
Chess Opening Names
The Fascinating & Entertaining History Behind the First Few Moves
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Narrated by:
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Nathan Rose
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By:
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Nathan Rose
About this listen
The people, places, and stories behind the chess openings and their names: When we play chess, the first few moves define the game. You probably know the names already: the Sicilian Defense, the Ruy Lopez, the French Defense, the Caro-Kann, the Benoni, the London System, the Scandinavian Defense and so on. But most chess players don't know WHY the openings are called what they are.
In this entertaining audiobook, best-selling author Nathan Rose lays out the origins of over 50 standard chess openings and their names. The tales are often deeply connected to the lives of the leading chess grandmasters, the historical events taking place at the time, and the critical chess world championship contests. All these stories are collected together in this, the first audiobook dedicated to uncovering them.
The names of the chess openings tell the history of chess: You will meet larger-than-life characters such as Bobby Fischer, Aron Nimzowitsch, Alexander Alekhine, Frank Marshall, Siegbert Tarrasch, Wilhelm Steinitz, and Paul Morphy. Some of these men won their fame in the chess world championship, while some gained wider renown for reasons other than their ability to play chess. You will be agog at Paul Morphy's stunning conquest of Europe and subsequent disappearance, the outrageous antics of Aron Nimzowitsch upon losing a game, and the eccentric names Alexander Alekhine gave his cats.
You will also travel through the places and events that defined chess in the early years. As David Shenk showed in The Immortal Game, the history of chess has often mirrored the history of society. There's the 1972 world chess championship that pitted the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky against America's irascible Bobby Fischer in the Match of the Century; the 1939 chess olympiad in Argentina which coincided with the outbreak of World War II; and the unveiling of the "Mechanical Turk" chess-playing contraption in 18th-century Vienna.
Impress your friends with superior opening knowledge - without the tedious study!
Knowing the history of chess will prove your cleverness even more effectively than winning over the board. Once you have listened to this audiobook, you can speak of your temptation to play the Sicilian Defense, but instead play Alekhine's Defense. Then, you can explain the origins of the names to your opponent. Even if you lose the game, your opponent will still be impressed!
Enjoy this capitvating romp through the names of the first few moves. This audiobook is brisk, enjoyable addition to any chess player's library. Prepare to be surprised, amazed, amused and informed.
©2018 Stonepine Publishing (P)2018 Stonepine PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
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Featured Article: The Best Chess Audiobooks
If you've been following popular culture, you know that one of the most popular shows of the last year is The Queen's Gambit, which debuted on Netflix in October of 2020. Adapted from the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, the stylish miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy is about the life of fictional chess prodigy Beth Harmon. Due to the popularity of the show, the gaming industry saw an unprecedented interest in chess; sales of books about chess and chess boards skyrocketed! Whether you are a theory nerd or hungry for a lesson in the game’s history, these chess-related listens are a great opener.
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- Narrated by: Richard Mason's voice replica
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Chess Academy Masterclass for Intermediate Players is your essential guide to mastering the game. Narrated in a clear and engaging style, this audiobook is perfect for intermediate players who want to advance their understanding of chess strategies, tactics, and techniques.
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This isnt anything
- By Anonymous User on 05-23-25
By: Boris Lauchengko
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Chess: Strategies, Tactics, and Openings to Dominate Your Opponent
- By: Michael Phillips
- Narrated by: Michael Phillips
- Length: 1 hr and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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This book contains essential information, strategies and tactics to help you start playing chess on a competitive level. It will help you learn how to evaluate board positions and formulate game plans based on a systematic assessment of the game. It will teach you how to play the different types of openings and gain insight on their strengths and weaknesses.
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boring and too basic
- By Anonymous User on 10-09-18
By: Michael Phillips
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The Queen's Gambit
- By: Walter Tevis
- Narrated by: Amy Landon
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Eight-year-old orphan Beth Harmon is quiet, sullen, and by all appearances unremarkable. That is, until she plays her first game of chess. Her senses grow sharper, her thinking clearer, and for the first time in her life she feels herself fully in control. By the age of 16, she's competing for the US Open championship. But as Beth hones her skills on the professional circuit, the stakes get higher, her isolation grows more frightening, and the thought of escape becomes all the more tempting.
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I can't listen to it.
- By Kindle Customer on 10-26-20
By: Walter Tevis
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Mastering Chess Strategy and Tactics
- A Practical Guide to Enhance Your Chess Skills
- By: Barrett Williams, ChatGPT ChatGPT
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Dive into the captivating world of chess with a fresh perspective in "Mastering Chess Strategy and Tactics". This comprehensive guide teases apart the intricacies of chess, leaving no stone unturned. From understanding the chessboard to fully assimilating endgame strategies, your journey to master the game starts here. Navigate through every aspect of the chessboard in Chapter 1, deciphering special coordinates and acclimating to different squares. As your journey continues, unwrap the characters who will wage war on the chessboard - your pieces. Chapter 2 scrutinizes each piece's movements...
By: Barrett Williams, and others
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Deep Thinking
- Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins
- By: Garry Kasparov, Mig Greengard
- Narrated by: Bob Brown, Garry Kasparov - introduction
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Garry Kasparov's 1997 chess match against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue was a watershed moment in the history of technology. It was the dawn of a new era in artificial intelligence: A machine capable of beating the reigning human champion at this most cerebral game. That moment was more than a century in the making, and in this breakthrough audiobook, Kasparov reveals his astonishing side of the story for the first time. He describes how it felt to strategize against an implacable, untiring opponent with the whole world watching.
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This is a Chess Book
- By Michael on 07-09-17
By: Garry Kasparov, and others
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How to Play Chess
- A Beginner's Guide to Learning the Chess Game, Pieces, Board, Rules, & Strategies
- By: Chad Bomberger
- Narrated by: Forris Day Jr
- Length: 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Master the ancient and modern game of chess! When you listen to How to Play Chess, you'll discover a fascinating world of the mind! This comprehensive and lengthy book explains how all the chess pieces move in simple, easy-to-understand language. You'll easily absorb the quirks of the game, such as the en passent rule and how important kings become in the later stages of play. From pawns to queens, you'll know exactly how to follow the rules - and make the most of your favorite strategies!
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Great History lesson along with simple explanation!
- By Robert on 04-15-24
By: Chad Bomberger
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Chess Opening Names - Volume 2
- Even More Enthralling & Amazing History Behind the First Few Moves (The Chess Collection)
- By: Nathan Rose
- Narrated by: Nathan Rose
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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In this entertaining book, best-selling author Nathan Rose lays out the origins of over 50 chess openings and their names. This second volume of Chess Opening Names dives deeper into the history of the lesser-known openings, because the stories behind the lesser-known chess opening names are every bit as interesting as the better known ones. The names of the chess openings tell the history of chess.
By: Nathan Rose
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Chess for Beginners
- A Complete Overview of the Board, Pieces, Rules, and Strategies to Win
- By: Game Nest
- Narrated by: Grant Tharp
- Length: 2 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Chess is the ultimate turn-based strategy game. For centuries, it has honed the decision-making skills of kings and the strategic thinking of generals. Modern studies show that chess promotes brain development at any age, prevents Alzheimer's, and trains both sides of the brain to work in synergy. And today, learning chess is easier than you think!
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Promising but Flawed: A Beginner's Chess Audiobook
- By Allan on 04-11-25
By: Game Nest
Great for anyone!
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Gets better as it progresses
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Exactly as advertised
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only one thing missing!!
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Exactly what I'd hoped for...
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learn the chess history. not just names and moves.
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I learned a lot about openings and chess history!
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Average story telling
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