Batsford Chess Openings

Although Kasparov's name is on the front cover, my understanding is that his contribution to the book was rather small, with most of the analytical work being done by Ray Keene and the dreaded Eric Schiller (generally very useful introductions to each opening were written by Jon Tisdall). All the same, I've used this to get sensible first thoughts on various openings for a number of years, and as long as you stick to quieter lines it's still useful today as a starting point. But being about fifteen years old, it hardly reflects current fashions, and it would be very foolhardy indeed to rely on it in sharp variations. Nunn's Chess Openings is probably a better choice if you want a single-volume guide.

Batsford Chess Openings authoritatively provides, in one inexpensive volume, the pick of contemporary opening knowledge concisely presented in easy-tofollowcolumns.
• International FigurineAlgebraic Notation
• All the notes an the same double spread as the columns
• An introduction to each opening giving the strategic ideas and historical background
• Careful selection of material, ensuring a balance between currently topical linesand importanttheory
• Combination of two leading Grandmasters
• Substantial original suggestions and new ideas
• All openings covered and familiar English names used
The authors
Gary Kasparov was born i n the Soviet republ ic of Azerbaidzhan. He won the Junior World Championship in 1980 and became a show more Grandmaster in the Same year. In 1981 he was joint first in the USSR Championship and achieved a rating of 2715 in July 1984. An enormously energetic and exciting player, he is widely regarded as a future World Champion. I n late 1984 he challenged Karpov for the world title.
Raymond Keene, British Champion in 1971, became London's first Grandmaster in 1976. A much-travel led and very experienced tournament player, he was a member of eight Olympiad teams between 1966 and 1980. He is an expert an opening theory, noted for his pioneering works The Pirc Defence, The Modern Defence and The NimzowitschlLarsen Attack. President of the Commonwealth Chess Association, he was also Chief Organiser of the match between Kasparov and Korchnoi, London 1983 and USSR v the World, London 1984.
Gary Kasparov, with SciSys chess computer show less