Editorial Reviews:
Author: Alexander Khalifman Printed in 2009 Publisher: Chess Stars 444 pages ISBN-13: 9789548782692 TEXT comments and Figurine Algebraic Notations Khalifman reaches the Dragon and the Accelerated Dragon and needs 444 pages to construct a razorsharp repertoire for white, opting for the Yugoslav Attack with 9.Bc4. As the author confesses his work was not made easier when Magnus Carlsen included the Dragon in his repertoire, resulting in plenty of new games and 'new' variations. Nevertheless he has managed to deal with these lines as well.

Editorial Reviews:
Opening for White According to Anand - 1.e4, vol.10 by Khalifman, 192 pages, December 2007. The book ten of the grand opening saga is devoted mostly to the Sveshnikov system. "My work with this book was a rather complicated task by itself. My colleagues asked me often (sometimes ironically, sometimes with genuine interest) whether I had managed to refute the Chelyabinsk variation and when that refutation would be published? Here, I must admit: no, I have not refuted the Chelyabinsk variation. Frankly speaking, I have not even tried to do that. As far as my experience and my understanding of chess are concerned, Blacks opening set-up has a sound strategical basis and it can never be refuted outright. Having that in mind, I decided to try something different and that was to systematize the amassed material and knowledge and to point out the most unpleasant lines for Black." - writes Khalifman. "I have not tried to change radically any theoretical evaluations, but I have managed to discover some new ideas and I have to tell you that Black will need to solve difficult problems after them."

Editorial Reviews:
In this volume 14th world champion Khalifman continues the analysis of the Sicilian Defence. The first part covers variations arising after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 and especially the Kalashnikov. In answer to 2...Nc6, just like after the majority of the basic lines, he recommends the most principled answer for White - 3.d4. Parts 2 and 3 deal with systems arising after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6. In the basic tabia of the Paulsen system 5.Nc3 Qc7 Khalifman advocates the aggressive set-up, which has become nowadays an almost universal plan in numerous lines of the Sicilian Defence. It includes Be3, followed by Qd2, castling long and a kingside attack. All that is too schematic, since Black has numerous plans at his disposal, but the author believes that White can rely on obtaining the advantage thanks to several very important original novelties and principally new ideas in the main lines.

Editorial Reviews:
The first part of the book analyzes some seldom played lines on move two for Black. The author devotes special attention to 2...b6, which is in fact much better than its reputation as well as to the Nimzovic - Rubinstein system 2...Nf6, in answer to which Khalifman recommends 3.Nc3, after which the game usually transposes to the main lines in most of the cases.
The second part of this book is devoted entirely to the O'Kelly system - 2...a6. It is worth mentioning that although it is a rare guest in the serious tournaments, it is frequently played in blitz games (including in Internet too). The author recommends 3.c3, which in the majority of cases leads to not so typical Sicilian positions, but the move a7-a6 often turns out to be just a loss of time.
The third part of the book deals with some rarely played lines after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4. Systems like 2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 (4...Bc5) as well as the Sicilian attack (2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4) require from White exact knowledge of long forced lines.
Finally, the fourth part of this book is devoted to the Paulsen-Kann system (2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6). This variation is regularly played by Svidler, Ivanchuk, Kamsky, Rublevsky, Smirin and many other strong grandmasters and it is one of the really popular lines of the Sicilian Defence. That system has the reputation of being like the "Najdorf system" but for the lazy players: on the one hand you can obtain a dynamic position with various available resources to seize the initiative and on the other hand it requires considerably less concrete knowledge of forced variations unlike the Najdorf system. Khalifman recommends to White to counter it with 5.Bd3, after which there arises a "hedgehog" pawn-structure in the majority of cases. The order of moves is often not so important in that pawn-structure, but you must have an excellent idea about the possible plans for you and your opponent. The author has found plenty of new and fresh ideas in the most popular variation nowadays - 5.Bd3 Bc5 which doubtlessly will be of special interest for the reader.

Editorial Reviews:
"Dear readers, you are holding in your hands volume seven of our series "Opening for White according to Anand – 1.e4", in which we have analyzed one of the most popular variations of the French Defence – the Winawer system (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4).
... French Defence is a quite interesting and unique opening in which both opponents must solve difficult problems right after the very beginning of the game and most of these problems are characteristic only for that particular opening. Of course, it is absolutely necessary to know thoroughly the opening theory, but the allround understanding of the arising pawn-structures and the complex strategy of that opening should combine with an extensive practical experience.
... I hope the book will enrich your understanding of the French Defence..."

Editorial Reviews:
This volume covers 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4, 3...Nf6 and other moves.

Editorial Reviews:
This ambitious book aims to arm you with a complete reper­toire against 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3. It is based on the Najdorf system with Black employing the ...e5 approach against most major choices of White. The only exception is the open fianchetto variation 6 g3, where 6...e6 is the main line. The book follows the structure of another Chess Stars publication, The Safest Sicilian. Every system is examined in a separate part which contains three chapters. First, Quick Repertoire provides you with the vital information that you need to start playing the variation. Step by Step is the reference chapter with all branches covered in depth. The Complete Games chapters include altogether 50 commented games which display typical ideas or pawn structures. You'll find a lot of original analysis on the most critical positions of the Najdorf. The material is up-to-date as of February 10 2007.

Editorial Reviews:
The Bulgarian GM Delchev (current Elo 2661) proposes a sound yet aggressive Black Sicilian repertoire, based on the Taimanov system: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7. As Black, it is extremely difficult to get a playable position without accepting extreme risks. This book deals with reliable positional systems which will serve you for many years, without having to update your opening knowledge every two weeks. This setup is especially effective against the dreaded English attack. The author is one of the world’s leading experts in that field and his recommendations are based mostly on his own games. Without hiding back his secrets, Delchev reveals many new ideas and novelties in his pet line. The authors pay also attention to White’s deviations from the Open Sicilian.

Editorial Reviews:
In his new book GM Sakaev analises all major systems after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4. He also pays considerable attention to unusual, but tricky schemes as 7...0-0 8.Ne2 Qd7 and 8...Nc6. The author shows how Black could equalise when White deviates from the most testing variations, like in the case of 7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 and now 10.Rc1 or 10.Rb1. Of course the focus of the book is on the topical position which arises after 7...c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0. The readers will find a detailed explanation and analysis of all reasonable continuations with Sakaev's recommendations where to look for an advantage. The author reveals some very promising novelties on the main road of his favourite variation.

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With the combined efforts of Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Ponomariov QGA presently reached the status of a super reliable opening, suitable for all players up to the level of world champions. The authors digested all the available material up to 20.04.2005 and separated it into branches offering a move-by-move presentation of the main ideas according to the latest tournament tendencies. A highly professional study by Grandmaster Konstantin Sakaev - one of the best players in the world with current rating of 2657. His trophy list includes 2 junior world titles and 2 gold olympic medals with the Russian team - in 1998 and 2000.

Editorial Reviews:
Statistics shows that nowadays the Anti-Meran system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 is the weapon of choice of White in the Semi-Slav. GM Sakaev and IM Semkov distribute all topical variations in three parts. Part one examines in great details the sharpest line 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4!? bringing about plenty of original analysis and explanation of the plans. Part two discusses fianchetto lines with 6.Qc2 b6 or 6.Qc2 Be7 followed by b7-b6. Part three is devoted to the Karpov system 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 (or 7.Bd3) as well as 7.b3. Finally there is a short survey of the latest trends in the popular now early a7-a6. The presentation of material follows the method of the Queens Gambit Accepted by the same authors.

Editorial Reviews:
The newest book of the series "Chess Stars Openings" is devoted to the enterprising and quite original and unexplored possibility for White - 1.e4 c5 2.a3!? Strong practical players who do not have time or desire to go into long theoretical Sicilian battles can try to enrich their opening repertoire with this remarkable system. It cannot be refuted by any encyclopedia or database. In fact the author of the book has practically invented a new and quite interesting opening. His suprising ideas and thorough analyses require considerable precision from Black.

Editorial Reviews:
The fifth book of the series examines the Queen's Gambit Declined - one of the favourite weapons of choice in many world title encounters. It is renown for its firmness, tested and proven on the highest possible level.

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The fourth book of the series provides a weapon against the Slav, Semi-Slav, Queen's Gambit Accepted and other less popular systems.