Like so many players, I went through a period when I answered 1.e4 with 1...e5. I won some nice games with the Black side of the Lopez (of course, I've always been a fan of the Accelerated Dragon in the Sicilian, but sometimes you just have to try something else or risk going insane) but got sick of having to figure out what to do against the multitude of other systems that White can toss at you. Ultimately I switched to the Caro-Kann as my second system simply because it was solid and easy to learn.

I suspect things would have been different if I had access to a book like Emms' Play the Open Games as Black. Ignoring the Lopez (he takes it for granted that you already have a line that you're attracted to), he concentrates on everything else White can try. This includes such dangerous systems as the Danish Gambit, the Scotch Game, the Vienna Game, the Italian Game (he recommends the Two Knights, and covers all off-shoots, including the Max Lange Attack), the King's Gambit, the Belgrade Gambit, the Four Knights Opening, The Ponziani Opening, and he even takes a look at garbage like 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3, 3.c4, 3.Be2, etc.

Of course, anyone can write a book on these lines, but very few can actually make sense of it all in a way that satisfies both the amateur and the professional. Emms succeeds because he plays 1...e5 as Black, and he was willing to offer up much of his personal repertoire to the reader. I especially liked the following snippet from the Introduction: "When writing this book I've tried as hard as possible to provide a black repertoire for both the aggressive and the more positionally minded player. Against many openings there will be a choice of two or possibly three lines to play. When I have only included one defense, then it's because I'm confident that its reliability and diversity should be enough to satisfy Black."

Now this is a great idea, because what's acceptable for one player might not be to the taste of another. Emms, though, makes sure the attacking player will reach a dynamic position, while those of the "safe and sane" ilk will also feel pampered. Emms does a very good job at mentioning transpositions, discussing the ideas of each opening, and he often gives original analysis instead of simply going along with the assessments and recommendations of others.

All in all, this is an impressive book (Gambit Publications seems to be churning out an incredible amount of high quality books), and is a must buy for anyone that answers (or is thinking of answering) 1.e4 with 1...e5.

YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK AT