The Sicilian Defence is the most popular reply to 1 e4. With 1...c5 Black comes out fighting, immediately challenging any sense of a "natural white advantage". Sicilian Defence players are often very well prepared theoretically and the tremendous dynamism of the Sicilian can often disturb their opponents. In this book, German FIDE master Jonas Hacker provides a complete repertoire for White when facing the Sicilian. The recommended systems are based on solid strategic considerations. The backbone of the repertoire is the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 f3!? This is a perfect line to throw Najdorf and Dragon players off their stride. White will (usually) follow up with c2-c4 and establish a useful space advantage. Many of the other recommended lines are also based around the space-gaining c2-c4 advance providing cohesion across the whole repertoire. In Opening Repertoire: Beating the Sicilian, Jonas Hacker guides the reader through the complexities of the Sicilian and carves out a repertoire for White. He 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. * A complete repertoire for White against the Sicilian. * A question and answer approach provides an excellent study method

The King is dead. The kingdom is divided. Three factions – the Scottish, the Welsh, and the English – vie for control and, across the sea, foreign invaders prepare to take advantage of the chaos. Players must marshal their limited resources to influence this power struggle, while ensuring that the faction that rises to dominate the realm favours them above all other claimants to the throne.

In this collection of his best games, former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik demonstrates the deep strategic style that took him to the title . Written by one of the greatest players of all time . Contains 90 annotated games from Botvinnik's career . Includes victories over Capablanca, Alekhine, Smyslov, Tal and Petrosian . Incorporates background material on key personalities and events Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-1995) made a unique impression on chess history. After victories at Moscow 1935 (shared with Flohr) and Nottingham 193 (shared with Capablanca), Botvinnik won the 'absolute championship' of the USSR in 1941 before the war interrupted all chess activity. After winning the match/tournament of 1948 to decide Alekhine's successor, Botvinnik held the world championship (apart form two brief interludes) until 1963 and retired from active play in 1970, after which he devoted himself to coaching young players 9his list of former pupils include Garry Kasparov) and developing a chess-playing computer program.

The King's Indian is an exciting, challenging opening which is very popular at all levels of chess. It is favoured by ambitious and aggressive players such as the two chess legends Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov who perfected the King's Indian into an opening weapon to be feared throughout the chess world. In recent years, however, White players, led by World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, have hit back hard with many important new ideas. Most experts agree that the Classical Variation is the critical test of the King's Indian. Pulling no punches, White questions Black's entire strategy and seeks nothing less than a direct refutation; it could be said that the reputation of the King's Indian rests entirely on the assessments of this hotly debated subject. In The Classical King's Indian Uncovered, Krzysztof Panczyk and Jacek Ilczuk, theoreticians renowned for their original analysis, uncover the secrets behind this contentious opening and share their discoveries with the reader. Using illustrative games, they study both the fashionable main lines and the tricky sidelines, and provide a thorough grounding in the key tactical and positional ideas for both White and Black.

Learn to play attacking chess from move one by studying the Fried Liver Attack, the Fishing Pole, the Bishop Sacrifice, the Halosar Trap, and other attacks used by the masters of the past.This book is a compilation of some of the best chess opening traps and attacks. Most attacks result in mate within 10 moves or less. These attacks illustrate how to mount a powerful attack quickly.

Do you have a child who is interested in chess, but you're not sure how to help? In Survival Guide for Chess Parents, Tanya Jones concentrates on the numerous aspects of being a 'chess parent' and answers the many questions facing those with chess-playing children. There's certainly more to this than meets the eye. Problems are as diverse as 'How can I help in the very early stages?', 'How do I find suitable clubs and tournaments?', 'Should I watch when he or she is playing?' and 'How do I find a good chess coach?'
Jones also tackles aspects such as chess and education, plus the ever-increasing role of computers and the Internet. Whether your child is just starting out in the game or is a budding prodigy, this book is essential reading.
This is a complete guide for the chess parent and explains the intricacies of tournament rules while tackling the subjects of rating and grades.

A new edition of a classic game, perfect for couples and families. Take on the role of a mythical raven in a race around the world, using your cards to speed your journey or play tricks upon your opponent! Every morning Odin sends his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, across the world to bring back news of what life is like on Earth. Naturally, after thousands of years, they've gotten a little competitive... Race through the landscape in opposite directions to be the first to return to Odin. Focus on speed, or enlist the help of the trickster god Loki to create shortcuts and hinder your opponent. Can you be certain Loki's changes won't help your opponent instead? There's only one way to find out! This revised edition of Thorsten Gimmler's award-winning game has been completely redesigned, with new rules and a beautiful new art style inspired by Norse mythology. 2 Players Playing Time: 20-30 minutes Ages 8+

This three-staged memory game invites you to observe masterpieces closely. Historically, a masterpiece was a work of a very high standard, produced in order to obtain membership of a guild or academy. Since the author never went to art school, her untrained eye wondered: "How should I look at art in order to fully appreciate it?" Trying to answer this question, she decided to design a system of observation based on different steps: games and activities following a set scheme that triggers the player to look at a masterpiece on a different scale. Pixel-Art Game allows you to zoom into these Dutch Masterpieces. Match the original image with its pixelated copies by zooming into Vermeer's famous The Milkmaid. The painter's colour and use of light are emphasised through the pixels of the digitalised image, taking art into our contemporary digital language. With light packaging, perfect to take along with you, the Pixel-Art Game offers several games in one set. Each of these 3 games is a step towards understanding the artwork better, and they can be played with multiple players.

Leading chess author Colin Crouch selects and explains over 30 sensational games, all from the new millennium. By studying battles between the world's best players, Crouch examines in detail all the key areas of modern chess. Powerful attacking and resourceful defending, bloodthirsty tactical battles, profound positional mastery, deep opening preparation and superb endgame play are all in evidence here, while Crouch also explores the ever-increasing role of computers and the way human imagination can work in harness with them. There is something for everyone in this book: aspiring players will benefit greatly from the clear explanations of the fundamentals, while stronger players will gain considerably from Crouch's deep insight and analysis in more complex positions. This book reflects the continuing changes in modern chess, and how you can use the lessons learned to great effect in your own games.

Each chapter takes a principle, helps the reader understand it, and gives examples, plus a quiz on the subject. A great help if you seem to guess right half the time or less when playing the dummy.

Key aliens and NPCs from Starfinder's Threefold Conspiracy Adventure Path come alive on your tabletop with The Threefold Conspiracy Pawn Collection, featuring more than 100 creature pawns for use with the Starfinder Roleplaying Game or any tabletop science-fantasy RPG! Printed on sturdy cardstock, each pawn presents a beautiful full-color image of an alien, NPC, or starship from The Threefold Conspiracy campaign, including agents of the mysterious Unseen, strange shapeshifters, uneasy allies, and dozens of unique creatures. The Threefold Conspiracy Pawn Collection, together with the creatures and characters from the Starfinder Alien Archive Pawn Box and Starfinder Core Rulebook Pawn Collection, provides pawns for nearly every Threefold Conspiracy encounter. Each cardstock pawn slots into a size-appropriate plastic base from the Alien Archive Pawn Box, making the pawns easy to mix with traditional metal or plastic miniatures. From devious masterminds to shape-shifting infiltrators, find all of the enemies and allies of The Threefold Conspiracy Adventure Path on these beautifull illustrated pawns! While creature pawns are broken out by base size, all starship pawns use medium bases, from the tiniest fighter to the largest warship. Starfinder The Threefold Conspiracy Pawn Collection includes: Small Creatures Aerial Devil Autofly Swarm (4) Bug Furry Friend Experimental Nanobot Mimic (4) Extiomi Fech "Sparkles" Goba Flying Viper Eel Swarm (4) Gray Abductor (3) Gray Bounder Gray Engineer (2) Gray Ooze Wrangler Gray Researcher (6) Gray Surgeon Keji Swarm (4) Memory Muck (2) Needlehawk Host (4) Oni, Spirit Overseer Gyru Pik Nath Proog Psydrake Robot, Gray Observer (2) Scouring Swarm (4) Spookfish Swarm (4) Troll Polyp (2) Zaxo Zernivian Medium Creatures Aanung-An Algiada Iom Arc Moray (2) Aykins Segrue Azer Spy (3) Barghest Cargo Creep Chop Cycle (3) Combat Clone (2) Diorama Guard (2) Docksmythe (3) Dormakhabu Eiyol Marrill Ephecta Erem Esra Fluerasik Enforcer (4) Gamut Bio IT Staff (2) Gamut Bio Janitor (4) Glacial Borer Gray Shell Guardian Rhino Hesper Veeldiz Jincheroga Jox Hird Kaniko Breez Kibotu Knight of Golarion (4) Knight of Golarion Squire Krelo Danesh Kriegakos (3) Laoe Araae Orderly (4) Lawless One Lozu Pahir Ludvya "Firespitter" Zyakama Lunabellox Debrie Marduq Char Melta-Man Mersadask Rycast Modified Swarm Corrovox Molu Umana Dylaska Narla Yalamis Night Hag Orgot Nalkus Orvir Pike Phryine Callajam Psychic Clone (2) Qub Rel Nodens Reptoid Host (6) Reptoid Steward (4) Rig Technician (2) Robot, Incapacitator (2) Sarzael Fallion Shadow Hopper Shez Daiasha Silverlight Construct Space Pirate, Human (4) Steward Rookie (2) Steward Constable (2) Steward Worker (3) Tavin Arill The Monitor Threshwolf Host (2) Thylas Starhammer Torv Graycrag Trostinek Vee Andano Vora Rinn Wem Wetzelt Xych Vorsen Yona Raito Yox Large Creatures Barathu Patient (4) Doctor Flo Elmeshra (2) Gamut Bio Management (2) Garaggakal Polymath Golem, Abysium Hrog Hungerer from the Dark Jesara Hy Nevintsi Jynma Kunnid Linyf Megalonyxa Obfuchsia Phixara Protean, Xiritix (2) Quanma Ge Uliyu Replicant Ooze Troll, Quantum Varigneous Verifier Ki Huge Creatures Barathu Bruiser Driftlure Lava Strider (2) Xanthos Starships Gray Collection Saucer Gray Monitor Capsule Gray Mothership Gray Research Vessel Gray Watcher Pod Reptoid Chameleon Reptoid Changeling Reptoid Instigator (2) Reptoid Nest Platform Roselight Oracle Sanjaval Palanquin Shimmering Blade Steward Banshee FA Frigate

Jonathan Adler is a design company that creates luxe and livable interiors and chic products that are synonymous with modern American glamour. The Jonathan Adler Versailles Playing Cards set features Adler's signature pattern dynamically deconstructed for a 21st century twist, classic-meets-cutting edge, treating graphic greatness to gobs of gold. The set includes two decks of gold foil stamped cards and a foil stamped box with ribbon pull and magnetic closure; makes a very chic gift. - Set of 2 Card Decks - Foil-Stamped Exterior Box: 4.875 x 6.5 x 1.25", 124 x 165 x 32 mm - Magnetic Closure and Ribbon Pull

If you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan, you've surely thought of becoming a Dungeon Master. Learning to be a DM isn't as hard as you might think, especially if you have "Dungeon Master 4th Edition For Dummies" tucked into your bag of tricks

From organizing your first D&D game to dealing with difficult players, this book covers everything a DM needs to know. Written for the newest edition of D&D by the experts at Wizards of the Coast, creators of the game, it shows you how to: Build challenging encounters, make reasonable rulings, and manage disagreementsRecognize all the common codes, tables, and spellsUnderstand the parts of a D&D adventure and how to create dungeon maps and craft monstersShape storylines and write your own adventuresFind your style as a DM and develop a game style that plays to your strengthsScript an encounter, vary the terrain and challenges, and establish rewards (experience points and treasure)Decide whether to use published adventuresUse and follow the official "Dungeon Master's Guide"Develop a campaign with exciting themes, memorable villains, and plots that keep players entranced

If you're getting the urge to lead the charge in a D&D game of your own, "Dungeon Master 4th Edition For Dummies" will introduce you to the DM's many jobs. With the information you need to start your own game, craft exciting stories, and set up epic adventures, you'll be on your way

Originally published in London in the 1920s as a revised and enlarged edition based on Hoyle's early works of the 1700s. The book is an illustrated compendium of over eighty games and their varieties including card, billiard and board games. These are fully explained with rules and advice on play. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Learn the language of flowers in this blossoming memory game. Match flowers to their uses and meanings, and collect the most pairs to win. From lillies at funerals, to 'flower power' carnations - this fun game is an ideal gift for nature lovers. Pair up the flowers with their typical uses and meanings in this beautiful and simple memory game. To play, place the cards face down and see if you can remember where the matching pairs are located. Collect more pairs than your opponent to win! With all kinds of flowers included - from marigolds in Mexican Day of the Dead displays to Japan's cherry blossom season, and from Van Gogh's Sunflowers to the first flower germinated in space - this fun and educational game is an ideal gift for nature lovers everywhere.

The Paper Paradise 500 Piece Puzzle from Galison features a brightly colored scene of paper tropical flowers and plants. Galison puzzles are packaged in matte-finish sturdy boxes, perfect for gifting, reuse, and storage. An insert of the full puzzle image is also included. - 500 pieces - Box Size: 8" x 8" x 2", 203 x 203 x 51 mm - Puzzle Size: 20" x 20", 508 x 508 mm - Includes Insert

Live out the wildest fantasies in the world of KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World with the TRPG developed under Natsume Akatsuki's full oversight. Whether it's playing as a luckless reincarnation or pursuing a quest as an all powerful magician, a life of hilarious adventures awaits!

Many of today's most commercially successful videogames, from Call of Duty to Company of Heroes, are war-themed titles that play out in what are framed as authentic real-world settings inspired by recent news headlines or drawn from history. While such games are marketed as authentic representations of war, they often provide a selective form of realism that eschews problematic, yet salient aspects of war. In addition, changes in the way Western states wage and frame actual wars makes contemporary conflicts increasingly resemble videogames when perceived from the vantage point of Western audiences. This interdisciplinary volume brings together scholars from games studies, media and cultural studies, politics and international relations, and related fields to examine the complex relationships between military-themed videogames and real-world conflict, and to consider how videogames might deal with history, memory, and conflict in alternative ways. It asks: What is the role of videogames in the formation and negotiation of cultural memory of past wars? How do game narratives and designs position the gaming subject in relation to history, war and militarism? And how far do critical, anti-war/peace games offer an alternative or challenge to mainstream commercial titles?

This playful, inspirational book invites fantasy lovers and fans of Dungeons & Dragons to celebrate and incorporate different elements of this iconic tabletop game in their lives and help them live their best, geekiest life. Written by Kat Kruger, the Dungeon Master of the popular Dungeons & Dragons actual play podcast d20 Dames, you'll learn how to take the skills, knowledge, and sense of adventure from your D&D campaign to help you better understand everything from how you interact with the world around you to facing the random events that life sometimes throws at you. With advice from classic player classes-like the Fighter, Warlock, Bard, Monk, or Ranger-and ways to take your experiences as a player (or a Dungeon Master) and use them in your day-to-day life, How to Be More D&D also features interactive elements like "Building Your Character" and "Dungeon Master State of Mind," quizzes like "What is Your D&D Class," and paired with rich, full-color art from the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Whether it is building your real world "character," discovering your ideal class and strengths, harnessing the three pillars of play for everyday use, or using roleplaying techniques to your advantage, How to Be More D&D explores how to enjoy the campaign known as life and is a perfect gift for any tabletop gamer or D&D fan. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and the dragon ampersand, are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC. (c)2022 Wizards of the Coast. All rights reserved.

This comprehensive chronological reference lists the results of men's chess competitions from all over the world. Individual and team matches, from the famous to the lesser known, are recorded. Entries note the location and, when available, the group that sponsored the event. First and last names of players are included whenever possible and are standardized for easy reference. Published sources are cited.Compiled from contemporary sources such as newspapers, periodicals, tournament records and match books, this work contains 980 tournament cross tables and 155 match scores. It is indexed by events and players.