Grandmaster Nigel Davies presents a major study of the Catalan, providing a reliable and dynamic repertoire for White and covering the main plans for both sides.

The Catalan is a solid yet flexible chess opening system that is popular on all levels. Both amateurs and top-level strategists such as Vladimir Kramnik and Vishy Anand employ this opening to put a lot of unpleasant pressure on Black. In The Powerful Catalan grandmaster Victor Bologan presents a complete repertoire for White that covers all of Black’s responses. Also included are those variations where Black tries to steer the game into other openings like the Queen’s Indian or the Tarrasch Defence. The book is classically structured (starting with the rarest variations before moving on to the most popular ones) and contains original analysis of many recent tournament games. Bologan’s clearly formulated verbal explanations are essential for a good understanding of the strategic plans and the tactical themes of the Catalan. ,

When Boris Avrukh released the first volume of his 1.d4 repertoire in 2008, it revolutionized chess opening books. As GM Michael Adams said: "The high-quality Grandmaster Repertoire series has taken this format to a completely different level." Or as GM Glenn Flear put it: "This book represents nothing short of a technological advance in chess opening theory." Now Avrukh is back with an expanded, updated and revamped 1.d4 repertoire. Volume 1A deals primarily with the Catalan, which is an Avrukh specialty. In GM Simen Agdestein s words: "It s in Avrukh has become a standard comment for those trying to understand this opening." This volume covers the position after the opening moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3, concentrating on the Catalan which arises after 3...d5, while also dealing with the Bogo-Indian with 3...Bb4, and Benoni systems after 3...c5."

The Catalan is a favourite of the greats of chess, and has been used by Kasparov, Karpov and Korchnoi in key matches. This guide focuses on the key plans at White's disposal, and how to exploit the typical errors Black makes when facing the Catalan.

This book in front of you assists all players in their efforts to improve, and along their way, our young chess guns provided fresh insights how to trap and trick your opponent in the opening and early middlegame. With the many computer-assisted learning tools available, the player's capacity to improve is limitless. This book offers the reader an insider's candid view of how to unbalance the game in the modern age of chess.

After the success of his award-winning book ‘Keep it Simple 1.e4’ International Master Christof Sielecki is back. His new repertoire based on 1.d4 has a similar profile: variations that are straightforward and easy to remember, and require little or no maintenance. Sielecki has created a reliable set of opening lines for chess players of almost all levels. The major objective is to dominate Black from the opening, by simple means. You don’t need to sacrifice anything or memorize long tactical lines. His main concept is for White to play 1.d4, 2.Nf3, 3.g3, 4.Bg2, 5.0-0 and in most cases 6.c4. Sielecki developed this repertoire while working with students who were looking for something that was easy to understand and easy to learn. This new 1.d4 repertoire may be even easier to master than his 1.e4 recommendations, because it is such a coherent system. Sielecki always clearly explains the plans and counterplans and keeps you focussed on what the position requires. Ambitious players rated 1500 or higher will get great value out of studying this extremely accessible book.