Every chess player needs a high-quality answer to1.e4, and there is nothing more reliable than 1...e5. Black stakes a claim inthe centre and prepares to deploy his pieces on good squares. The challengenowadays is to build a robust repertoire without being overwhelmed by the volumeof material and continual advances in opening theory.

In Playing1.e4 e5 – A Classical Repertoire, Nikolaos Ntirlis offers the best ofboth worlds: a complete repertoire against 1.e4, built on sound positionalprinciples, which does not require excessive memorization. Against the Spanishthe author recommends the Breyer System, one of the most stable, computer-proofoptions at Black's disposal. The Scotch, Italian, Four Knights and variousother sidelines and gambits are handled with the same clarity and efficiency.