Opening Books

The French Defence is coming back to fashion again! One of the leaders in the 2020 Candidates tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi, successfully staked on it. Lately World champion himself also embraced the French several times. A great expert of this opening is the last challenger for the world title Fabiano Caruana. The French became a real arena of the battle of the engines – neural network genius Leela was confidently repelling the attacks of its powerful rivals. The author’s view on the French allows Black to obtain fresh creative positions without having to compete with deep knowledge in well trodden paths. The theoretical material is based on the author’s tournament practice, and passed the test at a GM level during the writing of the book.

International Master Christof Sielecki presents a repertoire for Black based on the Nimzo-Indian and Bogo-Indian defences. The Nimzo-Indian has always enjoyed a reputation as a dynamic, reliable defence against 1 d4 and continues to be as popular as ever at all levels. When White avoids the Nimzo-Indian with 3 Nf3 or 3 g3, however, Black needs to find another solution. Sielecki solves this perennial problem by also offering a repertoire with the Bogo-Indian Defence. In both the Nimzo and the Bogo-Indian, Sielecki focuses on lines in which Black adopts a dark-square strategy. This creates a system-type approach which links the variations to a common theme, making the repertoire much easier to learn and understand. Using illustrative games, Sielecki examines the typical tactics and strategies for both sides, and highlights key move order issues. This book tells you all you need to know about playing the Nimzo and Bogo-Indian.

In the Alekhine Defence, contrary to the classical methods of playing in the opening, Black does not fight for the centre with his pawns, but begins to exert immediate pressure against White’s centre. Black’s knight on f6 attacks the pawn on e4, and if it advances, then Black’s d-pawn joins into the attack against it. The Alekhine Defence is particularly applicable in encounters against players who are inferior in class, as well as in games with a short time-control. This opening is not used so often in practice, so your opponent might lose plenty of time to recollect the opening theory. That might prove to be a very negative factor for him in the forthcoming fight.

When deciding upon a repertoire to meet 1 d4, those players whose natural inclination is to be aggressive have a difficult decision. There are plenty of outright counter-attacking tries such as the Benko Gambit, the King's Indian Defence and the Modern Benoni. However, such openings are generally considered borderline unsound at the higher levels. On the other hand the safe options such as the Queen's Gambit Declined and Queen's Gambit Accepted make it difficult to create middlegame complications. So, what to do?

Play the Semi-Slav! (1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c6). This line provides a great balance between solidity and dynamism. The opening is undoubtedly sound but also contains plenty of latent aggressive possibilities. The Semi-Slav is also one of those openings that will repay players who enjoy studying the game. The lines are intricate and the player who is better prepared will have a substantial edge.

In this book Nicolas Yap uses the Semi-Slav as the basis for a complete repertoire with Black when facing 1 d4. Many lines based on an early Bf4 have become popular in recent years and strong counters are provided for all of them.

– A thorough, in-depth examination of a complex modern variation.

– A complete repertoire for Black against 1 d4.

– The question and answer method continually tests the reader's understanding.

My First Repertoire for Black

The companion to Vincent Moret’s popular White repertoire, this book does the same job for the other side of the board: a complete, ready-to-play set of Black openings for the player who wants something sound and understandable rather than a thicket of theory to memorise.

Against 1.e4 the recommendation is the Scandinavian — specifically the lively Portuguese Variation, with its early ...Bg4 and gambit ideas — chosen because it leads to clear, comfortable development and the same kinds of positions game after game. Against 1.d4 Moret gives the Stonewall, a solid "unbreachable fortress" set-up, and the book rounds out the repertoire with sensible answers to the English, the Réti, and the various irregular first moves.

The guiding principles are the same throughout the series: lines that don’t date quickly, don’t demand heavy memorisation, and are easy for an improving player to absorb. Every chapter is reinforced with exercises so you learn the typical plans and tactics, not just the move order.

Ideal for juniors and adult improvers assembling their first real Black repertoire — and a natural pairing with My First Repertoire for White.

Grandmaster Repertoire - 1.e4 vs The Sicilian II

Grandmaster Repertoire – 1.e4 vs The Sicilian II is the second volume of Parimarjan Negi's elite White repertoire against the Sicilian. Where Volume I was devoted to the Najdorf, this book takes on three separate battlegrounds.

Negi gives deep, ambitious recommendations against the Dragon and Accelerated Dragon, against the Richter-Rauzer, and against the …e5 Sicilians — the Sveshnikov, Kalashnikov and Löwenthal — each backed by the original, top-level analysis that made the series famous.

This is a theory-intensive repertoire, not a light read: the lines are sharp and the coverage thorough, aimed at players who want a genuine advantage against these dynamic defenses and are willing to put in the work.

Best suited to strong, ambitious 1.e4 players — tournament competitors and aspiring masters — who are not afraid to play the Open Sicilian.

In this first volume of Cheparinov’s 1.d4! readers will find my own way of working on openings, and the way I analyze. Many of the lines and conclusions in this book are based not only on computer evaluation, but also on the practical point of view. Of course all the lines have been deeply analyzed by strong engines, and although I am sure they are not perfect, the most important thing is that all evaluations are based on my own understanding and knowledge of chess. I believe this book should be used as a starting point, from which to build progress in opening preparation. In the book I reveal many new ideas and concepts. The first volume of the series focuses on 3.f3 against the Grünfeld and King’s Indian, two of the most popular openings against 1.d4. I tried to discuss all possible lines for Black after 3.f3, but of course focused on the most principled ones. Most of the lines are very double-edged. I have revealed some very interesting options for Black as well. This is one of the things that I do in my opening preparation – I look at the openings for both sides. I believe this is very important, because it gives you a realistic view of things. For White I tried to give the lines that I believe are not only the best, but also give Black problems to solve during the game.

A completely revised edition, which retains the strucure of the first edition but is based on new analysis of all critical lines.

This book presents a Black repertoire based on the Scandinavian Defence with 3...Qd6. This is the safest yet aggressive queen retreat. It allows Black to increase pressure on d4 with ...0-0-0 or ...Rd8 while keeping coordination in the centre. Kotronias offers new plans for Black in the most topical lines. They are backed with deep analysis based on solid chess understanding.

GM Vassilios Kotronias is ten-time champion of Greece and a famous theoretician. His peak rating so far was 2628.

The Carlsbad Pawn Structure is one of the most important and instructive pawn structures in chess. It commonly arises from the Queen's Gambit Declined, Exchange Slav, and other 1.d4 openings, offering a wealth of strategic ideas for both sides. This structure has been studied extensively by many world champions, including Capablanca, Karpov, and Petrosian, due to its rich positional themes.

This textbook is a must-study for any serious chess player. It provides a deep understanding of long-term plans and strategic maneuvering. If you want to improve your positional play, mastering this structure will give you a huge edge in tournament games.

* Final Rating: 9/10 - A timeless and instructive pawn structure that belongs in every player's repertoire.

In the epic book French GM Christian Bauer will be your truthful chess guide!

The French Defence is a highly reliable response to 1.e4 which is popular at all levels. With the first two moves, Black creates a solid foundation in the centre and seeks to put pressure on White’s position in the early middlegame. In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala explains the basic ideas in the French and examines the important variations. The key ideas are emphasized with notes, tips and warnings and the reader’s understanding is tested with frequent exercises. This book tells you everything you need to know in order to take your first steps with the French Defence.

First Steps books are based around carefully selected instructive games which demonstrate exactly what both sides are trying to achieve. There is enough theory to enable the improving player to get to grips with the opening without feeling overwhelmed. If you want to take up a new opening, First Steps is the ideal place to start.

Seizing the Initiative: The 1.e4 Repertoire presents a complete 1.e4 repertoire for White built on active, purposeful chess. The emphasis is on high-reward lines that create pressure, generate attacking chances and force Black onto the defensive, without compromising soundness at a serious level of play.

Combining ambition with sound judgement, GM Gawain Maroroa Jones offers a thorough revamping of his acclaimed Coffeehouse Repertoire. This first volume focuses exclusively on meeting the Sicilian Defence with a cohesive, practically dangerous and theoretically trustworthy set of weapons. Volumes 2 and 3 will complete the repertoire.

Gawain Maroroa Jones is an English grandmaster, three-time British Champion and winner of the 2020 European Blitz Championship. He has defeated some of the world’s best players using the ideas recommended in this book.

I decided to write about something that I would be interested to learn myself. In this book: • I show what preparation for a game by a 2650 player looks like. In chess, we only see the game on the stage, and can only guess at what is hidden behind the scenes. Top players can't reveal this, nor can their seconds, so I decided – who, if not me? • I show my preparation for games, accompanied by analyses that I consider enough to apply the opening line. • I show how I outplay opponents, not with powerful opening preparation, but by leading them into positions that are pleasant for me or unpleasant for them. • I explain things that many players do not pay attention to in terms of opening preparation and preparation for an opponent.

Practical Black Repertoire with d5, c6 Volume 1

This book is built on a clever, economical idea: combine the Slav and the Caro-Kann into a single ...d5/...c6 system, so that the same structures and plans serve you against almost everything White can open with. Learn one set of ideas and you are equipped against 1.d4, 1.c4, and 1.Nf3 alike.

The practical payoff is real. After 1.c4 Black can simply play 1...c6 without fearing 2.e4, and many of White’s most annoying tries — including London System lines — transpose into harmless, familiar Caro-Kann or Slav positions where Black already knows the plan. That overlap dramatically cuts the amount of theory you must carry.

Volume 1 covers the Slav complex in detail: the Exchange and main-line Slav, the various ...Bg4 and ...Bf5 set-ups, the Qb3 and g3 systems, and the sharp lines after 5.Bg5, all in the Chess Stars format of clear theory plus complete annotated games.

A solid, unified repertoire for club players and above who want a dependable, low-maintenance answer to the whole family of queen’s-pawn and flank openings, rather than memorising a separate defence for each.

The Elephant Gambit is perhaps the boldest opening in all of chess theory. By meeting 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 with 2...d5!?, Black takes the fight to his opponent and aims to seize the initiative as early as possible. The Exhilarating Elephant Gambit offers a complete repertoire for Black, based on 3.exd5 Bd6 or 3.Nxe5 Bd6 4.d4 dxe4. In return for the sacrificed pawn, Black ensures himself of quick and active development with most of his pieces pointing menacingly towards the enemy kingside. Attacking and other tactical resources abound, with a future ...e4-e3 advance often mauling White’s position like an Elephant’s tusk. With original analysis of all variations and improvements against all published “refutations”, this book contains everything you need to shock, surprise and stampede your opponents.

Grandmaster Simon Williams was taught the English Opening at the age of six and 1.c4 was his weapon of choice until long after he became an International Master. For this new work, he teamed up with acclaimed theoretician International Master Richard Palliser to explore his old favourite. 1.c4 remains an excellent choice for the club and tournament player. This book focuses on the set-up popularised by the sixth world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, the so-called Botvinnik formation with 2.Nc3, 3.g3, 4.Bg2, 5.e4 and 6.Nge2. This system is compact but still aggressive and rewards an understanding of plans and strategies rather than rote memorisation of moves. In Opening Repertoire: The Iron English leading chess authors Simon Williams and Richard Palliser guide the reader through the complexities of this dynamic variation and carves out a repertoire for White. They examine all aspects of this highly complex opening and provide 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.

The Modern Defence is an opening that will appeal to player of an experimental nature. Black allows White to establish an apparently impressive position in the centre. The plan is to use this structure as a target – it will be restrained, undermined and eventually destroyed. When this plan works it can succeed beautifully but, naturally, if Black’s play is inaccurate there is a danger of being overwhelmed. For this reason a thorough understanding of the intricacies of this opening is essential. Opening Repertoire: The Modern Defence 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. The suggested lines for Black are based around the very latest games and analysis.

The Dragon is one of the most thrilling chess openings and a favorite of attacking players. This volume deals with the 9.0–0–0 variation of the Yugoslav Attack, along with the Classical and White’s various other tries.

The King’s Indian Defense has a reputation as a sharp combative opening where Black aims to attack on the kingside, usually through a pawn storm supported by heavier artillery.

Meet the Makogonov Variation!

In this line of the King’s Indian, it is frequently Black who will be the target of White’s aggression. Black’s standard plans usually result in either a passive position with little hope of counterplay or facing down a kingside attack by White. In this work, you will find forty-six thoroughly analyzed main games with lots of explanations and additional analysis as well as a 'Quick Repertoire' that will allow you to play the opening in your games after a minimal amount of study time. It is time to take your opponents out of their comfort zone and right into yours!

The Powerful Catalan

The Catalan is one of the most respected weapons in modern chess: White fianchettoes the king’s bishop and uses its long-range pressure on the a8–h1 diagonal to squeeze Black for the entire game. It is a favourite of elite strategists like Kramnik and Anand precisely because it combines rock-solid safety with lasting, unpleasant pressure. In this book Victor Bologan turns it into a complete White repertoire.

Bologan covers everything Black can try, including the attempts to dodge the Catalan by steering toward the Queen’s Indian or Tarrasch structures. The book is classically organised — starting with the rarer sidelines and building toward the most important main lines, such as the critical Open Catalan where Black grabs the c4-pawn and White plays for long-term compensation.

Throughout, the recommendations are backed by original analysis of recent tournament games and explained with the clarity Bologan is known for, so you grasp the recurring plans — the pressure on the queenside, the central breaks, the typical endgames — rather than just memorising moves.

A complete, ambitious Catalan repertoire for club players and above who want a sound but genuinely pressing way to play for the advantage with White after 1.d4.

(Free re-downloadable for those who purchased the first edition!) One of the remarkable things about the Accelerated Dragon is its appeal to players with vastly different styles. In this book International Master Raja Panjwani presents a repertoire for Black demonstrating a dynamic way to fight 1.e4 from the second move.

King's Indian Warfare

This is not a repertoire book but something rarer: a master class in the King’s Indian told through the games of a lifelong expert. Grandmaster Ilya Smirin has played the King’s Indian his whole career, and here he annotates his best efforts with it — with a foreword by his friend and compatriot Boris Gelfand.

The selection is thematic rather than theoretical. Chapters group the games by the ideas that make the King’s Indian so dangerous: the long-range power of the dark-squared bishop, opening lines toward the enemy king, deliberately wrecking your own pawn structure for activity, nimble knight manoeuvres, and the famous "kamikaze" rook sacrifices of the kingside attack. A highlight is his mini-match record against former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, which Smirin won 2½–1½.

Because the lessons come through complete, deeply annotated games, you absorb not just moves but the attacking instinct and judgement behind them — including, refreshingly, a chapter on two of his favourite losses, where the same fire backfired.

Ideal for club players and above who already play, or want to understand, the King’s Indian as an attacking weapon. Read it for inspiration and pattern-knowledge rather than line-by-line preparation.

This book presents a Black repertoire against the opening hit of the year – the London System, which arises after 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4. The author also covers various move orders with 2.Nf3 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5. Kiril Georgiev analyses several different set-ups for Black, so the book would be of help to White players, too