Brought together in one volume as part of Everyman Chess's series of
compilation books: Play the Najdorf: Scheveningen Style by John Emms and
Play the King's Indian: A complete Repertoire for Black in this most
dynamic of openings by Joe Gallagher. The Najdorf Sicilian is one of the
most sharp, dynamic and popular openings that Black can play and is a
firm favourite amongst the world's elite players, including world number
one Garry Kasparov. From very early on, Black unbalances the game to a
reach a position in which one can play for the win without exceptional
risk. The soundness of the Najdorf has never been questioned, but some
players can be put off by the ever-spiralling amount of theory amassed
on this great opening. In Play the Najdorf, however, Grandmaster and
openings expert John Emms condenses this mountain to produce a workable
black repertoire against all of White's possible options. The King's
Indian has always been one of the sharpest, most complex and popular
openings that Black can play; it still provides the setting for many
encounters at the elite level of Grandmaster chess. Straight from the
start, Black fights for the initiative and in many variations, while
White pursues material gains, it is Black who has the psychological
advantage of trying to checkmate the opponent's king. Despite its many
advantages, some prospective Kings Indian players are put off by the
seemingly endless amount of theory one is supposed to learn. In Play the
Kings Indian, however, Grandmaster and life-long Kings Indian devotee
Joe Gallagher has produced a comprehensive and yet workable black
repertoire against all of Whites most dangerous possibilities.
