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This major new work surveys all chess openings, providing a guide to every critical main line and featuring descriptions of the typical strategies for both sides. These commentaries will be welcomed by all club and tournament players, as they will help them to handle the middlegame positions arising from each opening better, and will equip them to find the best continuation when their opponents deviate from the standard paths. As it covers all openings, Understanding the Chess Openings will also prove invaluable to those who are seeking to create a repertoire. At a glance, readers will get a feel for the character of an opening, and an idea of whether it might suit their style. Potential theoretical problem areas and move-order issues, so critical when creating a repertoire, are also highlighted. Features include: * Main lines explained move by move * Guidance against rare but dangerous sidelines * Special emphasis on lines popular at club level * Brief description of both sides' aims at the end of each main line * General introduction to each major opening * Complete games are given to illustrate key ideas * More than 400 diagrams