This book provides a rock solid opening repertoire for Black, using systems based on the move ...c6. The backbone of this repertoire is the Caro-Kann versus 1 e4 and the Semi-Slav (via a Slav move order) versus 1 d4. In general these systems aim to neutralise White's early initiative. They aim for success by the gradual accumulation of small advantages, rather than by emerging victorious from an early tactical melee (which is rather problematic with the black pieces at the best of times). The book is co-authored by Cyrus Lakdawala and Keaton Kiewra and takes a teacher/student format. The "student" Keaton Kiewra is a very strong international master with two grandmaster norms. He normally specialises in razor-sharp defences such as the Sicilian Dragon and King's Indian. Now he wants to broaden his style and develop his skills at handling more sedate positions. His "teacher" is Cyrus Lakdawala, an extremely experienced player, coach and author, who guides Keaton along the learning path.

The Caro-Kann is renowned as a top-tier chess defence to 1.e4, and Lars Schandorff's Grandmaster Repertoire book on this opening received rave reviews. As GM Zenon Franco Ocampos put it, "I cannot imagine a better way of converting into a Caro-Kann player." A decade later, Schandorff is back with a completely new repertoire which improves on his previous work in every way.Playing the Caro-Kann offers a complete repertoire for Black after 1.e4 c6, based on 2.d4 d5 followed by 3.e5 Bf5 or 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6. With cutting-edge analysis, thorough explanations of positional motifs and instructively annotated illustrative games, this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Caro-Kann.

This new series provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move formatgreatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to study any chess opening and at the same time improve your general chess skills and knowledge. In this book, Cyrus Lakdawala examines the Caro-Kann, which enjoys a richly deserved reputation as one of Black's most reliable defences. It provides an ideal blend of soundness and dynamism, which allows Black to create counterplay from a solid platform. Lakdawala shares his experience and knowledge of the Caro-Kann, presents a repertoire for Black and provides answers to all the key questions.Essential guidance and training in the Caro-KannIncludes a Caro-Kann repertoire for BlackUtilizes an ideal approach to chess study

Every chess player needs to decide which openings he or she is going to play. But where do you start? The risk of drowning in the turbulent sea of chess opening theory is only too real for beginning amateurs.Often your goals and ambitions will be misguided. If you are trying to win in 20 moves, copy what's in fashion among top-GM's or memorize variations, you are wasting your time. Most likely you will never get to play your ‘preparation' and end up aimlessly switching from one opening to the other. After the success of his volume for White, experienced French chess trainer Vincent Moret now provides a complete, ready-to-go chess opening repertoire for Black. It consists of a sound set of lines that do not outdate rapidly, do not require memorization and are easy to digest for beginners and post-beginners.To show the typical plans and the underlying ideas in the various lines of his repertoire, Moret not only selected games of Grandmasters. He also uses games of young, improving players to highlight the errors they tend to make.

In Play the Caro-Kann, International MasterJovanka Houska presents the reader with a concise and trustworthy repertoire within this popular and dynamic opening, providing a solution against all of White's main possibilities. Houska examines the important tactical and strategic plans for both sides, arming the reader with enough information to begin playing the Caro-Kann with confidence in his or her own games.

In chess the Caro-Kann opening is one of Black's most reliable answers to 1.e4. It is a regular favorite of elite players, who know that computer-aided preparation now threatens the sharpest lines of the Sicilian or Ruy Lopez (at the very least with a forced draw). The Caro-Kann is less susceptible to such forcing lines - Black sets out to equalize in the opening, and win the game later.Grandmaster Lars Schandorff reveals a bulletproof chess opening repertoire and lucidly explains how Black should play the middlegame and endgame.

These days the move 1 d4 is often used as the precursor to quieter opening choices such as the London System, the Colle System or the Trompovsky. In this book the highly experienced chess author and coach Cyrus Lakdawala goes back to basics, outlining an aggressive repertoire for White based on 1 d4, following up with the traditional 2 c4. The emphasis of the repertoire is to gain space as quickly as possible and set Black the task of finding quick counterplay or face the risk of being overrun. Lakdawala recommends lines with f2-f3 against the Nimzo-Indian, the Petrosian System against the King’s Indian and the Flick Knife (f4 with Bb5+) against the Benoni. With thorough explanations on pawn structures and piece placement, this book provides insight to both strong masters and less experienced players alike. The format is ideal for the chessplayer keen to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions – a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. * Presents a powerful, aggressive repertoire starting at move one. * Thorough explanations of typical pawn structures and piece manoeuvres. * Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study.