Grivas Opening Laboratory: Volume 6

Efstratios Grivas

Sample pages (pdf)

This is the sixth volume of a seven volume series presenting a full opening repertoire for White, based on 1.d4.

The idea of small opening repertoire books is not new, but here the purpose and the presentation is different - the choice of the variations, against each black reply, are based on the author's own experience.

The recommendations are geared towards posing Black unconventional problems. Your opponents will not be able to churn out lengthy, memorised variations, but will need to solve problems at the board, in positions that are somewhat different in character from those normally reached in the openings under discussion. The selected systems also form a seamless whole and are reachable by transpositions.

Grivas describes the suggested systems in detail, giving his assessments as clearly as possible, providing useful guidelines and new ideas and moves. For each system he offers not only a repertoire for White, but also explains middlegame strategies, tactical motifs and typical endgame techniques.

The sixth book of the series shows how to face five of Black's major options in the Queen's Gambit Declined. (1.d4, d5; 2.c4, e6/c6;)

Firstly, the Janowski Defence (3.Nf3, a6;)
Next the various Slav Systems with 2..c6: for Black.
Thirdly, the Orthodox Defence - one of Black's oldest and most solid options.
Part 4 examines the less well known Cambridge Springs Defence. In practice White scores well as Grivas shows.
Finally, the solid Tartakower Defence, a trusted option for many top players.

Efstratios Grivas is an experienced Grandmaster from Greece who has represented his country on many occasions, winning an individual gold medal at the 1989 European Team Championship and an individual silver medal at the 1998 Chess Olympiad. He is a Senior FIDE Trainer.

Published 2021, softback, 280 pages.