The Scotch Game is the most "open" of all the Open Games. In fact this is the only really Open Game, in its essence, which matches the traditional terminology. The move 3.d2-d4 breaks immediately the symmetry. White tries to occupy the centre and gain additional space. Rapid contact between the opposing forces takes place, in fact much quicker than in the other open (and not only open...) games, which increases the value of every move and requires from both sides tremendous accuracy at a very early stage of the game. Positions with opposite castles arise much more often in the Scotch than in all the other Open Games put together. Alexander Khalifman is a GM and FIDE Senior Trainer, FIDE World Chess Champion in 1999. He won the Soviet Union Youth Championship (1982, 1984), the European Under-20 Championship (1985), the Russian Championship (1996). He was a member of the gold medal-winning Russian team at the Chess Olympiads in 1992, 2000 and 2002, and at the 1997 World Team Chess Championship. Author of many books as Opening for White According to Anand, Opening for White According to Kramnik. Sergei Soloviov is an IM, author of many books as Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games, Leko's One Hundred Wins.

The Modern Scotch

Alexander Khalifman

Sergei Soloviov

Chess Stars LTD.

Squeezing 1.e4 e5: A Solid Strategic Approach

In the Alapin System White's strategic idea is extremely simple. He prepares to advance with d2-d4, to build a solid pawn centre and then dictate the play. He will have to pay for this with the fact that his queen's knight has been deprived of the best square for its development, but it may have other suitable squares (in many variations this will be not the d2-square but a3). Secondly, it very often happens that after d4 cxd4 cxd4, White's queen's knight still gets access to its best square on c3. The modern evaluation of this system is that Black has comfortable enough lines in which he can obtain an acceptable game. The authors try to prove that not all of these lines are equally good.

Squeezing the Sicilian. The Alapin Variation

Chess Stars

The authors recommend an economical and quite promising method for White to fight against the Caro-Kann Defence – the Exchange system (3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3). This minimalist approach against this classical opening deserves very serious attention today. This is confirmed incidentally by the fact that at present the popularity of the Exchange system (particularly after the year 2017) has increased considerably, and at quite different levels. Easiest way to explain authors' approach is to quote the description given in the previous books of this series: 1. White controls the centre, develops quickly and castles. He DOES NOT strive for a direct clash with the opponent after the first few moves in the opening. 2. White begins active operations only after the completion of our development; as a rule, these will take place in the centre and on the kingside. 3. Of course it is necessary to know the theory and to calculate the variations precisely, but in general White is striving to reach positions in which the basic strategical principles, the correct evaluation of the arising positions and the ability to choose the correct plan will be at least as important. 4. Finally, White is still fighting for an advantage in the opening. It may be just a small edge, but let’s see how things develop....

Squeezing the Caro-Kann Simple Chess

This volume examines the Maroczy system, English Opening with 1...c5, Modern Defence, Dutch Defence and some rare lines.

Opening for White according to Kramnik 1.Nf3, Volume 3 (Repertoire Books)

Humor & Entertainment

Puzzles & Games

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

Opening for White according to Kramnik 1.Nf3, Volume 4 (Repertoire Books)

The 'Chess Stars Openings' series present an entirely new approach to the study of chess openings, which can provoke the interest of chess players of all levels. Drawing examples from the games of today's leading grandmasters they present the principles of selection and successful employment of a harmonious opening repertoire, corresponding as close as possible to the style of a renowned master.   This volume is devoted to the main lines of one of the most popular and interesting openings in the chess theory - the Ruy Lopez with 3...a6.

Opening for White According to Anand 1. e4, Volume 2 (Repertoire Books)

The fourth book of the series is devoted to opening schemes, which arise after the moves 1.e4 d6, or 1.e4 g6. These systems have proved their right of existence, despite the numerous attempts to refute them once and for all. The positions are so diverse strategically and so rich tactically that they deserve a separate volume. Black avoids early clashes and narrows his “sphere of influence” to only three ranks. However, his harmonious development enables him to attack often White’s powerful center successfully.  The 14th World Champion Khalifman recommends against the majority of the flank systems schemes with f2-f4, which provide additional control over the center. He included in this fundamental work plenty of new and original analyses which surely will cause Black a lot of trouble!

Opening for White according to Anand 1.e4, Volume 4 (Repertoire Books)

From the Introduction: "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..."

Opening for White according to Anand 1.e4, Volume 7 (Repertoire Books)

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.

Opening for White According to Anand: v. 11

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Books by Alexander Khalifman