"The Vienna Variation is a particular and independent system of the Queen’s Gambit. It arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4, when black’s capture on move 4 is strongly reminiscent of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. But the Vienna Variation is also inspired by Nimzo-Indian structures while keeping its own character. The main variations usually lead to asymmetrical pawn structures,...

"Are you looking for an active defence against 1.d4? Look no further! The Tarrasch Defence (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5) is one of Black’s most ambitious ways to meet 1.d4. No wonder that World Champions Boris Spassky and Garry Kasparov played it!"

"Advice and suggestions are given against: The Benko Gambit - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 The Budapest Gambit (including the Fajarowicz Gambit) - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 The Albin Counter-Gambit - 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 The Von Hennig-Schara Gambit - 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 The Queen’s Gambit (a little-known system for Black) - 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 ...

"The Smith-Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4!) is a great attacking weapon against the popular Sicilian Defence. On move two White sacrifices a pawn for fast development and good attacking chances, and Black can easily fall into one of the many devious opening traps. With this gambit in your opening arsenal you are highly unpredictable and able to deal heavy blows at short notice. Your opponent...

"Beat the Sicilian like Bobby Fischer! Bobby Fischer was a devoted Sicilian player. But the American chess genius and 11th World Champion was also a devoted 1.e4 (“Best by test” as he said) player, and his results against the Sicilian are remarkable."

"The Petroff (or Russian) Defence which is characterised by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 has been popular at the highest levels for many years and enjoys the reputation of being an extremely solid defence. In the 1990’s and 2000’s, the theory of this variation began to develop quickly, when players like Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Adams and Kramnik infused it with new ideas for White and...

"The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations — in short, an ideal avenue to outplay your opponent without having to learn much theory. But how should you approach new positions and keep a clear head in view of so many playable possibilities? The best way is this: you sit...

"After the success of the first Volume on Calculation Training, Dutch IM Robert Ris continues Volume 2 of the series with a wide range of new aspects which have to be mastered to become a great calculator at the board! The topics discussed in Volume 1 (Candidates Moves, Method of Elimination & Imagination) are certainly useful when studying the content of this new DVD. Special attention...