Ebook: Grivas Opening Laboratory - Volume 1

This is the first volume of a proposed six volume series presenting a full opening repertoire for White, based on 1.d4.
The idea of 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.

The first book of the series shows how to face three of Black's defences to 1.d4.

Firstly the Gruenfeld Defence, a modern system that is quite popular nowadays. The proposed system for White is based on the Bg5 variation (Stockholm Variation), a system that served the author well for approximately 30 years.

Next Grivas studies how to face the Slav Defence. The proposed system is based on the 4.Nbd2 variation, a system that scores a well in a high number of games.

Finally, he examines how to face the Blumenfeld Gambit. Black seeks active play by sacrificing a queenside pawn and attacking white centre at once. The proposed system is based on the Bg5 variation.

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.