Toys, Puzzles & Games Books

Book SynopsisZwischenzug! is the first-ever comprehensive guide to the chess tactic also known as the intermediate move, or intermezzo. This exciting manoeuvre can catch opponents off guard because it is against the expected run of play. You will learn how to spot Zwischenzugs, when to look out for them, and how to set them up in your games.The authors have studied thousands of games and have identified the patterns that appear frequently in practical play. The book categorizes the different types of Zwischenzugs and distils them into easily accessible themes. The concepts are given catchy names to make them more memorable, and historical details and anecdotes are added throughout the book.Included is an extensive mix of sample puzzles for learning and practice.When published on Chessable, the course was received very enthusiastically and awarded an average rating of 4.82 out of a possible five stars. Another welcome effect is that the authors are now finding a lot of Zwisch

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Book SynopsisA lucid guide to the intricacies of slam bidding which not only gives all the important modern conventions but also teaches you how to identify the key cards in your hand

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Book SynopsisCeltic is an unusual football club, inspiring strong feelings in almost everyone. It is of course virtually impossible to chronicle all that has happened in the history of the club, but this little gem draws together some of the most interesting, quirky and downright odd events that have taken place over their long and auspicious existence. Packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legend, the reader will delve deep to find out all about the events and people who have shaped the club into what it is today. Featured here are a plethora of stories on this charismatic football club ranging from how the club was formed, to little-known facts about players and managers. Here you will find player feats, individual records and plenty of amusing quotes. Rivalry with Rangers, favourite managers and cult heroes from yesteryear a book no true Celtic fan should be without.

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Book SynopsisNeopia has been going grey, and it's up to you to bring the colour back! Colour in your favourite Neopets, Petpets, Faeries, and tons more images in Neopets: The Official Colouring Book, with a bonus sheet of high-quality Neopets stickers! Each page in the colouring book is perforated, thick stock, and single-sided.All the magic has been used up...wait, maybe not. ;) Grab your Aisha Pencil Sharpener, Scented Yooyuball Markers, Uniocto Crayon Set, or Scritchy Sketchy Paint Brush and get ready to bring the colour back to Neopia in the first-ever colouring book for the iconic Y2K-era computer game.  You'll need to colour in and out of the lines in order to restore Neopia to its glory. Otherwise, Baelia the Grey Faerie and the rest of Neopia might just stay sad and grey forever . . . Neopets: The Official Colouring Book is a gorgeous and relaxing colouring book that will take artists on a journey through all of Neopia's finest, like Faerieland, Tyrannia, Mystery Island, and more. This book has 96 pages of images to colour and includes all of your Neopian favourites, like Jhudora, Illusen, and Queen Fyora, as well as those so-bad-they're-good baddies like Dr. Sloth and Lord Kass. (And don't even get us STARTED on Grundos. There are Grundos. Trust us, there are Grundos.) Features all your favourite Neopets, Faeries, and more  Includes 4 all-new colouring pages by one of the original art directors at Neopets, Anthony Conley Other pages of art include new patterns and illustrations by artist Rachel Cash  Includes a universal, one-time-use code located on the copyright page for an exclusive Neopets item that can be redeemed on the website (just like in Neopets: The Official Cookbook) Includes a high-quality sheet of full-colour stickers in the back  Foreword written by TNT Aesop himself, head of Narrative and Lore at Neopets Each colouring page is perforated and single-sided, so it can be taken out of the colouring book and used for display (or fed to your Kadoatie Petpet ... no judgement) All 55 species of Neopets are included  A 'must-have' collectible for all Neopets fans! (Maybe even some enemies!) This is officially licensed merchandise from © Neopets 1999-2025. All Rights Reserved. 'For the first time in a while, I am truly optimistic on the future of Neopets in print. Good things are coming ... This book is proof that the Neopets brand is still brimming with fresh ideas, strong execution, and full of heart.​' - Jellyneo (Neopets fan site) for Neopets: The Official Cookbook

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Book SynopsisThe French Defence is one of the most popular and reliable responses to 1.e4. Grandmaster Repertoire 15 The French Defence 2 covers the most critical variation of the Winawer, which occurs after the opening moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4. This volume presents three contrasting ways of meeting White''s aggressive opening system: 7cxd4 leading to the notorious Winawer Poisoned Pawn; 700 8.Bd3 f5, a solid yet strategically complex system; and 700 8.Bd3 Nbc6, which leads to a tense, full-blooded battle.Volume One of the series covers White''s other options in the Winawer Variation. Volume Three will deal with the Tarrasch, Advance and all of White''s other options.

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Book SynopsisFrom 1948 until 1963 Mikhail Botvinnik, the iron man of soviet chess and chess board devotee of Josef Stalin, had maintained his grip on the supreme title. Tigran Petrosian was a super subtle strategist.

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Book Synopsis1000-pieces. Shrink-wrapped, sturdy box (size 10 x 10 x 2 ins). High quality jigsaw puzzle. Finished Jigsaw size 29 x 20 ins.Part of an exciting series of sturdy, square-box 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles from Flame Tree, featuring powerful and popular works of art. This new jigsaw will satisfy your need for a challenge, with a popular masterpiece of post impressionism, Almond Blossom by Van Gogh. This 1000 piece jigsaw is intended for adults and children over 13 years. Not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts. Finished Jigsaw size 735 x 510mm/29 x 20 ins. Now includes an A4 poster for reference.Demonstrating influence from Impressionism and Japanese prints, Almond Blossom was painted in response to the birth of Vincent van Gogh’s nephew. Motivated by the occasion and moved by his brother Theo naming the child after him, Van Gogh painted Almond Blossom as a gift in celebration of the event. He had previously b

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Book SynopsisSince its first publication in 1950, The Right Way to Play Chess has taught chess to generations of beginners, taking them to the standard expected of good club players.It gives full details of exactly how to play the game, explains basic theory and includes many examples of play.There are separate chapters on the openings, middle and end games, plus a chapter of master games which illustrate how styles of play have changed over the years.Fully revised and updated by chess expert Richard James, a new chapter shows how to encourage and teach children to play the game.

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Book SynopsisWho is the most outrageous – Lady Bunny or Divine? Who is the funniest – Coco Peru or Lily Savage? Enter the world of huge hair, sparkling make-up, glitter galore, fake eyelashes and … the fine art of the tuck and tape, with Game of Queens! Pitch queen against queen from across the carnival court of drag, from the female impersonators who pioneered drag performance in the 1970s up to the superstars of the scene today. Trade Review"Anyone for a game of drag queen card race? [...] Mixing Ru Paul's Drag Race stars with some of the biggest faces in drag, enter the world of huge hair, sparkling makeup, glitter galore" -- GayTimes

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Book SynopsisTeaches how to play Texas Hold ''Em Poker for beginners. This work contains terms, definitions, etiquette and rules and shows how poker hands are ranked. It helps you to understand your chances, appreciate the percentages, and master the odds so that your hand improves.

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Book SynopsisModern Poker Theory is a comprehensive, rigorous guide to the most important aspects of No-Limit Hold'em. It is based around an in-depth examination of what is meant by game theory optimal play (GTO) and how it can be applied at the table. Understanding GTO is fundamental to being able to make accurate poker decisions and being able to exploit players who don't. Modern Poker Theory uses modern poker tools to develop a systematic approach to the analysis of GTO. It organizes the ideas and concepts in an intuitive manner that is totally focused to practical applications. Next time you are at a table some of the players will have studied Modern Poker Theory and some won't. The players who have studied Modern Poker Theory will, without doubt, have a better theoretical and practical understanding of No-Limit Hold'em. They will be the favourites in the game. Make sure you are one of them. Michael Acevedo, one of the world's leading poker theorists, is a game theory expert who is renowned for creating cutting-edge content for the world's leading players. The production of Modern Poker Theory is the culmination of many thousands of hours of his research work with the most advanced poker software tools available. It is poker theory for the 21st century.Trade ReviewThis might go down as the best poker book ever written--Brandon Adams, Professional Poker Player ----- I can’t imagine that a more comprehensive book on the subject of GTO will ever be written. This is it, the buck stops here; Modern Poker Theory is the final stop on the route. The book’s mastermind Michael Acevedo has arrived and he is taking us along for the ride, so strap on your seat belts and get ready to learn a LOT about poker! -- Shannon Mack, CardPlayerLifestyle.com

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Book SynopsisEVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR A NEW BOOK BY QI ELVES JAMES HARKIN AND ANNA PTASZYNSKI IS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOWAn indispensable compendium of popular misconceptions, misunderstandings and common mistakes culled from the hit BBC show, QI. From the bestselling authors of The Book of General Ignorance comes a noticeably stouter edition, with 26% extra facts and figures perfect for trivia, pub quiz and general knowledge enthusiasts. The QI team sets out again to show you that a lot of what you think you know is wrong. If, like Alan Davies, you still think the Henry VIII had six wives, the earth has only one moon, that George Washington was the first president of the USA, that Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, that the largest living thing is a blue whale, that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, that whisky and bagpipes come from Scotland or that Mount Everest is the world''s tallest mountain, then there are a

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Book SynopsisIn this book Grandmaster Joe Gallagher takes a fresh look at Tal's games and career, focusing on the previously neglected period from 1975 to 1992 during which he played some of his most accomplished chess. Despite periodic bouts of ill-health Tal occupied a place in the world's top ten for most of this period, winning many top-class events and securing dozens of wonderful victories, many of which are annotated in detail here.

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Book SynopsisThe Two Knights Defence is one of the trickiest tactical openings around. If White initiates complications with either 4 Ng5 or 4 d4, play becomes extremely sharp and gambits and counter gambits abound. Anyone who enters the murky waters of the Two Knights Defence must be well prepared for the mind-boggling complications that ensue. In this book, openings theoretician Jonathan Tait guides the reader through both the well-trodden paths of the main lines plus the less fashionable side variations of this most complex opening. Using illustrative games, Tait studies the key ideas and tactics for both Black and White. *Up-to-date coverage of a controversial opening *Written by a Two Knights Defence expert *Ideal for club and tournament players

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Book SynopsisRichard Reti (1889-1929) was both a master player and a superb endgame composer. He was also a prominent member of the hyper-modern school and author of two of the greatest chess books ever written, Masters of the Chessboard and Modern Ideas in Chess. His games, which greatly influenced chess strat egy, are known for their many innovations, beautifully developed combinations, and important advances in opening play and strategy. There are 70 games in this book, selected from all stages of Reti's career. Early games show the budding of Reti's almost phenomenal positional skills and his rise to status of great master with first prize wins at Kaschau and the international tournament of Gothenburg, 1920. There are many games from the tournaments of 1922, during the development of the Reti and the English openings including Reti-Rubinstein 1923, Reti-Becker 1923, Reti - Bogolyubov 1924, and his stunning defeat of Capablanca in 1924. The games from 1925 to his premature death in 1929 show his further development and number among them many which made the chess world sit up and take notice. Fifteen of Reti's most interesting composed endgames are also included. There is a short memoir and expert annotation by Harry Golombek. For this edition Raymond Keene has written a new Introduction.

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Book SynopsisChildren will love the unique scents found in Mudpuppy''s Campfire Friends Scratch and Sniff Puzzle. This puzzle includes 60 puzzle pieces, featuring 6 special shaped pieces with 3 of your favorite campfire scents – marshmallow, coca, and cinnamon!• 60 pieces, including 6 special shaped pieces with 3 scents (each scent is repeated twice)• Ages 4+• Puzzle: 15 x 11, 38 x 38 cm• Box: 9.5 x 7 x 2, 24 x 18 x 5 cm• Puzzle greyboard contains 90% recycled paper. Packaging contains 70% recycled paper. Printed with nontoxic, soy-based inks.

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Book SynopsisDragonMasters volume 1 charts the history of the most exciting and dangerous opening known to chess - the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Unlike almost all other books on the Dragon, the focus is not purely on theoretical development. Instead, the author has combined the most historically important games, the famous players who chose to fight either side (sometimes both sides!) of the opening, and the most unexpected and interesting stories featuring the Dragon. World Champions, contenders of the crown, code-breakers, revolutionaries in every sense of the world - all feature in this remarkable and entirely unique look into the history of an opening variation. as the ancient may say: Here be Dragons!

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Book SynopsisStop scrolling and chill with this 100% analogue-age timeout.Every page is a happy blast from the past of iconic toys, treats, music, moments, TV, movies and celebrities from the 90s. Let feel-good quizzes, wordsearches, dot-to-dots and colouring pages take you back in time.Butterfly hair clips, baggy jeans, bum bags, Baywatch, cargo pants, crop tops, Clueless, double denim, Friends, slip dresses, Sweet Valley High, snap bands, Spice Girls, Swatch watches, Tamagotchis and troll dolls - and so much more: the gangs all here.Includes QR code to exclusive 90s playlist.

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Book SynopsisThis is an essential handbook for anyone new to the game of Mahjong. It takes you from the very beginning - learning the rules, choosing a set (or playing online) to advanced advice on strategy and gamesmanship. Each stage of play is clearly explained with diagrams and instructions and with plenty of practical examples to help you learn. Full coverage of the basics of scoring, settlements and penalties will help you become a true master of the game.Table of Contents : 1. The Mahjong Set : 2. Preliminaries : 3. Playing the Game : 4. Scoring and Settlement : 5. Special Hands : 6. Infringements and Penalties : 7. Elementary Strategy : 8. Advanced Strategy : 9. Mahjong for 2, 3, 5 or 6 players : 10. Chinese Official International Rules : 11. American Mahjong : 12. Japanese Mahjong : 13. Other Variant Forms : 14. Mahjong Cards : 15. Mahjong on Computers and the Internet : 16. History

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Book SynopsisDo you know your Dashwoods from your Darcys? Why was Northanger Abbey such a disappointment to Catherine? Jane had an aunt whose name is also a type of cheese...but what is it?Regale with all things Regency and put your knowledge to the test with 52 trivia and game cards, each one featuring a multiple-choice trivia question, charade, game or challenge about Jane Austen and her beloved classics.Illustrated with Hugh Thomson''s exquisite drawings of characters and scenes, the cards double as a game of Snap, Memory, Quartets or Swap, making this fun for all the family.Presented in a foiled gift box and with a booklet that contains the rules of play to four traditional card games, this is the perfect gift for literature lovers.

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Book SynopsisWhich Christmas film do you love the most? Which Christmas film do you hate the most? What even counts as a Christmas film? Argue out all these questions and more before you even open the ultimate Christmas Day family game book. Because from Love Actually to Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life and beyond, every family has its favourites. But how much can we really remember about those films we watch every single year? Packed full of tricky, fun and entertaining quiz questions, Quiz Actually will test you and your loved ones this Christmas on the movies we love to watch every year. Get ready to find out who really knows their Christmas crackers from their Christmas turkeys, and their Miracle on 34th Street from their Nightmare On Elm Street. It's time to separate the Die Hards from the try-hards with the ultimate festive family film trivia book. Over 750 questions and featured films include:Love, ActuallyHome AloneIt's a Wonderful LifeElfThe GrinchThe Nightmare Before ChristmasScroogedBridget Jones's DiaryHarry PotterThe HolidayDie Hard (yes)and many, many more!

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Book SynopsisSuitable for those who have been searching for word searches they can actually see without a struggle, this title presents the puzzles with large letters.

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Book SynopsisYoga Dice provides you with the inspiration you need to maintain an interesting and varied yoga routine—right in your own living room.Contains seven wooden dice—one for each chakra: Each wooden cube included in the Yoga Dice set represents a different pose, so all you have to do is roll and start a unique and relaxing yoga session. No matter what your skill level, this is an excellent way to practice mindfulness while moving through the different asana categories. • Each cube features a variety of poses including seated, standing, balancing, twists, and more• When rolled together in the hand or using the storage container itself, the cubes generate a variety of yoga practices for practitioners of all ages and skill levels• After you roll and get your line up of poses, you simply lay out your mat and hold the pose for about 5 to 10 breathes, or until you feel relaxed and ready to move onFans of The Little Book of Yoga, Yoga Bodies, and Conversation Dice will also enjoy the relaxing and unique twist that Yoga Dice will provide to your time on the mat.• Yoga Dice makes a unique gift for any loved one who enjoys yoga and meditation• High-quality wooden dice are printed with blue ink to help you find your Zen

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Book SynopsisWe're giving you the THIRD DEGREE! Want kakuro to solve that are just a little harder than beginning puzzles-but not so difficult as to leave you frustrated? This level's just right for you.

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Book SynopsisTry a hand at bridge and outsmart your opponents Bridge is the most popular card game in the world and, as any player will tell you, is simply the best card game ever.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Getting Started with Basic Notrump Play 7 CHAPTER 1: Going to Bridge Boot Camp 9 CHAPTER 2: Counting and Taking Sure Tricks 19 CHAPTER 3: Using Winning Trick Techniques at Notrump Play 27 CHAPTER 4: Outsmarting Your Opponents at Notrump Play 45 Part 2: Playing the Hand in a Trump Contract 63 CHAPTER 5: Introducing Trump Suits 65 CHAPTER 6: Creating Extra Winners to Discard Losers 81 CHAPTER 7: Setting Up the Dummy’s Long Suit 91 CHAPTER 8: Getting Rid of Losers by Using the Dummy’s Trump Cards 103 Part 3: Bidding for Fun and Profit 111 CHAPTER 9: Starting with Bidding Basics 113 CHAPTER 10: Making a Successful Opening Bid 123 CHAPTER 11: Responding to an Opening Bid 147 CHAPTER 12: Rebidding by the Opener 181 CHAPTER 13: Rebidding by the Responder 207 Part 4: Forging Ahead with Advanced Bidding Techniques 229 CHAPTER 14: Creating Interference: Defensive Bidding 231 CHAPTER 15: Double Trouble: Doubling and Redoubling 249 CHAPTER 16: Hitting Hard: Slam Bidding 267 Part 5: Playing a Strong Defense and Keeping Score 279 CHAPTER 17: Defending against Notrump Contracts 281 CHAPTER 18: Defending against Trump Contracts 299 CHAPTER 19: Playing Second Hand on Defense 317 CHAPTER 20: Wrapping Up with Scorekeeping 329 Part 6: Feeding Your Addiction to Bridge 345 CHAPTER 21: Joining Bridge Clubs and the Tournament World 347 CHAPTER 22: Playing Bridge on Your Computer and Online 357 Part 7: The Part of Tens 363 CHAPTER 23: Ten Ways to Be a Better Bridge Partner 365 CHAPTER 24: Ten Great Bridge Resources 369 Appendix: Acol Bidding System 375 Index 389

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Book SynopsisHow well do you really know your favourite author? Ace literary detective turned quizmaster John Sutherland and Austen buff Deirdre Le Faye challenge the reader to find out. Starting with easy, factual questions that test how well you remember a novel and its characters, the quiz progresses to a level of greater difficulty, demanding close reading and interpretative deduction. What really motivates the characters, and what is going on beneath the surface of the story? Designed to amuse and divert, the questions and answers take the reader on an imaginative journey into the world of Jane Austen, where hypothesis and speculation produce fascinating and unexpected insights. Whether you are an expert or enthusiast, So You Think You Know Jane Austen? guarantees you will know her much better after reading it. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitmeTrade Reviewyou should get a kick out of answering any of the questions in this book correctly. * Irish Times *For those reading Austen for academic puposes the clear answers and insights could prove a valuable learning tool. * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisShows how by understanding match-point scoring and adjusting your bidding and play to its demands, you can greatly improve your results

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Book SynopsisChallenge yourself at home with word and number puzzlesThis supremely challenging cryptic collection contains 50 jumbo-sized puzzles, conceived to really challenge your word skills.Selected by The Times'' Crossword Editor, Richard Browne, this original collection will challenge even the most experienced crossword buff.The ultimate and only jumbo cryptic crosswords available, these puzzles will allow you to give the grey matter a real workout. With unique grids of 23 x 23 squares (in comparison to the standard 15 x 15 grid), they require serious word power and cryptic puzzling skill.Put your linguistic prowess to the test with these quality puzzles from the Times' crossword writers.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive cricket quiz book with 2000 quality questions on all aspects of the game.

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Book SynopsisIf you want to learn how to conform to confound, raze hopes, succeed your successor, order absence in the absence of order, win by losing and think contrapositively, look no further. Here you can unlock the secrets of Plato's void, Wittgenstein's investigations, Schopenhauer's intelligence test, Voltaire's big bet, Russell's slip of the pen and lobster logic. Among your discoveries will be why the egg came before the chicken, what the dishwasher missed and just what it was that made Descartes disappear. Experience the unbearable lightness of logical conclusions in Professor Sorensen's intriguing cabinet of riddles, problems, paradoxes, puzzles and the anomalies of human utterance. As you accompany him on investigations into the mysteries of truth, falsehood, reason and delusion, prepare to be surprised, enlightened, mystified and, above all, entertained.Trade ReviewA dizzying, surprising and amusing compendium of fascinating and odd examples of logic. * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisWhether you play in person, or online, this is a must for bridge lovers around the worldThis is an important, and in some ways revolutionary, book. The point count method of hand evaluation was first proposed in 1914 and popularized in 1934 by Milton Work. The Banzai Method advanced by David Jackson and Ron Klinger improves on Milton Work by reassessing the relative values of the honour cards but also adds a further dimension to accurate hand evaluation by including the tens and is of crucial importance when assessing balanced hands. According to Eric Kokish, an internationally respected American authority, who has contributed the Foreword, the many example deals are an eye-opener. When you finish this book, it is unlikely that you are going to look at your hand the same way as you have in the past.

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Book SynopsisThe Caro-Kann Defence remains a very popular option for Black at all levels of chess. It has always enjoyed a solid reputation, but if anything its popularity has increased in recent years with the realization that the Caro-Kann can also be employed with the intention of reaching sharp dynamic positions, rich in possibilities for both sides and with a guarantee of genuine counterplay for Black. In this book, International Master Jovanka Houska presents the reader with a complete Caro-Kann repertoire, which is based primarily on her own repertoire she has used with success over many years at international level. Houska provides a comprehensive update on her popular 2007 book Play the Caro-Kann and focuses on key new developments since then. She offers solutions against all of White's main options and efficient methods to deal with tricky sidelines. She examines important tactical and strategic plans for both sides and deals with key move order issues. This book tells you everything you need to know about playing the Caro-Kann. *An complete repertoire to 1 e4 *Packed with new ideas and analysis *Written by a Caro-Kann expertTrade ReviewOn Play the Caro-Kann (9781857444346): "If someone wants to learn to play this opening, this book will be a very good tool." Carsten Hansen (ChessCafe.com) "I would recommend it to anyone including myself!" S. Evan Kreider (Chessville.com) "Houska writes clearly and effectively and is especially good at explaining thematic ideas." John Donaldson

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