Everyman Chess

Some players become good at chess, some very good, while others excel at the game. In this book Jacob Aagaard identified the key factors that separate the very strong players from the rest.

Tired of playing the same old openings? Bored with stuffy opening theory? This book provides a welcome antidote! Former American Open Champion Cyrus Lakdawala presents a range of vicious weapons for White in a repertoire which is perfect for …

International Master Jacob Aagaard provides an all-in-one solution to the popular opening move 1 d4 and other White systems that do not involve 1 e4. Throughout this work, Aagaard delves into the strategies, ideas and tactics for Black, while also showing the possible traps and pitfalls.

I am an amateur player (I would estimate my rating to be somewhere around 1800-1900) who like many players started off with 1 e4 as White, but I have been playing 1 c4 for quite a while now. I have had this book for a couple of years and didn't use it much, until recently when I decided I would like to try out more direct openings with White and got it out to see if 1 e4 might be suitable for me. Before I go into the specifics of the content, I'll mention that the overall quality of the product is good, with a nice glossy cover, quality paper and binding and clear print and diagrams, although there are a fair number of (largely excusable) typos.

Building and maintaining an opening repertoire can be a demanding task – for a start there are an enormous number of different lines to choose from. There's a strong temptation amongst beginners and improving players to opt solely for tricky lines in order to snare unsuspecting opponents, but this approach has only short-term value. As players improve and their opponents become stronger, very often these crafty lines don't stand up to close scrutiny, and suddenly they back to square one with no suitable opening weapons.

Building and maintaining an opening repertoire can be a demanding task – for a start there are an enormous number of different lines to choose from. There's a strong temptation amongst beginners and improving players to opt solely for tricky lines in order to snare unsuspecting opponents, but this approach has only short-term value. As players improve and their opponents become stronger, very often these crafty lines don't stand up to close scrutiny, and suddenly they back to square one with no suitable opening weapons.

The sharp and dangerous Grand Prix Attack is one of White's most aggressive ways of countering the Sicilian Defence. It leads to very complicated play right from the first moves and contains plenty of pitfalls for the unwary Black player. Here James Plaskett takes a new look at this dangerous opening. Whether you play the Sicilian as Black, or need an antidote for White, this book is an essential addition to your armory.

It’s no secret why the London System is such a popular opening, especially at club level. White’s development plan is very easy to learn, and it can be employed against virtually any defence. What’s more, depending on mood, style or opponent, White can choose either to attack directly or to instigate a more positional strategy. Many players admit they hate facing the London System, which is surely another good reason to play it!

International Master Jacob Aagaard provides an all-in-one solution to the popular opening move 1 d4 and other White systems that do not involve 1 e4. Throughout this work, Aagaard delves into the strategies, ideas and tactics for Black, while also showing the possible traps and pitfalls.