Overview

The French Defence is one of the most solid and strategically rich responses to 1.e4. Many chess opening lines have been analysed to death by computer, but the French is relatively resistant to this growing trend, as the characteristic blocked pawn centre leads to situations where a player with superior understanding can overcome an opponent whose expertise lies in computer-assisted preparation. Acclaimed authors Ntirlis and Aagaard present a complete repertoire for Black based on 3.Nc3 Nf6 and 3.Nd2 c5. With many new discoveries and detailed explanations of positional and strategic motifs, this book is essential reading for those playing this complex opening with either colour.

Full Product Details

9781907982361

Table of Contents

Reviews

""I already indicated that opening books are not my favourite chess books and many are unread on my bookshelf. The greatest compliment I can give Nikolaos is: this book will remain on my desk and I will certainly continue to study it with great pleasure. In short: highly recommended for both c4 and d4 players. As far as I'm concerned: 5 stars."" - Michel Hoetmer, www.schaaksite.nl ""Obviously I should have read the book before I played the variation. But doing it the other way round was not without educational benefits! It gave me the chance to think a bit more freely about the opening and not allow myself to be under the control of the authorities. Or more relevantly; it made me far more receptive to what was in the book! I think I will play the variation very differently next time round!"" -- GM Simen Agdestein ""…an excellent source of inspiration for any French players out there."" -- GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess ""Quality Chess has again been able to come up with another highly-recommendable book, with plenty of originality."" -- GM Glenn Flear, New in Chess Yearbook ""I gave up the French long time ago but now, after having worked with the books by Aagard, Ntilis and Berg, I am seriously considering visiting my old-forgotten friend… [A book] of high quality by the very publisher who sets the standard nowadays regarding chess literature."" -- Lukas Wedrychowski ""This complete monograph by Aagaard & Ntirlis recommends the Classical variation with 3…Nf6 in response to 3.Nc3… An advantage is that the structures are not as crazy as in the Winawer Variation and are somewhat easier to play. Players whose French repertoire includes this are well-served by this book."" -- André Schulz, ChessBase

"""I already indicated that opening books are not my favourite chess books and many are unread on my bookshelf. The greatest compliment I can give Nikolaos is: this book will remain on my desk and I will certainly continue to study it with great pleasure. In short: highly recommended for both c4 and d4 players. As far as I'm concerned: 5 stars."" - Michel Hoetmer, www.schaaksite.nl ""Obviously I should have read the book before I played the variation. But doing it the other way round was not without educational benefits! It gave me the chance to think a bit more freely about the opening and not allow myself to be under the control of the authorities. Or more relevantly; it made me far more receptive to what was in the book! I think I will play the variation very differently next time round!"" -- GM Simen Agdestein ""…an excellent source of inspiration for any French players out there."" -- GM Matthew Sadler, New in Chess ""Quality Chess has again been able to come up with another highly-recommendable book, with plenty of originality."" -- GM Glenn Flear, New in Chess Yearbook ""I gave up the French long time ago but now, after having worked with the books by Aagard, Ntilis and Berg, I am seriously considering visiting my old-forgotten friend… [A book] of high quality by the very publisher who sets the standard nowadays regarding chess literature."" -- Lukas Wedrychowski ""This complete monograph by Aagaard & Ntirlis recommends the Classical variation with 3…Nf6 in response to 3.Nc3… An advantage is that the structures are not as crazy as in the Winawer Variation and are somewhat easier to play. Players whose French repertoire includes this are well-served by this book."" -- André Schulz, ChessBase"

Author Information

Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard won the British Championship at his first and only attempt. He is the only chess author to have received the Boleslavsky Medal as well as the Guardian, ECF and ChessCafe Book of the Year awards. He is a FIDE Senior Trainer, and on his retirement from professional chess he has taken up the post of trainer for the Danish elite. His training material is used by amateurs, grandmasters and World Champions alike. Nikolaos Ntirlis is a chess coach and computer engineer. He is known as a strong analyst who has seconded many grandmasters. Ntirlis is a PhD student in bio-informatics. He has black belts in Okinawa Karate and Ju-Jitsu and won a bronze medal at the European Championship in semi-contact kickboxing.

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