Play the Open Games as Black (Chess Opening Guides)
€œMagnus lay in his bed and read Grandmaster John Emms€s Play the Open Games as Black, a brilliant book that covers everything but the Ruy Lopez that one can meet when answering 1 e4 with 1...e5.€ - GM Simen Agdestein, How Magnus Carlsen Became the Youngest Chess Grandmaster in the World
This book fills a gaping chasm in chess literature. For years, those who wish to take on the black side of the Ruy Lopez have had to muddle their way through against the variety of alternative openings at White€s disposal, as there have been no good books to assist them. Grandmaster John Emms is ideally qualified to deal with this subject. Not only does he face these openings as Black, but he also used to play many of them as White before he graduated to the Lopez. He provides no-nonsense answers to such openings as the King€s Gambit, Vienna, Scotch, Four Knights, Italian Game, Bishop€s Opening and the variety of oddball gambits White can try.
"... the thing I like the most about this book is the effort put in by Emms. The number of points where he offers original analysis, or where he disagrees with previously accepted analyses, convince me that he put a lot of thought into this work." - IM Sam Collins, Chess Today
John Emms is one of England€s strongest grandmasters, and an experienced trainer. He is also a skilful and versatile writer: he has several opening monographs and general guides to his credit, and authored the hugely popular work, The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book.
€œFills a definite gap in the market ... a fine treatment of a well-chosen topic, which will be very useful to players of all standards who wish to answer 1 e4 with 1...e5.€ - Phil Adams, 3Cs web site
€œWith this work Emms keeps up his reputation as a diligent author, and certainly by following his recommendations readers should be happy when their opponents avoid the Ruy Lopez€ - IM Richard Palliser, Hull Chess Club Magazine
€œI was also impressed by watching the way Magnus [Carlsen] read chess books. While the others lay around and relaxed or clowned around in their rooms, Magnus lay in his bed and read Grandmaster John Emms€s Play the Open Games as Black, a brilliant book that covers everything but the Ruy Lopez that one can meet when answering 1 e4 with 1...e5. That the book was in English and at a level more suited for top international players did not appear to worry Magnus in the slightest. He didn€t need to get out a board and pieces either, he simply read the games from the book without a problem.€ - GM Simen Agdestein
