The Queen's Gambit can be rather boring, especially for Black, so a couple of weapons to make things more excitement.In this book, FIDE Master Carsten carefully analyzes two gambits for Black that both arise after the initial moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5!?. The Canal Gambit arises when White captures 5.cxd5, and Black responds 5...Qb6. The gambit is somewhat dubious, but very effective in practical play. The Prins Gambit instead sees Black respond 5...cxd4!?, which is a ...

Chess Openings Can Be Simple! Because of the sheer volume of variations, possible transpositions and ever-changing theory, chess openings can be overwhelming � even intimidating. This book is an introduction to understanding and playing chess openings. The author, Danish Master Carsten Hansen, stresses opening play based on comprehending opening principles as well as useful, fundamental knowledge. With an overview of all the most important opening variations, examples of good and bad ope...

The French Defense has once more become a viable way for Black to meet 1.e4, and against 3.Nc3, Winawer's 3...Bb4 is considered Black's strongest and most combative weapon. The Chiburdanidze Variation, 4.Qd3, allows White to immediately depart from main line theory and take Black onto turf that only White is familiar with.It was introduced into master play by then Women's World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze in 1985, and it has since f...

The English Opening is typically a solid and reliable opening for White, one where both sides develop their pieces to reasonable squares before the combat begins in earnest. The gambits covered in this book change that manuscript entirely. Before either side has completed any kind of development, Black tries to grab the initiative by sacrificing a pawn. Both gambits arise after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4!? 4.Ng5. The Adhiban Gambit then continues by Black playing 4...c6!?, intending to mee...

Omnibus edition of volumes 7-9 in the popular Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening series.Volume 7 covers a variety of Semi-Open Games such as the Pirc, Modern Defense, King's Fianchetto, Alekhine Defense, Scandinavian Defense (Center Counter), Owen's Defense & Nimzowitsch Defense.Volume 8 covers all openings starting with 1.e4 e5, including the Scotch Game, Italian Game, Evans Gambit, Two Knights, Ruy Lopez, Three & Four Knights, King's Gambit, The Petroff, Philidor a...

50% Tactics – 50% Opening Book – 100% Enjoyment! Enter the world of chess miniatures where games are decided in 20 moves or less! Marvelous Modern Miniatures features the largest collection of miniatures chess games played in the last half-century. Over 500 pages of cut and thrust! Although every player is rated at least 2100, the overwhelming majority are strong masters or grandmasters. You will follow them as they do battle with tactical fireworks raging around them. The surprising depth...

In Mazukevich's Madness, Black stuns White with a piece sacrifice on move 5, completely changing the direction of the game of this otherwise solid and rather predictable opening.FIDE Master, FIDE Trainer, and opening specialist Carsten Hansen carefully analyzes all options for White after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nxe4!, showing that Black not only is doing fine, but can often start pushing for more if White doesn't play accurately.In addition to this analy...

Are you ready to shock your opponent on move 3?The Reti Opening is a dynamic opening invented by Richard Reti more than a century ago. It has since been featured in the repertoires of countless grandmasters and world champions, including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Garry Kasparov, Tigran Petrosian, Vassily Smyslov, and many others.The Navara Gambit takes dynamic chess into a bizarro world on move 3: 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 g5!It looks ridiculous, but that doesn't ma...

Miniatures in the Ruy Lopez Main Line Another Great Book in the "Miniatures in the..." Series! The lines covered in this book, the Ruy Lopez Main Lines, arise (with a few exceptions for move order and such) after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0. The Ruy Lopez, or Spanish Opening if you like, is one of the oldest openings, named after a Spanish priest who first played it back in the 16th century. Needless to say, it has been played a few times since and remains a popular openin...

Omnibus edition of volumes 4-6 in the popular Catastrophes & Tactics in the Chess Opening series.Volume 4 covers a variety of 1 d4 openings: Anti-Dutch, Dutch Mainline, Benonis, Benko Gambit, Trompowsky, Torre Attack, London System, Colle System, Fianchetto Anti-Indian, Old Indian, Budapest & Fajarowicz Gambits and more.Volume 5 covers all of the Anti-Sicilians, including Alapin, Grand Prix Attack, Closed Sicilians, Rossolimo Attack, Moscow Attack, 2...e6 Specialies, 2...d6 S...

An essential part of improving at chess is tactics. Tactics occur at every level of chess but once the players become stronger the elements involved in spotting the puzzles tend to become more complex and deeper, whereas, among weaker players, elementary skewers, forks, and deadly pins are more frequent visitors.

Winning Fast is Fun!Everybody wants to win fast, preferably straight out of the chess opening. This book is a collection of games played by top players in which either White or Black wins in 15 moves or less either a result of blunders, an accumulation of mistakes or brilliant chess tactics.Through the study of the games in this volume, you will improve your opening play, opening repertoire, strategies and tactical ability.The chess o...