Chess Opening Essentials, The Ideas & Plans Behind ALL Chess Openings

* Helps beginners to develop a solid understanding of fundamental opening ideas
* Gives casual players the ability to choose the opening that suits their style and taste
* A tool for club players to test and review their opening repertoire
* Reference books to which advanced players keep returning.

Chess Opening Essentials are accessible primers and a references book at the same time. It gives a flavour of how every opening works and explains the similarities with other openings as well as the differences. In addition, it also points at the various middlegame plans that apply after the opening has ended.

* 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

Grandmasters Dimitri Komarov and Stefan Djuric, and International Master Claudio Pantaleoni do not propagate forcing tactical variations to be memorized mechanically, but explain what you should actually be trying to achieve when playing the opening of your choice. They include the main alternative responses and give clear indications for further study.

This thorough, understandable, and very readable manual gives you a foundation on which to build your repertoire. Beginning and improving chess players should get this powerful books before they buy any other chess opening book!

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

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

Erik Rausch, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"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." 

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."

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. 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."

Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"Excellent manuals and reference books for the average club player."