John Emms, 224pp. (Gambit 2000)

This book fills a gaping chasm in chess literature. For years, those who wish to take on the black side of the Ruy Lopez have had to muddle their way through against the variety of alternative openings at White's disposal. This book gives a choice of systems for Black, to counter anything White might try in order to avoid the Ruy Lopez - the Scotch, King's Gambit, Italian Game, Four Knights, etc. Grandmaster Emms is ideally qualified to deal with this subject, having faced them as Black, but also having played many of them as White before graduating to the Ruy Lopez.

"Fills a definite gap in the market ...a fine treatment of a well-chosen topic, which will be very useful to players of all standards who wish to answer 1 e4 with 1…e5." - Phil Adams, 3Cs

"With this work Emms keeps up his reputation as a diligent author, and certainly by following his recommendations readers should be happy when their opponents avoid the Ruy Lopez" - Richard Palliser, HULL CHESS CLUB MAGAZINE

"Fills an important niche in the market"- John Pugh, CHESS POST .