The prime objective of this Encyclopedia, does not lie in numbers, but in promoting an acute awareness of the many potential disasters lying in wait for the unsuspecting chess player in the early stages of the game. Each one of these miniatures spells danger and requires vigilance from the very first moves. In fact reading this book might well prompt readers to step up their level of reconnaissance in the opening phase. In this way they will not only protect themselves against devilish traps and pitfalls but also be primed to plant a few tactical devices of their own.All chess players will learn valuable lessons from these miniatures, as there are concrete reasons why a game of chess ends so rapidly. After all, even grandmasters sometimes find themselves on the receiving end of a first round knockout!Hardback, 560 pages, 1636 games