Good 1. d4 d5 book?

I'm making my way through John Emms' Discovering Chess Openings, and I'm really enjoying it. The way the topics are laid out makes sense to me and almost all of my "but what about...?" questions in each section get answered by the end of the chapter. It is, however, pretty heavily a 1. e4 e5 book. Emms even says in his preface, "Perhaps I've indulged a little more in 1 e4 e5  openings, and if so I make no excuses for this." But no worries, I'm digging it.

Some of the coaches whose videos I watch, including GothamChess, say that folks at my level should be looking a bit more at 1. d4 d5 instead. I'd love any suggestions for a book along those lines for when I finish Emms. I've seen mixed reviews of Ntirlis' Playing 1.d4 d5 so if anyone here has read it, I'd love your feedback. Oh, and I should note, I'm a strong beginner, not even close to what you'd call a "club player" yet. Thanks.

If you are interested in the queen's gambit, Matthew Sadler's "Queen's Gambit Declined" is a great book. It doesn't overwhelm you with variations. Instead, it provides the thinking and planning behind the moves.

Cool, @OldPatzerMike, that's one of the ones I'd considered. Honestly, I've been pleased with all the Everyman Chess books I've read, so I'll pick this one up. Thanks!

Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-openings-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Thanks, @RussBell, that's a great list! 

@TimmyCorkery -

Welcome.     

Matthew Sadler's "Queen's Gambit Declined",  recommended above by @OldPatzerMike, is certainly a very instructive book.  I too recommend it highly.  I also like Neil McDonald's "Starting Out Queen's Gambit Declined".  If you want to learn the QGD, you can't go wrong with either book.  In fact, for anyone seriously interested in playing the QGD, I would recommend getting both books.  Note that because it is Black who declines the (Queen's) Gambit, studying the QGD is inherently a study of Blacks plans and strategies.  Of course, an implicit part of this study must include White's best attempts to win.  These books do a good job of dealing with both perspectives.  The Queen's Gambit is a great opening, and the QGD is a great response to it (I prefer the Tartakower Variation/Defense).  

Finally, you might discover more stuff of interest in my blog...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell

Hi Russ. Thanks for the vote of confidence on Sadler's book. I'm not familiar with the McDonald book, but everything I've seen from him has been excellent. If I ever start playing chess again, I'll be sure to get his "Starting Out" book on the QGD. I see that McDonald covers the Cambridge Springs variation, which I like. Sadler doesn't, though he is great on the Exchange and Lasker variations, as well as the Tartakower (which you like and I don't).

@OldPatzerMike -

Yes, I consider GM McDonald to be one of the better chess book authors.  He generally does a better than average job of explaining things - moves, plans and strategies, etc. - in a way that is digestible for the improving amateur player (e.g., me).  The same goes for Sadler's QGD book.

As far as the QGD Tartakower Defense (TD) vs Cambridge Springs Defense (CSD), I had not checked out the CSD, instead focusing on the TD because it features an early fianchetto (i.e., development!) of the Queen's Bishop (QB), whereas it appears in the CSD that the QB spends much of its time entombed in its crypt on c8 due to a Black pawn camped out on e6.

On the other hand, upon casually perusing the CSD chapter in McDonald's QGD book just now, it seems that there are several interesting traps that Black can spring (pun intended) on the unwary opponent, which should make it an interesting variation to play, especially against those who are not familiar with it.  On that score, it might prove worthwhile to learn to play the CSD first, then perhaps later the TD, if/when one decides that early development of the QB is preferred/desirable.   In fact I would think that learning both variations would serve the serious QGD player very well.

@RussBell -- Thanks for those observations. Based on what you've said, I checked out Sadler's coverage of the Tartakower. I've always felt uncomfortable about the c6 square after the b pawn gives up control of it, but it looks like I was making too much of it. The square certainly is weakened, but if Black plays accurately it's difficult for White to take advantage of it. And getting the LSB on a good diagonal in a QGD has a great deal of appeal. I might well add the Tartakower to the Lasker and the Cambridge Springs in my QGD repertoire.

@TimmyCorkery -

Regarding "Playing 1.d4 d5 - A Classical Repertoire" by Nikolaos Ntirlis.  It is a complete repertoire for Black for games beginning 1.d4 d5, primarily the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD), including White's Bf4 variations, and the Catalan Opening.  Also treated (to a lesser extent) are the Pseudo Trompowsky, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Veresov Opening, Jobava System, (King's) Fianchetto System, Colle System, Torre System, London System, Stonewall System, English Opening, and King's Indian Attack.

I own the book, and based on a casual perusal I believe the author has done an exceptional job of presenting the repertoire; however the book is not necessarily appropriate for all player levels...

Here is what the author has to say about the book's target audience, in the book's Introduction (p.7)...

"An opening book which has the ambition to be useful for both club players and more experienced ones up to GM level..."

In other words, although serious intermediate-level club players may find the book digestible, the book is written at an advanced level, being targeted primarily to titled players, when the beginner-novice would typically find it to be very challenging to absorb.  In any event, I believe it would serve as a useful reference for Black against 1.d4.  One can judge for themselves how appropriate it would be in terms of difficulty from the following pdf book excerpt...

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1d4d5-excerpt.pdf

Over the past year I've struggled many hours with the Ntirlis book. Several observations.

In the real world 1 d4 Nf6 is over twice as frequent as 1 d4 d5 . I realize the title of this post is  Good d4 d5 book , but if one opens 1 d4 , you must be prepared for ...Nf6 . Latter can be covered by other volumes, but most of us have space & assets for a limited number.

Major disappointment is that it's a repertoire for Black.  A lowly amateur like myself needs to understand an opening from both sides. At clubs & tournaments I'm not always given Black. Generally Ntirlis assumes White will make one of his few best moves and only gives those lines. Again & again I was wondering what would I respond if a different move was made.

No doubt this book is well researched, written & printed, but it's not for those below 1600.

Sadler's book is a classic. I've spent the most time with Samarian's older book on the QGD. It's likely you can get a second hand one cheap. I think Samarian was one of the early writers to reference postal chess games.