Playing the French (hardcover) - Jacob Aagaard and Nikolaos Ntirlis

The French Defence is one of the most solid and strategically rich responses to 1.e4. Many opening lines have been analysed to death by computer, but the French is relatively resistant to this growing trend, as the characteristic blocked pawn centre leads to situations where a player with superior understanding can overcome an opponent whose expertise lies in computer-assisted preparation.

Acclaimed authors Ntirlis and Aagaard present a complete repertoire for Black based on 3.Nc3 Nf6 and 3.Nd2 c5. With many new discoveries and detailed explanations of positional and strategic motifs, this book is essential reading for those playing this complex opening with either colour.

Nikolaos Ntirlis is a computer specialist and supplier of opening ideas for many grandmasters.

Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard is born in 1973 in Denmark but lives in Scotland. Jacob Aagaard won the British Championship at his first and only attempt in 2007. He is also a chess author and co-owner of Quality Chess, a chess publishing house. Jacob Aagaard is the only chess author to have won all the major awards, such as the Boleslavsky Medal as well as the Guardian, ECF and ChessCafe Book of the Year awards. His training material is used by amateurs, grandmasters and World Champions alike. His work is well know for a mixture of lame humour and easy to follow explanations.