Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of Benoni Systems. This book is a study of all the crucial Benoni systems apart from the Modern Benoni. It presents diverse and practical options against the queen's pawn opening for dynamic, tactical players and solid, positional players alike. Included are such daring defenses as the controversial Blumenfeld Counter-Gambit and the Benko Gambit, a favorite with uncompromising Grandmasters such as Veselin Topalov and Vassily Ivanchuk. On the other hand, Black also has the opportunity to adopt solid, respectable defenses such as the Czech Benoni and the Schmid Benoni. Whether Black likes to sacrifice and take the initiative, or whether he prefers to play in a more restrained manner, there is something here for all types of players.
In this user-friendly book, opening theoreticians Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik go back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Benoni Systems and its many variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings to help improving players, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.
User-friendly design to help readers absorb ideas
Concentrates on the key principles of Benoni systems
Ideal for improving players

Victor Korchnoi is one of the greatest figures in chess history, which he has helped to shape for nearly 50 years now. Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the aggressive style of the now over 70-year-old is undiminished and as awe-inspiring as ever. At tournaments with numerous entrants, the naturalised Swiss citizen leaves world-class players young enough to be his grandchildren far behind him. It is high time, therefore, to update Viktor Kortshnois autobiography "Chess is my life", which met with great interest on its publication more than 20 years ago. In long interviews, Victor Korchnoi has completely retold his life story. The memories of his childhood in the besieged Leningrad, his time as a student of the university of his home town (now Saint Petersburg), his rise to the top of the major chess power USSR and the years before and after his defection to the West in 1976 are also of significance as contemporary documents of a life spent in the former Soviet Union. The volume also includes many photographs as well as a number of games with comments in typical Korchnoi-style and which are of decisive importance for his brilliant chess career.

Anatoly Karpov is considered by many to be one of the greatest chess players of all time. He was the undisputed World Champion from 1975 to 1985, and also FIDE World Champion from 1993 to 1999. He was ranked the World's number one player for 90 months - second only to his greatest rival Garry Kasparov - and he won well over a hundred elite tournaments. Karpov possessed a deep positional understanding of the game and a fabulous intuitive feel for positions. His boa-constrictor style left many opponents wondering where exactly they went wrong. In this book, International Master Sam Collins selects and examines his favorite Karpov games, and shows us how we can all learn and improve our chess by studying Karpov's play. Move by Move provides an ideal platform to study chess. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of 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 improve your chess skills and knowledge. *Learn from the games of a chess legend *Important ideas absorbed by continued practice *Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study

Hold a galaxy of science-fantasy worlds in your fingertips with the Starfinder Deck of Many Worlds!

Arriving in a new system and curious about who (and what) lives there? Want a unique home planet for your player character?

Simply combine a few random cards from this 110-card deck to generate one of millions of possible worlds, complete with physical statistics, resident creatures, and much more—including intriguing story hooks that spur countless science-fantasy adventures!

Combinations are the central element in chess; they make the game so magical and captivating. The beautiful point of sacrificing a queen, the strongest piece, in order to checkmate with a lowly pawn brings a smile of joy to all chess lovers. Virtually all chess games possess a combination, either one hidden in the shadows of analysis carefully avoided or one that provides a decisive blow.
Winning Chess Combinations is a unique work that doesn't merely repeat the wonderfully rich and vast numbers of combinations, asking readers to solve a particular diagrammed position; it is a work that is far more realistic. A combination involves a sacrifice upsetting the balance of forces, but will it work or tragically boomerang? The reader is invited to solve this critical question by identifying the advantages that a specific position holds which might make the combination successful.
Winning Chess Combinations is the seventh in Yasser Seirawan's highly acclaimed Winning Chess series - PROBABLY THE BEST-SELLING SERIES OF CHESS BOOKS EVER PUBLISHED.

Tired of playing the same old openings? Worried about having to learn too much theory? Then this book is what you're looking for! International Master Angus Dunnington presents you with an all-new and attacking opening repertoire based on the move 1 d4. Rather than getting bogged down with theory, Dunnington concentrates on constructing easy-to-learn systems against all of Black's possible defences. He chooses lines which are fun to play, easy to learn and will pose your unsuspecting opponent lots of problems. * All possible defences to 1 d4 are covered * Written by a renowned openings expert * Ideal for club and tournament players

A game as complex as chess can be approached in an infinite number of ways. Nowadays, in the era of computer chess, GMs generally tend to focus their preparation on looking for playable ideas rather than outright refutations. In his second volume of work, Alex Ipatov once again shows his expertise and creative approach in this regard. The reader is presented with an abundance of interesting ideas for White which can pose real practical problems for Black.

The Open Spanish is one of Blacks most direct methods of fighting against the Ruy Lopez. Instead of subjecting himself to the so-called Spanish torture of the Closed Ruy Lopez, Black boldly captures the e4-pawn and provokes an early confrontation. Grandmaster Repertoire 13 The Open Spanish provides a complete repertoire for Black after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, based on the Open Variation which occurs after 5.00 Nxe4. Blacks system is built on the principles of fast and active development, and fighting for the initiative whenever the opportunity arises.

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. In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala invites you to join him in studying the Alekhine Defence. Black's idea in the Alekhine Defence is a bold one. By inviting White's central pawns to advance, Black hopes later on to undermine and demolish White's centre. This ambitious strategy appeals to players who enjoy sharp lines and positional imbalances. Using illustrative games, Lakdawala outlines a reliable repertoire for Black, examines 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 the Alekhine Defence. *Essential guidance and training in the Alekhine Defence *Presents a repertoire for Black with 1 e4 Nf6 *Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study

The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of Black's most reliable ways of meeting the queen's pawn opening. It's popular at all levels of chess and a constant source of anxiety for White players. How can White find a worthwhile line against this incredibly firm defense? How can White set his Nimzo opponent difficult tasks from the outset? Perhaps it's time to look somewhere different from the well-trodden main lines.
In this book Grandmaster and renowned openings expert Chris Ward investigates unusual white tries, including three uncompromising and underrated ways of battling against the Nimzo: the Samisch, the Leningrad and the 4 f3 variation. Each line is ideal for putting your opponent under immediate pressure from the start of the game. By studying the various strategies and tactics in these variations, White players can confidently arm themselves with three new menacing lines against the Nimzo, while Black players must again search carefully for antidotes!
*All the principal lines are covered
*Written by a renowned Nimzo-Indian expert
*Explains the basic elements, strategies and tactics for both sides
*Ideal for club and tournament players

Profoundly original discussion of pawn play isolates its elements and elaborates on various aspects. Basic relationships of one or two pawns constitute winning strategy. Multitude of examples demonstrate paramount significance of elements of pawn manipulation. "One of the few books...which, at a glance, one can recognize as an immortal."-Chess. 182 diagrams. Index of games.

The idea behind this book is for you to 'play' as in a real game, and it is my job to ensure you have a pleasant time while training. I suggest you take at least an hour and a half for each game and as your coach I will indicate when to guess the moves. Sometimes there will be suggestions - including tricky ones - to measure your concentration level. The ideas behind the moves are always explained. Points are awarded for the 'right answers' as well as for some other moves, and at the end there is a general assessment plus a review of some of the things to be learned from the game. During my coaching period I was able to witness how motivating it is for kids to receive points for the right answers, their 'lives are at stake' when they try to find the answers, and it is a challenge much appreciated by them. Later I also noticed a similar effect with adults although, unlike the kids, the older students try to hide it. The final score is not that important; it is not scientifically based. But of course the more points you get the better you 'would have played'. The effort you put into trying to find the best move every time is what matters most. I firmly believe it really helps to learn a little more about playing chess with every game. The methodology recommended for solving the exercises is the 'old-school' one of using a piece of paper to cover the text and scrolling down the page as you advance.

In his first book (we anticipate many more), the young Hungarian author makes a worthy attempt to walk his readers through a complete 1.d4 opening repertoire. Yet while he is taking you thru the opening he never forgets the other phases of the game. As a result, the subsequent middlegame and endgame elements are remarkably well organized benefiting both beginner and advanced players to acquire powerful skills with 1.d4! In what way is this book special? How can it make someone a better player? These are perfectly legitimate questions and whenever I buy a new chess book, I essentially ask the same ones. The short answer is that this book will give you a comprehensive understanding of the chosen openings. Unlike many other books with a similar profile, it goes beyond pure theory and in addition to giving a great deal of practical advice, it touches on issues such as sample games, typical tactical strikes and, in the last chapter, endgames. On top of all this, a homework section enables you to immerse yourself in a given topic and achieve an in-depth understanding of it in your own time. We follow this structure because as a coach, I know how important it is to receive as much guidance as possible on a new opening. Only this can lead to true mastery. Let me recommend this book to any player who wants to learn more about closed openings, adopt a new approach to chess and build up a thorough and sophisticated repertoire. I have tested these openings with my students with good results, so I believe this book is suitable for anyone with an Elo rating from 1600-2500.

The Italian Game (sometimes referred to as the Giuoco Piano) is one of the oldest openings around, and also one of the first lines a player learns when he or she is introduced to chess. It leads to play that is easy to understand: both sides develop their pieces logically and begin attacks on the opposing kings. The Italian Game gives both White and Black the opportunity to play either aggressively and in gambit fashion, or in a restrained and positional manner. One of White's most exciting and attacking options is the legendary Evans Gambit, which has been brought back into the limelight in this modern era by such uncompromising players as World number one Garry Kasparov, Alexander Morozevich and England's Nigel Short. In this book, openings expert Jan Pinski investigates the different strategies and tactics in the Italian Game and Evans Gambit. Using model games for both White and Black, Pinski provides crucial coverage of both the main lines and offbeat variations. This book arms the reader with enough knowledge to play the Italian Game and Evans Gambit with confidence. Pinski delves into the secrets of the Four Knights for the first time in this other book, studying the strategic ideas for both white and black players. He covers both the fashionable main lines and the tricky sidelines, bringing the reader up to date with the expanding theory.

The Move by Move series provides an ideal format for the keen chessplayer to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions - a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess 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 chess while providing the best possible chance to retain what has been learnt. The Sveshnikov is a very important variation of the Sicilian Defence. It was pioneered by Russian grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov in the 1970s and has since become a popular choice for Black at all levels, from club player to grandmaster. One of the Sveshnikov's main attractions is that it provides a battleground for one of the key conflicts in chess: structure versus activity. Black sacrifices structure in return for active piece play - a dynamic that regularly leads to sharp and complex positions, rich in strategic and tactical possibilities. In this book, International Master Cyrus Lakdawala invites the reader to join him in studying the Sveshnikov Sicilian This book tells you everything you need to know about playing the Sveshnikov Sicilian with Black. *Essential guidance and training in the Sveshnikov*Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study*Provides repertoire options for Black

It's not easy finding a good opening to play against 1 e4, especially if you don't have endless time available to study the latest theoretical developments. If you choose fashionable openings, it's often a necessity to keep pace with modern theory if you want to succeed with Black. This book provides a solution. Neil McDonald advocates his favourite opening - the very popular French Defence - but chooses a repertoire for Black that requires only the minimum amount of move memorization. The lines he selects are very easy to learn and play - perfect for those who are unwilling to be slaves to opening theory. But there's also something here for more experienced players, as McDonald goes on to offer a second repertoire based on counter-attacking lines against 3 Nc3 and 3 Nd2. *An easy-to-learn defence against 1 e4 *Provides solutions to all of White's options *Written by a world-renowned expert on the French *Ideal for improvers, club players and tournament players

These books are perfect for enthusiastic chess players who are starting out in the game, and who are seeking to understand the basic principles behind these most important openings: the Sicilian, the King's Indian, the Nimzo-Indian, and the French. All four books are written in a user-friendly style with an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings scattered throughout, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated. The authors of these books are all very skilled and experienced chess writers, who are used to writing for players of all levels and are renowned for their ability to explain ideas in a lucid and straightforward manner.
-- User-friendly design to help readers absorb ideas
-- Concentrates on the fundamental principles of the openings
-- Ideal for the improving player

The Grunfeld Defence is a dynamic and popular counterattacking weapon for Black against queen's pawn openings. Former World Champion Bobby Fischer and current world number one Garry Kasparov head a long list of grandmasters that have utilised this opening with continued success. In this book, grandmaster and renowned chess teacher Nigel Davies explains the key ideas and tactics for both White and Black. Using illustrative games, Davies guides the reader through both the fashionable main lines and the tricky side variations, and provides his opinion on all the crucial questions arising from this opening. *Up-to-date coverage of one of Black's most important defences *Strategies and tactics revealed for both sides *Written by an experienced chess teacher and author Nigel Davies is both an experienced grandmaster and chess trainer. A former British Open Quickplay Champion, Davies is an author of several successful chess books and is highly experienced in chess publishing. This is his second book for Everyman Chess; his first was Alekhine's Defence.