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, as there have been no good books to assist them.

Grandmaster John Emms is ideally qualified to deal with this subject. Not only does he face these openings as Black, but he also used to play many of them as White before he graduated to the Lopez. He provides no-nonsense answers to such openings as the King's Gambit, Vienna, Scotch, Four Knights, Italian Game, Bishop's Opening and the variety of oddball gambits White can try.

John Emms is one of England's strongest grandmaster's, and is on the verge of breaking into the world;s top 100. He is also a skilful and versatile writer: he has several opening monographs to his credit, and was co-author of both "The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games", and the new opening 'bible', "Nunn's Chess Openings".

He also writes regularly for the "British Chess Magazine" and coaches pupils of a wide variety of playing standards.

Sam Collins, Chess Today:
"... the thing I like the most about this book is the effort put in by Emms. The number of points where he offers original analysis, or where he disagrees with previously accepted analyses, convince me that he put a lot of thought into this work." 

Phil Adams, 3Cs web site:
"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."

Richard Palliser, Hull Chess Club Magazine:
"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." 

John Pugh, Chess Post:
"Fills an important niche in the market."