The ideas & plans behind ALL chess openings!

Volume 2 of an accessible primer and reference book about chess openings. Provides a solid foundation to build your opening repertoire on. Explains what you should be trying to achieve, with clear indications for further study.

* Comprehensive: covers all main variations likely to arise
* Easy-to-use: important moves and key positions are highlighted in colour
* Long-lasting: it doesn’t outdate because it is about basics – not the latest fashions
* Complete: explains the plans and counterplans for both Black and White
* Down-to-earth: simple, verbal introductions (not a database dump full of dead trees)
* Convenient: every opening is illustrated with a number of instructive games
* Prize-winning: received the Golden Award of the Italian Chess Federation

This book helps beginners to develop a solid understanding of fundamental opening play, gives casual players the ability to choose the opening that suits their style and taste, and is a tool for club players to test and review their opening repertoire.

Buy all 4 volumes combined with a nice discount here.

T. Edward Tanoi, New Zealand Chess Magazine:
"An excellent resource for the club player just starting out and seeking a useful guide to d4 openings that explains the ideas behind each move for both sides. It's also great for any player wanting to improve their understanding of d4 openings and increase their opening repertoire (..) I can't wait to get the other three volumes."

Schakers.Info:
"I don't think something like 'Chess Opening Essentials', in this size, yet exists. For players with a rating up to 1900 this book covers a large part of the road."

British Chess Magazine:
"It gives an outline of each opening and major variation in turn, explaining the ideas and most popular choices for the benefit of elementary players. The reviewer was impressed by the practical advice given in the notes in this well-produced volume."

Joe Petrolito, Australian Chess Magazine:
"Both volumes [2 and 3] succeed brilliantly."

Nederlands Dagblad:
"It is about the basics of the opening, about ensuing middlegame positions, and about the plans one should pursue. Ideal for the club player who wishes to improve."

FreeChess:
"All systems are clearly listed and presented, without losing itself in endless variations."

GM Paul Motwani, The Scotsman:
"Full of great ideas, clear explanations and instructive games."

Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"For players rated up to 1800 it will undoubtedly be quite useful."

Erik Rausch, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"you will be surprised: colour! Compared with this, books from Everyman, Gambit or Olms look like black-and-white television (..) Not only is the main line explained and the reader made hungry for more, but he gets enough strategic knowledge and insider-tips to get, even if he plays the opening for the first time, into the middlegame safely." 

Gary Lane, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"I like the way it handles information for club players."

Arne Moll, ChessVibes:
"The key positions of each opening are displayed in red (yes, red) diagrams. The name(s) of the inventors are in bold, red font, and references to other sources or sections of the book are also in red .. very useful for finding my way around the book."

Pekka Pakarinen, Suomen Shakki Magazine (Finland):
"A patzer like me, let alone someone with an Elo under 1700, should not buy a complex monography (..) before getting this instructive opening book."