In the Alapin System White's strategic idea is extremely simple. He prepares to advance with d2-d4, to build a solid pawn centre and then dictate the play. He will have to pay for this with the fact that his queen's knight has been deprived of the best square for its development, but it may have other suitable squares (in many variations this will be not the d2-square but a3). Secondly, it very often happens that after d4 cxd4 cxd4, White's queen's knight still gets access to its best square on c3. The modern evaluation of this system is that Black has comfortable enough lines in which he can obtain an acceptable game. The authors try to prove that not all of these lines are equally good.
Igor Lysyi: “I worked hard at mastering 1…е7-е5 for Black….
GM Dreev offers a new look at the old system 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Bb5 Nge7 which is one of the most challenging ways to combat the Spanish.
A completely updated edition which presents a Black repertoire based on the French.
This book offers to meet the new challenges to Black by building an English Hedgehog formation. It is all the more convincing as it is based on the successful practical experience of one of the authors.
Famous Grandmaster Victor Bologan offers a complete Black repertoire Based on “probably the most romantic response to 1.d4 (Bologan) – The King’s Indian Defence
GM Malaniuk has been the main driving force behind the Leningrad Variation for decades. He has found many original plans which turned this branch of the Dutch into an active and dangerous weapon.
This hefty book offers the results of S. Soloviov’s ten-year-long investigation of a nearly virgin territory of chess theory.
This book aims to arm White players adequately against Black’s most dangerous answer to 1.c4 – 1…e5. It is written from White’s standpoint, but it should also serve Black players since the authors often discuss several alternatives to the main lines. The focus is on the modern variations 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 and 4.d3.
This volume completes the coverage of the Modern English with a repertoire against 1...c5, 1...Nf6, and 1...e6. It is based on active fight for the centre by e3 and d4. It is written from White’s standpoint, but it should also serve Black players since the authors often discuss several alternatives to the main lines. The book follows the acclaimed Chess Stars structure with three sections in each chapter – “Main Ideas”, “Step by Step”, and “Annotated Games”.
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.