Generally recognized as the world's greatest expert on the c3 Sicilian, Russian grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov has written the definitive book on this fascinating opening. Sveshnikov covers all lines of the c3 (or Alapin) Sicilian and explains the history, the basic ideas and the latest developments from recent grandmaster practice. With hundreds of games, accessibly explained, and many exercises. A special and attractive feature is a listing of 'opening catastrophes' in the c3 Sicilian. A magnificent, up-to-date, clear-headed and well-structured book.
Modern Reti
The Réti is the connoisseur’s way to open: 1.Nf3 followed by 2.c4, sidestepping reams of 1.d4 and 1.e4 theory while keeping all the flexibility of a flank opening. This book turns it into a complete White repertoire against Black’s most principled reply, 1...d5.
The treatment is organised by Black’s set-up after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. White is given clear, modern answers to the Queen’s-Gambit-Accepted-style 2...dxc4, the space-grabbing 2...d4 "reversed Benoni", and — most importantly — the solid ...c6 and ...e6 systems, where the book supplies detailed anti-Slav, anti-Chebanenko, anti-Meran and anti-Queen’s-Gambit plans, often with a quiet e3/b3 structure.
In the Chess Stars house style, each line comes in three layers — a "Main Ideas" overview, a detailed "Step by Step" theoretical section, and complete annotated games — so you can engage with the material at whatever depth you need.
A practical, low-theory repertoire for club players and above who want to steer the game into strategically rich middlegames on their own terms, rather than memorising the latest main-line theory.
The main goal in choosing lines was to reach positions with well-defined plans for both sides, then illustrate how to handle a typical middlegame in each variation through the use of well-chosen instructive games.
When Viktor Moskalenko’s The Flexible French appeared in 2008 it became something of a cult favourite — praised everywhere as fresh, inspiring, and unusually fun to read. This is his full revision of that modern classic: same broad structure, but rebuilt around a decade of new theory, with hundreds of fresh ideas, improvements, and surprise weapons added.
It is a complete repertoire for Black after 1.e4 e6, organised by White’s main systems. The Advance, Tarrasch, Classical, and Winawer each get their own section, and a final part offers off-beat answers to the Exchange French, the King’s Indian Attack, and other sidelines that French players meet in practice.
What sets the book apart is Moskalenko’s style. Rather than dumping variations, he teaches the French as a living, dynamic opening — full of the counterattacking resources, pawn breaks, and piece manoeuvres that give Black the initiative. He writes with genuine enthusiasm, flagging the critical ideas and the traps in each line, and even points out resources for White along the way, so you understand both sides of the battle.
Best suited to club players and above who want a French repertoire built on understanding and active play rather than memorisation. If you already own the 2008 edition, this is a thorough update rather than a cosmetic one.
The Mar Del Plata is probably the single most comprehensive variation of the King’s Indian in terms of the volume of possibilities and strategic richness. Even aside from players who wish to incorporate the King’s Indian into their repertoire, I believe that study of these positions is essential for all chess players, as the attacking and defensive ideas on display are such a fundamental and universal part of playing chess. Learning how to evaluate and compare the strength of each side’s attacking potential is a paramount skill which can be applied all throughout your chess career.
A number of systems in the labyrinth of the Sicilian Defense involve the idea of increasing central pressure by playing ...Qb6. The main object of this early queen move is to decentralise the strongly placed white knight on the d4 square. The most direct way to apply this idea is the ‘Grivas Sicilian’, which arises after the moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6
This volume concludes Emanuel Berg’s ambitious three-part Black repertoire in the French Defence. Where the first two books built the aggressive Winawer (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4) into a complete weapon, Volume 3 covers everything else White can throw at the French — so that, taken together, the series answers 1.e4 e6 in full.
The heart of the book is the Advance Variation (3.e5), the most thematic French structure of all, where White grabs space with the d4–e5 pawn chain and Black undermines it with the standard ...c5 break. Berg gives Black a fighting, well-worked-out response to all of White’s tries here — 4.c3, 4.dxc5, 4.Qg4 and 4.Nf3 — along with complete coverage of the Tarrasch (3.Nd2), the Exchange Variation, the King’s Indian Attack, and the various sidelines that avoid 3.Nc3.
As a Grandmaster Repertoire title, the treatment is deep and concrete: this is serious, theory-rich analysis aimed at players who want to meet 1.e4 with the French as a genuine winning attempt, not merely a solid equaliser. Berg explains the typical plans and pawn breaks alongside the lines.
At 472 pages, it is a demanding book for ambitious club players and above. With Volumes 1 and 2 it forms one of the most complete and uncompromising French repertoires available to Black.
The English Opening is typically a solid and reliable opening for White, one where both sides develop their pieces to reasonable squares before the combat begins in earnest. The gambits covered in this book change that manuscript entirely. Before either side has completed any kind of development, Black tries to grab the initiative by sacrificing a pawn. Both gambits arise after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4!? 4.Ng5. The Adhiban Gambit then continues by Black playing 4...c6!?, intending to meet 5.Ngxe4 with 5...Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5, gaining time and space in the center, whereas the Bellon Gambit instead sees Black opt for the flank gambit 4...b5!?, hoping to build a large center. The Adhiban Gambit has only recently found its way into the limelight, whereas the Bellon Gambit has been around for more than 50 years and was once thought refuted, but is once more considered playable. Prepare to give White a ruthless wake-up call!
Do you want a simple and practical method to counter Black’s kingside fianchetto defences after 1 d4? A line that takes the initiative from a very early stage and creates difficult practical problems? If so, then The Harry Attack (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 h4!) is for you.
At first this looks like some sort of joke or, at the very least, a weird outlandish line. Aren’t we all taught to focus on development and control of the centre in the early stages? What’s 3 h4 got to do with that?
Perhaps surprisingly, this is a very difficult line for Black to counter effectively. This applies not just in practical play but also theoretically, where it is far from straightforward for Black even to find a route to equality. And when Black gets it wrong they are often on the receiving end of a very unpleasant miniature.
You may be thinking that surely the best chess engines can show how to counter this line? No! One of the unexpected features of leading engine play is their enthusiasm for shoving the h-pawn up the board and they fully concur that 3 h4! is a very decent move for White. Many leading players have taken the hint and 3 h4 is frequently seen at elite level.
Richard Palliser and Simon Williams (the GingerGM) provide a thorough guide to this fascinating line. They show how to adapt when Black chooses a King’s Indian set-up, a Grünfeld set-up, a Benoni set-up or even plays in Benko style.
The Harry Attack is easy to learn and is perfect for unsettling players steeped in the theory of their favourite Indian defences.
Welcome to an aggressive but sound gambit system against the Dutch Defense! Who would not want to play a system against an opening that is theoretically sound, promises good attacking chances and avoids learning reams of theory about the Leningrad Dutch, the Stonewall or the Classical Dutch, opening set-ups our opponent knows everything about? This book explores such a system for White with a complete repertoire based on the Staunton Gambit. A repertoire for White, with attention for various alternatives White may choose from along the way, and an in-depth analysis of all of Black's responses.
The Staunton Gambit is a very rewarding opening. White’s piece development follows the classical principles of gambit play. White is ahead in development and obtains a fine initiative. Even without the theoretical knowledge of certain variations, White should be able to find his way. Best of all, White determines the direction of the game already on move two, without the risk of having to play the maneuvering games we know from the Leningrad Dutch, the Stonewall Dutch or the Classical Dutch.
Good luck with this opening. With the rigorous and engine-assisted analysis of old and new theory and over 160 years of practice, this book presents an aggressive, interesting and robust repertoire for White against the Dutch. Despite its long history there are still many opportunities for White to improve on well-known theory and grandmaster games. Recent developments and insights have considerably strengthened White’s theoretical case.
This all has once again made the Staunton Gambit a challenging variation for Black to meet when playing the Dutch. In games with a shorter time limit, the gambit has already made its comeback and has become a regular guest. I trust that this book will provide you with the basis for many victories against the Dutch!
1...b6 is a dynamic defence which allows Black to steer the game into relatively unchartered territory, where White players are unable to relax and rely on their 'opening book' knowledge. A major attraction of 1...b6 is that it can be employed against all of White's mainline openings, including 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala examines all the important variations after 1...b6. Using illustrative games, he explains the main positional and tactical ideas for both sides, provides answers to all the key questions and tells you everything you need to know about successfully playing 1...b6.
Do you play 1.d4, but feel discouraged by the seemingly limitless number of finely honed defensive systems available to Black? If you're put off by the idea of having to learn massive amounts of theory just to reach a playable middlegame, then The Richter-Veresov Attack: Qd3 Variation might be just what you're looking for.
Right away, you'll be taking your opponents out of their preparation and into your comfort zone. While the Richter-Veresov has developed its own "book" over the years, Eric Fleischman shows you how to bypass a lot of that body of theory, too, with an early deployment of the queen to d3, an idea sometimes known as the Amazon Attack.
Covering a wide range of setups that Black could adopt in response (including French, Caro-Kann, Indian, Benoni, and Dutch formations), the author uses games by international players and examples from his own play to show how experience and a sense of the position count for more than memorized lines in The Richter-Veresov Attack: Qd3 Variation.
Eric J. Fleischman received the title of National Chess Master from the U.S. Chess Federation in 1987 and the title of Original Life Chess Master in 2019. He has worked as a chess instructor, chess writer, and events promoter in the New York City metropolitan area.
Ntirlis and Aagaard radically change the theoretical lanscape for this classic opening.
SHORTLISTED: English Chess Federation Book of the Year 2013 Award!
Winning starts with planning before the game, teaches legendary chess coach Vladimir Tukmakov. In this ground-breaking book he shows how chess preparation has become a systematic process and how today’s top players make their game plans.
The most important aim of modern preparation, both for professionals and for ambitious amateurs, is to get a playable position that you understand better than your opponent.
The role of the computer in preparation has grown tremendously and Tukmakov explains how top grandmasters use their ‘Metal Friend’. He warns that professionals should not put too much trust in chess engines and should analyse more deeply themselves.
Club players, on the other hand, should reduce their time in front of the machine to a minimum. Tukmakov explains what amateurs should do in order to arrive at the board well-armed: study the classics, analyse your own games without a computer, and know yourself.
A special chapter is devoted to must-win situations: when the outcome of a tournament, a match or even a whole life depends on a single game. With lots of brilliant examples, inside information and amusing anecdotes, Modern Chess Preparation is not only highly instructive, but also a joy to read.
“Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent, and having a sober awareness of your own shortcomings, will pay dividends at any level, from beginners up to World Champions.”
A former Ukrainian champion, Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov (born 1946 in Odessa) won many tournaments and came second in three Soviet championships. After his active career he became an esteemed chess coach. He was non-playing captain of the Ukraine team that won gold at the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, 2004.
Martin Rieger, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"Tukmakov has created a unique symbiosis: a training book with stories. Qualifications such as 'brilliant' or 'wonderful' are really far too stale for this work (..) This book will most probably become a classic in chess literature."
IM Jeremy Silman, author of 'How to Reassess Your Chess':
"A fascinating and original (useful!) book about chess prep, but not the kind you've ever been exposed to before (..) Exhilarating reading (..) This chapter [2: 'The Computer Era'] is nothing less than brilliant (..) Overall this book is beautifully written and deeply thought out."
Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"The last chapter, 'Deciding Games', makes for fascinating reading. It is clearly a subject that has not been covered in great detail in any book that I can think of. It discusses how to approach those key games that can be last-round deciders, but even crucial games earlier in the tournament against key opponents."
Jonathan Adams, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"Easy to follow by the avarage club player."
GM Luke McShane:
"I really like this book (..) Tukmakov's discussion of the modern game is highly astute."
Babs Wiilders, Nederlands Dagblad:
"Covers all stages of the game, with both strategic and tactical perspectives (..) Splendid instructional material for every chess player who wants to get ahead."
IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering, ChessVibes:
"There is a lot of thought-provoking stuff in the book."
John D.Warth, Chess Club of Southern Indiana:
"Tukmakov's discussion is a broad one, citing games dating from 1891 up to 2011 (..) Along the way the author peppers his survey with advice, tidbits and common sense, with strong writing and a balanced approach (..) An important book on a much-neglected top ic."
Henk Prins, Reformatorisch Dagblad:
"The book gives important recommendations, also for amateur chess players, about how to use the computer."
Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Federation:
"Tukmanakov's writing style is very interesting, that is why 'Modern Chess Preparation' also entertains."
Elburg Chess Reviews:
"Well known chess coach Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov does not only provide the reader with a wealth of readable games, 91 of them, but above all, offers instructive advice that truly helps you to become a better player."
Harry Schaack, KARL Magazine:
"An original mix of chess history and tips for the modern praxis."
Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"At the end of each chapter the author gives recommendations for amateurs."
Richard Vedder, Schakers.info:
"Vladimir Tukmakov puts you on a trail that should lead to better results."
Igor Lysyi: “I worked hard at mastering 1…е7-е5 for Black….
A complete black repertoire with 1.e4 e5 against everything except the Ruy Lopez by Igor Lysyj and Roman Ovetchkin
John Watson and Eric Schiller provide club-players with solutions to a huge selection of rarely-played or tricky chess openings. They concentrate upon ideas and strategy, with enough analysis to satisfy the needs of practical play.
I have worked with the best, or perhaps it’s better to say that I have learned from the best; that’s how I can best describe this book, because I spent some time with Svetozar Gligoric in the early 2000s and the Nimzo-Indian was also present. I can’t really say that we went into great detail, but we certainly did discuss various systems. This book in particular is about the Rubinstein 4.e3 systems. Some of the material has been analyzed in my earlier book on the QGD and Nimzo, while some other material is presented in Volume 1 in this short series, which covers the Nimzo with 4.Bd2 and 4.Qc2. From other published books I used Gligoric’s book on the Nimzo-Indian and Ivan Sokolov’s book on the Nimzo with 4.e3. I found both books useful.
I need to give one explanation here and it’s about the Tal Variation because that system is treated also in my Volume 1, where I analyze the 4.Bd2 line. In this Volume 2 I have omitted all positions where White places a bishop on d2 early in the game, while Volume 1 deals exclusively with an early bishop to d2 move by White.
I hope readers will enjoy both of those books.
This book presents an opening repertoire for Black to players who are looking for initiative and counterplay in the Ruy Lopez.
We have analysed the most straightforward possibilities for White
This book is about the Nimzo-Indian Classical line 4.Qc2 (also known as the Capablanca Variation) and the 4.Bd2-line, for which basically I could not find an established name.
As far as I know, the 4.Bd2 line has never been covered in such a comprehensive way in any book before. In the text I suggest that this line should have the combined name of Tartakower-Duchamp line because Saviellly Tartakower played it often, while to my surprise Marcel Duchamp (who was also a famous French artist) played it too in the 1930s and indeed in a very good positional fashion against strong players. Some of those games are in the book.
Now this line enjoys greater popularity than ever before. About the Classical line with 4.Qc2 there is nothing much to add, except for the fact that it has become hugely popular, but unfortunately from my point of view it involves too much engine-style chess.
“Compared with the other books in this series, substantially more space is given to the analysis of the opening problems that confront a player in a particular game. The first half of the book is altogether devoted to opening preparation (although, as you will see, not only to this), and also in the second half nearly every game is accompanied by detailed opening information.
The main attraction of chess is its thematic content. I hope that this book, like the preceding ones, will provide a guide for you through the rich and diverse world of chess ideas, will help you to perceive the depth and beauty of schemes generated at the board, in tournament or match play, to disclose the causes of mistakes and to be aware of the hidden forces that determine the plans of chess encounters. As a result you will significantly improve your understanding of chess, and your practical playing strength will rise.”
— MARK DVORETSKY
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