The classic chess reference book – as seen in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

This text is a comprehensive guide to opening moves in the game of chess. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the essence of contemporary opening theory, and is indispensable to both club and tournament players.

The standard reference work on chess openings for more than half a century, earning the epithet ‘the chess player’s bible’, Batsford’s Modern Chess Openings is the most comprehensive single-volume work on the openings. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the distilled essence of contemporary opening theory.

This edition is an indispensable reference work for club and tournament players. International Grandmaster Nick de Firmian is a three-times US Champion and an expert on opening theory. He helped develop computer Deeper Blue’s opening repertoire in its match victory over arch-theoretician Gary Kasparov.

The Art of Checkmate, first published in Monaco in 1947, has remained one of the most popular and enduring chess books of all time, loved by chess players and regularly appearing in top ten lists of their favourites.

Remarkably, despite its widespread popularity, the first English edition, published in the 1950s, was marred by careless and faulty translation. But now, for the first time, all these mistakes have been rectified so as to reflect accurately the authors’ original work and thereby make the English edition of The Art of Checkmate an even better book.

The Art of Checkmate offers the reader a systematic classification of all the principal types of checkmate and the procedures required to achieve these in actual play. Each chapter starts with the basic pattern of the checkmate under consideration and this is followed by an explanation of the process whereby the mate can be carried out. Examples from practical play and test yourself puzzle positions then reinforce the readers’ understanding of the mechanics of the checkmate and their ability to deliver crushing and, at times, picturesque checkmates in their own games

An enjoyable and easy-to-read book chess instructor that will benefit players of any ability.

This beautiful little giftbook features over 50 baby birds and animals painted by Hannah Dale in her uniquely quirky, characterful style. From the fox cub to the fluffy duckling, the nation’s favourite baby creatures are delightfully brought to life by this award-winning artist. Each portrait is accompanied by insightful and entertaining text. A wonderful reference and beautiful gift book for all lovers of our wildlife.

Nigel Rees presents a nostalgic and witty guide to wartime catchphrases, from the now ubiquitous ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ to lesser-known gems such as ‘lions led by donkeys’.

Following his hugely popular survey of domestic sayings, More Tea Vicar?, Rees returns with a witty and fascinating examination of the catchphrases that saw us through wartime Britain and are still relevant in times of crisis today. 

Including domestic phrases of the time, propaganda, and slang developed by soldiers abroad, the book describes the provenance and development of these intriguing, quirky and sometimes crude phrases that were born out of times of conflict and have in many cases become part of our language.

"She is the most wonderfully inventive and brilliantly talented designer" Dame Judi Dench on Clancy.

Deirdre Clancy is one of the most experienced and accomplished costume designers in the business. In this book, she gives her inside knowledge of designing for stage and screen, which includes television, film, theatre and opera. She includes a brief illustrated history of costume design – from the Greeks to Lady Gaga – an invaluable guide for students and current designers.

Part Two takes the reader through the design process: how you go about doing it, and the different strands of costume design – from contemporary clothes through to period costume, how to communicate with the audience, designing on paper and with Photoshop or on an iPad and how to share and communicate your ideas and well as mood boards and collages for inspiration. Part Three is about the world of costume design – what it involves and how to get into the field, who does what and the differences between working for stage and screen productions. Clancy advises on budgets and improvisation and covers all the practicalities and behind-the-scenes tips. Part Four looks at period costume from the Dark Ages up to the twentieth century, encompassing authenticity and feasibility. Finally, Part Five looks at individual case studies in depth, including opera and Shakespeare productions.

Packed with great drawings and case studies, this is an essential book for any student or professional costume designer looking for additional inside advice. Whether you are a designer for the stage or screen, this book has something new for you with advice from one of the best in the business.

The Batsford Book of Chess is a landmark, full-colour chess instruction book, authoritatively written and beautifully designed. Arranged in the form of a course, it will take you all the way from tentative beginner to formidable chess player. ‘Quick Start’ reference pages help you retain the information you’ve learned, and puzzle sections let you test yourself as you go. To illustrate more advanced strategy and tactics, the author uses world-class ‘chess heroes’ such as Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal to bring the concepts to life.

Essential topics include:

• Pieces and Moves: the very basics, covering the chessboard, notation, the names of the pieces and how they move, plus an overview of chess etiquette

• What Chess is All About: an exploration of chess culture and history

• Winning, Drawing and Losing: Covers the various ways of winning at chess, and how games are drawn

• Six Openings for Life: Coverage of six of the best chess openings, each illustrated by a different ‘chess hero’

• Tactical Weapons: An examination of forks, pins, skewers and other tactical devices, followed by illustrative games from Tactical Hero Mikhail Tal

• Positional Play: Looks at good and bad positions, plus the art of planning, seen through the games of Positional Hero Tigran Petrosian

• Human Factors: Typical mistakes and blunders you’ll need to steer clear of

Easy to follow, yet more thorough and more challenging than other chess instruction books on the market, this book is an essential companion for all budding chess champions.

One of the game’s most admired and respected writers guides you through 62 masterly demonstrations of the basic strategies of winning at chess. Each game provides a classic example of a fundamental problem and its best resolution, described with chess diagrams and Chernev’s lively and illuminating notes. The games – by chess greats such as Capablanca, Tarrasch, Fischer, Alekhine, Lasker and Petrosian – are instructive for chess players of all levels. The games turn theory into practice, showing the reader how to attack and manoeuvre to control the board. Chernev runs through the winning strategies, suggests alternative tactics and celebrates the finesse of winning play. This is not only a book of 62 instructive chess games, but also 62 beautiful games to cherish.

Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time – in just one afternoon you can start painting. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us, and these techniques can be picked up faster than you think.

Hazel Soan’s concise book, filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step exercises, is written in an accessible way for those completely new to painting. Chapters include: Getting Started (the materials you will need and those you can ignore in the art shop); Choice of Colours; Mixing Colours; What’s the Subject?; What Surfaces to Paint on; Basic Painting Techniques; Brushstrokes and Composition (with details on how to design paintings with horizon, focus and balance, a hint of perspective and the light and shade of a subject).

Packed with illustrations for guidance, this is the most comprehensive guide to learning watercolour very quickly.

Most chess games are not won – they are lost. Many instructional chess books tell you how to improve a position when it is already (or may be) favourable. This book offers help when you definitely do not have the advantage. Every chess player needs a sound arsenal of defensive techniques. This book covers them all – counterplay, when to accept sacrifices, how to anticipate short- and long-term threats, and how to minimise losses. It also helps you create a strong underlying psychological framework for defensive technique – it teaches you how to stay cool under fire, how to stonewall and how to exploit your opponent’s weaknesses.

Mikhail Tal is one of the all-time chess greats. In 1960 he became the youngest champion in world history at the age of 23, sweeping to victory at his first attempt. His extraordinary tactical ability has never been bettered, and his reputation goes from strength to strength.

This absorbing book, first published in the early 1980s, is based on diaries kept by Tal’s coach from their training sessions, and this unique perspective makes it a fascinating and effective chess instructor, written in engaging language and suitable for teenagers as well as older readers. It shows how Tal achieved greatness through hard work, application and the influence of a world-class coach, and through this book modern readers can catch a glimpse of the development of a true chess genius. The book is fully updated and converted to algebraic format.

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Crochet Lace is a practical guide to crocheting with fine thread to produce beautiful and delicate lace designs. Whether you are a crocheter or a lacemaker, you’ll find plenty to interest you in this book.

It explores the most popular styles of crochet lace in depth, with historical information, useful techniques, individual patterns and larger practical projects, such as framed lace motifs, pretty gloves and a bedspread.

Illustrated throughout with colour photographs and easy-to-follow diagrams, Crochet Lace is a valuable sourcebook for everyone who wants to learn how to make lace with a crochet hook.

Artist Ann Blockley is renowned for her innovative approach to traditional

subjects. Following the huge success of her previous book, Experimental

Flowers in Watercolour, she now explores ways to interpret landscape. Packed

with stunning examples of her colourful, expressive work, this book encourages

you to experiment with the same techniques in your own watercolour painting

to develop a personal style.

Techniques covered include combining water-based paint and ink with other

media such as gesso and collage to create dramatic effects; manipulating paint

with materials such as plastic wrap (clingfilm); tearing, layering and

reassembling paintings into watercolour collages; and developing textures and

marks made using fabrics and other found objects. Throughout the book Ann

offers her personal commentary on how her paintings were created, giving us a

unique insight into the mind of the artist.

Both practical and inspirational, this glorious book is the ideal companion for

watercolour painters who want to take their work a step further.