by Marek Soszynski

160 pages

SRP $19.95

Excerpt

January 2026

Bored of the same old Spanish and Scotch? Smashing the Spanish! Stunning the Scotch! gives 1…e5 players a bold and practical way to take back the initiative. Face 3.Bb5 with the sharp and surprising Bird’s Defense (3…Nd4) and meet 3.d4 with the nearly forgotten Lolli Variation (3…Nxd4). Both are rare, under-analyzed, and perfect for unsettling White right out of the opening.

Inside, you'll find focused theory, practical guidance, and annotated games – all from Black’s perspective. No overloaded repertoires, just fresh, fighting lines ready for real play.

If you enjoy catching opponents unready and rewriting the script from move three, this book is for you.

About the Author

Marek Soszynski is a Correspondence Chess Master and a Master of Philosophy. He has authored or co-authored a growing number of chess books including How to Think in Chess, The Great Reshevsky, and Double Trouble Scandinavian Style.