This inclusive guide to every unorthodox opening used by chess players contains more than 500 weird, contentious, controversial, unconventional, arrogant, and outright strange openings. A powerful part of any chess player's arsenal, these tricky tacky surprises fly in the face of tradition. 1,000+ illustrations and diagrams.

From opening, middlegame, and endgame strategy, to psychological warfare and tournament tactics, you are taken through the thinking behind each essential concept. Examples, discussions, and diagrams show the full impact on the game's direction. Tons of diagrams, examples, sidebars, and sample games illustrate the concepts, making this book easy-to-read and a joy for players looking to delve deeper into the mysteries of chess and become a better player. Called one of the ten best chess books ever written, readers will learn the thinking and concepts behind every aspect of a chess game. An absolute must for players who love the game of chess. 432 pages

No matter how unconventional, irrational or even crazy an opening is, sooner or later every chess player will have to face it. When that happens, you can count on a well-prepared opponent who is more than happy to roll out his pet line. John Watson and Eric Schiller provide club-players with solutions to a huge selection of these rarely-played or tricky chess openings. They concentrate upon ideas and strategy, with enough analysis to satisfy the needs of practical play. Only when a sharp reply is required, Watson end Schiller will recommend a more complex variation filled with tactics. In the vast majority of cases they present a simple and safe way to approach the position, requiring little memorization and still leading to a promising game. There is a lot of fun material in this book, and you may be surprised to see how even strong grandmasters have indulged in the craziest variations. Chess isn’t all main lines and 20 moves of theory!

This aggressive counterattacking repertoire covers Black opening systems against virtually every opening except for 1.e4 (plus most flank games), based on the exciting and powerful Tarrasch Defense, which helped win Kasparov and Spassky championships. Black learns the Classical Tarrasch, Symmetrical Tarrasch, Asymmetrical Tarrasch, Marshall and Tarrasch gambits, and Tarrasch without Nc3, to achieve early equality or even an outright advantage in the first few moves. This is an important opening book for aggressive players looking for an edge. 288 pages

The new definitive standard on opening chess play, this all-inclusive guide covers every important chess opening and variation ever played with an exhaustive total referencing more than 1,000 openings and variations. A powerful tool showing the insights, concepts, and thinking behind each opening, this is a serious reference work for both beginning and intermediate players.

Nine, information-packed chapters and twenty-two diagrams show beginning players how to play and win at chess in one quick and easy reading. You'll learn the moves of the pieces, the rules and principles of play, the standard openings, as well as chess notation. Cantrell also introduces the basic concepts and strategies of middle and endgame play. Victor Boriskoff says, For a beginner, this is the best chess book on the market! Recommended. 64 pages

A fascinating challenge and great training tool, these two- three- and four-move checkmates are great for beginning, intermediate, and expert players. Mates are in order of difficulty, from simple to very complex positions. Learn the standard patterns for cornering the king, corridor and support mates, attraction and deflection sacrifices, pins and annihilation, the quiet move, and the dreaded zugzwang. Mate challenges are presented from both Blacks and Whites perspective so players learn to see both sides of the board. Examples from old classics to the new millenium illustrate a wide range of ideas. This book is lots of fun and an easy way for a player to improve skills! 192 pages