The Belgian publisher Thinkers Publishing (https://thinkerspublishing.com/) has seven new books out that cover different aspects of the game and which are geared at different levels of players. They are: 1. The Modernized Semi-Slav – Milos

The name of Dragoljub Velimirovic (1942-2014) is synonymous with razor sharp play. He was an attacker’s attacker who favored 1.e4 as White and the Modern Benoni, King’s Indian and Dragon Sicilian as Black. Like fellow

Like the Velimirovic book, this work by the Scottish Fide Master is very much a labor of love, as he pays homage to a long list of heroes who played the Dragon. The present volume,

The opening move 1.Nc3, sometimes referred to as the Van Geet or Dunst after the Dutch master Dick Van Geet and the American Theodore Dunst who both played it regularly, can go two ways. It

The young Hungarian International Master and trainer has written an improvement book primarily aimed at players rated from 1800-2200. All phases of the game are covered from opening to endgame with plenty of exercises with

There are many authors out there but only one Danny Gormally. The former English Olympiad team member, with a peak rating of 2573 FIDE, examines topics not normally covered in chess books that some readers,

Many endgame books are too overwhelming for lower rated players both in the amount of material offered and its complexity. That is not the case with this book which provides a daily endgame position to

Those who like to play 1.d4, but don’t want to face the King’s Indian or Grunfeld, might want to consider the Barry Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3). Played on and off by a number

That such a fine achievement should be immortalized, is beyond dispute. But who will pick up the gauntlet? We live in a volatile world where the Internet is dominant and when a tournament is over,

David Navara is considered one of the few true gentlemen in top chess, always highlighting the play of others and humbly understating his own efforts and accomplishments. Therefor I was pleased to pick up this

This is a superb book packed full of instructive examples which I cannot praise enough. The book has clearly been extensively researched with Efstratios Grivas showcasing his credentials as a world class trainer. The book

A book like this undoubtedly has to have a lot of theory, and The Modernized Ruy Lopez does, but Swiercz does provide prose to guide the reader when needed. More importantly he provides the judgement of a

This excellent book is packed full of instructive, exciting endgames, taken from top level games, including many of Dreev’s own games extensively analysed with short pithy didactic comments. Many of the examples are complex and

“The Modernized Ruy Lopez: A Complete Repertoire for White: Volume 1 by Darius Swiercz is one of the best opening books this reviewer has ever seen. The Polish-American Grandmaster, currently rated in the top 100 in