Beating 1.e4 e5: A Repertoire For White In The Open Games

John Emms

Grandmaster and leading chess author John Emms presents a complete repertoire for White in the Italian Game with 46 complete annotated games in six chapters illustrating the main ideas for both sides. He recommends lines with an early d3 for white and his main line runs 1.e4,e5; 2.Nf3,Nc6; 3.Bc4,Bc5; 4.c3,Nf6; 5.d3. White defers the pawn advance to d4 until he has more pieces developed or leaves the pawn on d3 and presses Black on his flanks with piece and pawn play.

The lines he advocates are built upon a sound yet aggressive system of development which can be deployed against virtually every Black defence. The final chapter is devoted to the Bishop's Opening (1.e4,e5; 2.Bc4) which can be used as a way of transposing into the Italian Game whilst avoiding the Petroff Defence. Independent lines of play as well as transpositions are examined in detail by Emms.

John Emms is one of the UK's leading Grandmasters and has captained the English Team at two Chess Olympiads.

Published 2010, softback, 223 pages.
Sample pages (pdf)