opening principles. What are the properties of each chess piece, and how can they be mobilized effectively to work together and get a strong position on the board?
In his trademark humorous and kidfriendly way, Hertan teaches what you should actually be trying to achieve at the start of a game. Kids will love learning how to avoid The Five Most Common Opening Mistakes.
This is a fun, easy-to-use, down-to-earth and accessible chess opening primer.
Charles Hertan is a FIDE Master from Massachusetts who has been teaching kids for more than thirty years. He won the ChessCafe Book of the Year Award and authored the best-selling Power Chess for Kids books.
Sean March, CHESS Magazine (UK):
"I like the way in which Hertan breaks down the section on development to focus on each individual piece (..) The explanatory notes are perfectly accessible to juniors and novices (..) A very accessible book for juniors to take thier first steps into opening theory."
Max Euwe Centre, Amsterdam:
"In his newest book Hertan discusses good opening play. He starts with basic principles such as development and activitiy. Hertan also gives advice on how to play certain openings and tips on errors he sees children make. An entertaining book."
IM Dirk Schuch, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"Very good for trainers or parents with a chess background."
GM Paul Motwani:
"Excellent. Ideal for young players who already have basic knowledge of the rules of the Royal Game, including how the chess pieces and pawns move, and are now looking to improve to the next level and beyond."
John Hartmann, Chess Life Magazine (US):
"Hertan's basic strategy --investigating what each piece 'likes' to unpack good piece play-- is solid and his ideas-based approach of the opening is good for beginners."
Kees de Groot, Reformatorisch Dagblad:
"Hertan's clear explanations are never infantile. That's why this book will also appeal to adults."
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