Playing 1.d4 d5 - A Classical Repertoire by Nikolaos Ntirlis (Paperback)

This Playing 1.d4 d5 - A Classical Repertoire by Nikolaos Ntirlis is an English-language paperback chess book for players building a complete black repertoire against 1.d4 around the Queen’s Gambit Declined.

What the book covers

Nikolaos Ntirlis presents a full opening repertoire for Black based on the Queen’s Gambit Declined, one of the most established answers to 1.d4. The book combines classical opening ideas with modern analysis, giving the reader a practical framework rather than a narrow move-by-move line.

The author draws on the games of Rubinstein, Capablanca and Alekhine, then develops those ideas in the light of current theory. That approach makes the book useful not only for memorising variations, but also for understanding the strategic choices behind them.

What’s included

This is more than a single-opening study. Alongside the main Queen’s Gambit Declined material, the book also covers important second-move alternatives for White, including Katalona, London System and Torre, plus other key setups. Two bonus chapters on 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 help round out a broader repertoire as well.

Each chapter begins with the typical plans, pawn structures and main positional ideas. That makes the book especially helpful for club players and tournament preparation, where understanding the position matters as much as knowing the moves.

About the author

Nikolaos Ntirlis is an opening specialist and adviser to many grandmasters. This book will suit ambitious club players and tournament competitors who want to base their black repertoire on a classical, reliable system.

Key details

• Product type: paperback chess book
• Author: Nikolaos Ntirlis
• Language: English
• Opening focus: Queen’s Gambit Declined
• Repertoire side: Black
• Number of pages: 336
• Publication date: 27 September 2017
• ISBN: 978-1-78483-042-7