Bibliography
Books
Nunn 's Chess Openings, John Nunn, Graham Burgess, John Emms and Joe
Gallagher (Everyman/Gambit 1999) Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings Volume C(Sahovski Informator 1997) The Bishop's Opening, T.D. Harding (Batsford 1973) The Complete Vienna, Mikhail Tseitlin and Igor Glazkov (Batsford 1995) The King's Gambit, Neil McDonald (Batsford 1998) Winning With the King's Gambit, Joe Gallagher (Batsford 1992) Play the King's Gambit: Volume 1 King's Gambit Accepted, Y. Estrin and
I.B. Glazkov (Pergamon 1982) The Scotch Game, Peter Wells (Batsford 1998) New Ideas in the Four Knights, John Nunn (Batsford 1993) The Italian Game, Tim Harding and George Botterill (Batsford 1977) The Two Knights Defence, Yakov Estrin (Batsford 1983) Understanding the Open Games (Except Ruy Lopez), Andy Soltis, Edmar Mednis, Jack Peters and William Hartston (RHM 1980) 101 Chess Opening Surprises, Graham Burgess (Gambit 1998) A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire, Chris Baker (Cadogan 1998) The Oxford Companion to Chess, David Hooper and Kenneth Whyld (Oxford University Press 1996)
Periodicals
Informator ChessBase Magazine The Week in Chess British Chess Magazine Chess Monthly
Introduction
It's just typical isn't it? You've got your favourite defence to Ruy Lopez all sorted out, be it the Schliemann, the Zaitsev, the Open, the Marshall or any one of numerous Anti-Spanish systems. But what actually happens? How often do you actually get your intended defence? I imagine your answer could well be "not very often, because most of my opponents surprise me earlier on with a menacing-looking gambit or some other peculiar opening". If you hear yourself thinking just that, then you're just the sort of chessplayer this book is aimed at. Play the Open Games as Black is primarily a book for players who have a defence to the Lopez, but are annoyed by all those other little variations that White can play. And we are talking about a real A-Z of openings here. From the Allgaier Gambit through to the Zuker-tort-Burger Variation, there are countless different variations considered in this book, with (hopefully) at least one more than satisfactory line against each of them for Black.
When writing this book I've tried as hard as possible to provide a black repertoire for both the aggressive and also the more positionally minded player. Against many openings there will be a choice of two or possibly three lines to play. When I have only included one defence, then it's because I'm confident that its reliability and diversity should be enough to satisfy Black.
What is an Open Game?
Perhaps I should clarify the definition of Open Games. In general terms, open games are types of positions which are typified by clear lines, relatively few pawns and great activity for the pieces. More specifically, Open Games means the group of openings that begin 1 e4 e5. In this book I present a repertoire for Black against all Open Games, with the exception of the Ruy Lopez.
Characteristics of Open Games
Open Games are distinguished by rapid development, open lines, early exchanges in the centre, early attacks on the king and plenty of tactical play. This is the main reason that 1 e4 e5 openings are so well suited to white and black players of the attacking persuasion. I would add that Open Games are very popular among junior players, who can benefit greatly by sharpening their tactical skills in tactical openings. Many of the best players begin in this fashion.
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