An up-to-date survey of the always popular Main Line Caro-Kann, which remains one of the most dependable ways for Black to meet 1 e4 and plays a key role in the repertoires of such stars as Anatoly Karpov and Jon Speelman. The author looks at the key variations and concepts for both sides and offers plenty of new ideas for those who wish to explore less well-chartered waters.

The Modern Defence leads to sharp and dynamic positions from the very first moves. Black concedes space in the centre with a view to launching a counter-attack based on his powerful bishop fianchetto. When it works, the Modern Defence is truly a spectacular weapon, and this books will show you how you can put it to use in your own games

In this user-friendly book, Grandmaster Neil McDonald goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Dutch Defence and its many variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, warnings, and exercises to help improvi

Rudolph Spielmann was one of the most fearsome attacking players in the history of chess. He was very much from the so-called "Romantic School," where gambits were always accepted and checkmating the king was the only real thought of the players. His love of the King's Gambit and similar aggressive openings earned him the respect of his peers early in his career and he went on to become one of the strongest Grandmasters of his time. His philosophy on chess could be summed up by his quote: "A good sacrifice is one that is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent dazed and confused." In...

In Starting Out with 1 e4 Grandmaster Neil McDonald provides the reader with a strong and trustworthy repertoire with the white pieces based on the opening move 1 e4. The recommended lines given here have stood the test of time and are regularly employed

Everyman Chess continues its original and best-selling Starting Out series with detailed coverage of the Queen s Gambit Declined, an opening that is very much at the forefront of contemporary chess. The Queen s Gambit Declined is Black s fundamental answer to 1 d4 and an opening of great historical importance."

The chess world has been blessed by a number of wonderful strategists, and in Chess Secrets: The Giants of Strategy, Neil McDonald decides upon his selection of the most prominent ones, highlighting the major contributions they have made. McDonald examines their differing approaches and styles, and from Nimzowitsch to Kramnik, how they followed in each other's footsteps.Throughout history there have been many famous players who have dazzled the chess world with their swashbuckling approach to opening play. In Chess Secrets: The Great Gambiteers, John Cox picks out his selection of famous...

Ideal for those wanting to understand the basics of the English Opening. The English is a sophisticated and popular opening system that is suitable for all types of players and can lead to both positional and tactical middlegames. Many of the world s top players, including Kasparov and Kramnik, include the English in their openings weaponry. In this groundbreaking book, Grandmaster Neil McDonald revisits the basic principles behind the English and its many variations. Throughout this easy-to-read guide the reader is aided by a wealth of notes, tips and warnings from the author, while key...

It's not easy finding a good opening to play against 1 e4, especially if you don't have endless time available to study the latest theoretical developments. If you choose fashionable openings, it's often a necessity to keep pace with modern theory if you want to succeed with Black. This book provides a solution. Neil McDonald advocates his favourite opening - the very popular French Defence - but chooses a repertoire for Black that requires only the minimum amount of move memorization. The lines he selects are very easy to learn and play - perfect for those who are unwilling to be slaves to...

Two books from the Chess Secrets series brought together in one volume