The French is one of Black's soundest defences to 1 e4 and is very
popular at all levels of chess. Club players enjoy its super-solid
structure, while at the top it's played by famous grandmasters such as
Vishy Anand and the young Russian star Alexander Morozevich. With his
first two moves Black obtains a substantial foothold in the centre, and
a structure that is incredibly difficult to break down. In this
user-friendly book, International Master Byron Jacobs revisits the basic
principles behind the French Defence and all of its variations.
Throughout the reader is helped along by a wealth of notes, tips,
warnings and exercises. This book is ideal for the improving player. The
Caro-Kann Defence has a well-deserved and established reputation as an
incredibly solid and, at the same time, dynamic defence to 1 e4. The
Caro-Kann appeals to all types of players, but is especially useful to
black players who prefer a sound platform on which to build and who are
resourceful in both defence and counter-attack. Star players who enjoy
using the Caro-Kann include Vishy Anand, Michael Adams and the legendary
Anatoly Karpov. In this easy-to-read guide, Grandmaster Joe Gallagher
goes back to the basics of the Caro-Kann, studying the key principles of
its many variations. Throughout the book there is an abundance of notes,
tips, warnings and exercises to help the improving player, while
important strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly
illustrated.
