Kirjahaku

Deciding what to play against the Ruy Lopez (or the Spanish Game) is a perennial problem for those who play 'open games' as black. It's all too easy to play too passively and end up having to face what is known as the 'Spanish Torture'. In this book Grandmaster Glenn Flear studies a wide variety of ambitious and offbeat answers catering for many different styles of player. From the super solid Steinitz to the uncompromising Schliemann, there's enough choice here for any prospective black player facing the Lopez. On the other hand, this book is also perfect for white players looking for the best way to deal with those avoiding the main lines. * Written by a Lopez expert * Ideas and strategies for both sides * Up to date theory on the sharpest lines

Grandmaster Chris Ward explains the fundamental principles which must be mastered by players wishing to improve their game. Taking examples from his own games & those of other players, he shows how drawn positions can be converted into victories.

The Open Ruy Lopez or Open Spanish has withstood the test of time after decades. It offers both sides opportunities for a sharp clash of forces in which the better prepared player will often come out on top.

The a...6 Slav is a relatively new phenomenon in a very popular opening, and over the last few years it has attracted the attention of some top class players: Alexei Shirov, Sergei Movsesian, England's Julian Hodgson, and more recently, world number one Garry Kasparov. In this first ever book solely devoted to the a...6 Slav, Grandmaster and openings expert Glenn Flear delves into the secrets of this complex line. He explains the tactics and positional ideas for both White and Black and presents a comprehensive coverage of the theory, concentrating on all the new wrinkles and discoveries. * Written by a prominent openings theoretician * All major lines are covered * Ideal for club and tournament players

The Ruy Lopez (also known as the Spanish Game) is an extremely popular opening and one of the oldest in the history of chess. It has been played by virtually all the greats of the game, providing the battle scene for many world championship clashes involving the likes of Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik. Now, for the first time in many years, Grandmaster Glenn Flear investigates the main line of the Lopez, outlining the crucial ideas and tactics for both White and Black. Using illustrative games, Flear studies the fashionable and theoretical variations, plus the tricky sidelines. This book is perfect for those wishing to play the positions with either color. *Written by a Ruy Lopez expert *Up-to-date theory on the sharpest lines *Ideal for club and tournament players

Endgames involving only kings and pawns are the most fundamental of all chess positions, and a firm understanding of them is required in order to become confident of tackling more complex endings that preceded them. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster and distinguished endgames expert Glenn Flear focuses on the very basics of pawn endings. Beginning with the simplest of positions and only gradually working through to more challenging material, Flear outlines the key principles and rules, and demonstrates how these work in practical examples. As one of the priorities of such endings is to promote pawns to queens, Flear additionally deals with queen endings that arise naturally from the simpler form. As is commonplace with the renowned Starting Out series, there are an abundance of notes, tips and warnings throughout the book to help improving players. Starting Out: Pawn Endgames is perfect for those who have previously honed their chess skills with the earlier books Starting Out in Chess, Tips for Young Players and Improve Your Endgame Play. Highlights include: *Covers all crucial pawn endings *Easy step-by-step guide to better endgame play *Ideal for improving players *User-friendly layout to help readers absorb the key ideas

The very closely linked Slav and Semi-Slav Defences are two of the most popular and combative openings that Black can play against the Queen's Gambit. They have provided the battleground for thousands of exciting encounters between the world's chess elite, including Garry Kasparov, Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Alexei Shirov, and Alexander Morozevich. Players of all levels are attracted to the Slav and the Semi-Slav because they are solid, dependable defences that do, however, promise abundant possibilities for dynamic counterplay. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster and openings expert Glenn Flear goes back to basics, studying the essential principles of the Slav and Semi-Slav Defences and their numerous variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, and warnings to guide improving players, while key strategies, ideas, and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated. *User-friendly layout to help readers absorb ideas *Concentrates on the key principles of the Slav and Semi-Slav *Ideal for improving players

Here...at long last...we have it. This is a new type of endgame book. It is a book which explains how to handle those positions that frequently occur in practical play but, curiously, are hardly ever the subject of theoretical works. Most endgame books rely on recycling the established theory on basic positions or concentrate on fantastical studies. This one is different. Well known grandmaster and endgame expert Glenn Flear examines all endgames which feature precisely two pieces for each side. Why is this an important subject? Because these situations arise surprisingly frequently in practical play. For example, an examination of any big database will reveal that the endgame of rook and minor piece versus rook and minor piece arises in nearly 20 per cent of games. That means that if you open with 1 e4, you are more likely to reach one of these endgames than you are to face the French Defence, and overall, every time you sit down to play a game of chess, there is nearly a 50 per cent chance that you will reach one of the endgames covered in this book. If you can handle such endgames well, your results will inevitably improve. This book will show you how.

Starting Out: Open Games is a further addition to Everyman's best-selling Starting Out series. Grandmaster Glenn Flear revisits the fundamentals of Open Games, examining the key moves and plans for both sides.

Tactimania is a puzzle book with a difference. Grandmaster Glenn Flear makes sure the puzzles are unfamiliar to the reader by selecting them only from games played by himself or his wife Christine. The puzzles start at a moderate level then get steadily more difficult. The reader will be challenged by the puzzles and entertained by the manga-style illustrations that feature throughout.