Bøger af Vassilios Kotronias

The Sicilian Defence is the most combative way to meet 1.e4, but Black s hopes of reaching his favourite Dragon, Najdorf or Sveshnikov are often quashed at an early stage. In Grandmaster Repertoire 6A Beating the Anti-Sicilians, grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias provides full coverage against White s many attempts to steer the game away from Open Sicilian territory. Beginning with sidelines on move 2, and extending all the way to variations tested at World Championship level, the author provides expert recommendations against all White s sensible deviations (as well as some not-so-sensible ones!) with specific advice tailored for 2...d6, 2...e6 and 2...Nc6 players.Be it tackling Wing and Morra Gambits head first, outmanoeuvring 2.c3 and Closed aficionados, bashing 3.Bb5 or ruining the Rossolimo, this book contains everything you need to make your opponents wish they had played 2.Nf3 and 3.d4!"

Lambasting the London Although the London System was first played almost 200 years ago, it lay dormant until the beginning of the 21st century. Then chessplayers rediscovered it, realizing that the London could be played against most responses by Black, obtaining a good game with little preparation. Nowadays the London has evolved into an opening taken up by both club players and world champions. Magnus Carlsen has played it regularly and the new word champion Ding Liren used it to convincingly defeat Ian Nepomniachtchi in game six of their 2023 title match. Literature on the London has focused primarily on play from White's side. However, this new book by grandmasters Vassilios Kotronias and Mikhail Ivanov changes all that. The authors present four (!) separate ways to combat the London: (1) King's Indian Setups; (2) the London Benoni; (3) the London Nimzo- and Queen's Indian; and (4) the London Orthodox System. The London Files presents Black many good and flexible options for neutralizing White, while also giving us Londoners many new problems to contend with ... Without a doubt, this book will give Black players highly effective means to deal with the London System for a long time to come and may even have players completely rethinking their approach with the white pieces. - From the Foreword by Ian Harris Defang the London System and fear it no more!

A Complete Fighting Repertoire against 1.d4! Do you like active piece play? Fighting for the initiative from move one? The Tarrasch Defense just may be what you are looking for. Its advantages include: (1) It can be played against pretty much anything: 1.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.g3, 1.d4. Play 1...e6, 2...d5 and 3...c5 and you are there! (2) It leads most of the time to a typical IQP pawn structure, and it is difficult for the opponent to shape the game into another course. (3) Black's pieces naturally enjoy open lines and active posts so it's easy to play the opening moves quickly and successfully! This book is exceptional! Tarrasch exponents have been blessed in the past years with some excellent works, and this book continues this happy trend. It is both a detailed reference manual and a source of inspiration. For example, in the main line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5, I was intrigued to see such interesting analysis of the unusual gambit line 9...d4 as well as the main line 9...Bxc5. I was also very impressed by the work that Vassilios put into the awkward sidelines such as 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5, discovering a wealth of active possibilities in quiet-looking positions. I am certain that this book will become an essential tool both for experienced Tarrasch players and future aficionados! - Grandmaster Matthew Sadler in his Foreword Greek grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias is well-known for his excellent analytical work and writing style which presents the material in a way that is comprehensive and easy to understand. In this book - his first for Russell Enterprises - he offers a thorough system for Black against 1.d4. That includes responses to other systems such as the Colle, Trompowsky, London, etc. So, are you ready to stake your claim as Black, fighting from the first move? The Tarrasch may be just what you are looking for!

Two Solid, Strategically Complex Ways to Meet the Spanish! The Breyer and Zaitsev Variations of the Ruy Lopez are two of the most dynamic lines played today. Examining them from both White and Black's point of view, Greek grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias discusses their strengths, weaknesses and presents suggested improvements where necessary. The Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez is the brainchild of Hungarian hypermodern Gyula Breyer. He suggested the paradoxical knight retreat 9...Nb8 early in the 20th century. Although its soundness has been confirmed in many grandmaster games for over a century, there is surprisingly little which has been written about it. This book has just changed all that. The Zaitsev Variation was one of Anatoly Karpov's workhorses in his title matches against Garry Kasparov. Formulated by the brilliant theoretician Igor Zaitsev, it can be found in the repertoires of some of the leading grandmasters of our era. As the author notes in his introduction, this is an objective presentation of two excellent opening variations for Black, from which players sitting on either side of the board may profit. The play is strategically complex, tactically rich and will improve you as both a player and connoisseur of the game. Kotronias' clear writing style, coupled with in depth analysis, makes for a splendid opening manual on two of the most topical - and solid - variations of the Ruy Lopez. Vasilios Kotronias has managed to not only teach us (myself included) some important theory and practice of the Breyer and Zaitsev Systems, but also broaden our horizons to our approach to chess in general. His explanations are quite clear and the lines he provides are logical and concrete. This new book is aimed for all ages and chess levels. Welcome to the fascinating world of Breyer and Zaitsev! - Alexei Shirov, from his Foreword

The King's Indian Defence is one of Black's most dynamic responses to 1.d4. A favourite weapon of both Fischer and Kasparov, it remains a popular choice at all levels of play. Grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias tackles a variety of White's attempts to challenge his favourite opening, starting with the sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6.

The King s Indian Defense is one of Black s most dynamic and aggressive responses to 1.d4. A favourite weapon of both Fischer and Kasparov, it remains a popular choice at all levels of play. In this, the second volume of the Kotronias on the King s Indian series, grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias turns his attention to the main line of the famous Mar del Plata variation, which arises after the opening moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0 0 6.Be2 e5 7.0 0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1. This leads to some of the most complicated and theoretically challenging positions in the King s Indian, but Kotronias provides a world-class repertoire for Black, including a wealth of original ideas and analysis. As well as providing detailed analysis, the author also shares his considerable knowledge of typical middlegame themes, both positional and tactical. A special selection of test positions is provided, enabling the reader to sharpen his tactical skills and increase his middlegame understanding."

The King s Indian Defense is one of Black s most dynamic and aggressive responses to 1.d4. A favourite weapon of both Fischer and Kasparov, it remains a popular choice at all levels of play. In this, the third volume of the Kotronias on the King s Indian series, grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias presents the second part of his world-class repertoire against the famous Mar del Plata variation, starting from the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0 0 6.Be2 e5 7.0 0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7, with the focus on 9.b4, 9.Nd2 and all other sensible alternatives to 9.Ne1. Once again, Kotronias provides a turbo-charged repertoire for Black, with a plethora of novelties and original analysis. As well as providing detailed analysis, the author also shares his considerable knowledge of typical middlegame themes, both positional and tactical. A special selection of test positions is provided, enabling the reader to sharpen his tactical skills and increase his middlegame understanding."

In 2013 chess returned to world headlines. The energetic Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen was front page news and his fans were not disappointed: the World Number 1 won the World Championship. Carlsen's Assault on the Throne gives an inside view of Carlsen's dramatic journey: from one of eight challengers in the London Candidates tournament, with the near disaster in the final rounds, ending with triumph in Chennai.With behind-the-scenes stories and top-level analysis of the games, Kotronias & Logothetis have written the ultimate book on how Carlsen became the 16th undisputed World Chess Champion.This hardcover edition includes over a hundred color photographs.