A gambit is only half a repertoire. Volume 1 armed you with the Evans; Volume 2 covers every Black player who steers elsewhere after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3.
Evans & Friends Vol.1 - The Evans Gambit
When the Evans Gambit appeared in the 19th century, one admirer called it a gift from the gods to a languishing chess world. Nearly two centuries later, IM Andrew Martin argues the gift is still well worth accepting.
Playable today? At the very top level, perhaps mainly as a surprise weapon – which leaves the other 99.99% of us free to enjoy it in full. The Evans produces exciting chess and teaches the art of attack.
This course is made for chess enthusiasts at the club level, who want to win with style and are not afraid of aggressive chess. In this first volume we dive into all important variations after back takes on b4: 5...Ba5 6.d4 d6 known as the Lasker's Defence, 5...Ba5 6.d4 exd4 and the less common 5...Bc5, 5...Bd6, 5...Be7 and the rare Evans Gambit Delined.
Evans & Friends Vol.2 - Other Lines
IM Andrew Martin begins where it matters most: the Two Knights Defense, which you'll meet roughly half the time you reach for 4.b4. His choice here is 4.d3 – the move today's elite prefer. It won't promise an advantage out of the opening, but it produces a rich, closed-Lopez-style middlegame full of pieces and play, ideal for outplaying strong opposition. Little theory to memorize; plans and manoeuvres instead, including attacking schemes where White leaves the king in the centre and storms the kingside.
Against the rock-solid Petroff, Andrew hands you a surprise: the offbeat 5.Bd3, an idea borrowed from Morozevich that leads to fresh, unusual positions your opponent almost certainly hasn't prepared.
Then there's the rogues' gallery – Elephant, Latvian, Stafford, Copycat Trap – refuted one by one, taking all the fun out of it for your opponent. The volume closes with the quieter ...d6 systems, the Philidor and the Hungarian Defense, where natural moves, extra space and patience do the work.
