The Sicilian Defence is the most attractive and most complicated opening in chess. If you don't play the Sicilian with White or Black, you miss much of the beauty and the challenges our royal game offers. For White 1.e4 players, building a repertoire against 1...c5 should be their priority.
Croatian top grandmaster Ivan Saric is one of today's greatest Sicilian experts. He plays 1.e4 with White and the Najdorf with Black! With The Open Sicilian, based on his highly acclaimed Chessable course, he has managed something impressive: a watertight repertoire against the Sicilian of just over 400 pages. But reading this one volume, your knowledge of this opening and chess, in general, will make a spectacular jump.
The Open Sicilian is not a phonebook crammed with computer lines but a textbook full of 21st-century chess wisdom. Saric covers the entire range of Sicilians, from obscure sidelines to the main lines: the Najdorf, the Taimanov, the Rauzer, the Kan, the Sveshnikov, and the various Dragons. His approach, firmly based on the ideas of the English Attack, is very ambitious, and he supports his claims with deep analysis and illuminating and elaborate verbal explanation.
Saric has written a book that will serve as a standard work for many years. He offers you the content to be fully armoured against all the intricacies of all the topical Sicilian lines.
Ivan Saric (1990) is a Croatian chess player who became an International Master at 17 and a Grandmaster at 18. He became U18 European Champion in 2007, U18 World Champion in 2008, and won the European Individual title in 2018. Saric beat Magnus Carlsen for his country at the 2014 Olympiad in Tromsø.
GM Matthew Sadler (New In Chess magazine)
"...a pretty good book with plenty to interest the aggressive 1.e4 player looking for repertoire ideas in the Open Sicilian."
Looking for an easy-to-learn yet super-solid repertoire for Black against everything, which doesn’t require endless memorization of sharp theoretical lines? It’s here – and it was voted the best opening course on Chessable by the users of the most popular chess learning platform.
In this book, YouTube personality IM Christof Sielecki, aka ‘Chessexplained’, presents a complete solution to chess players of all levels for their opening choices with the Black pieces. With this one-volume repertoire, you will not only safely navigate the opening phase, but you will actually understand what is happening and how you can play for a win.
You’ll learn to fight 1.d4 and 1.c4 or 1.Nf3 with the Queen’s Gambit Declined, using the early a6-variation favoured by Magnus Carlsen. This tried-and-true opening will stand up to master level play and offer a few nasty surprises to your opponents.
Against 1.e4, your main weapon will be the rock-solid Caro-Kann, well known as one of the toughest openings for White to crack. You will be able to cut through the theory and go straight for interesting middlegames with good winning chances. Also included are weapons against almost all sidelines.
Why is the repertoire called simple? For the simple reason that the variations are straightforward, easy to remember and require little or no maintenance. But, as IM Sielecki puts it, ‘simple does not mean boring!’
Christof Sielecki is an International Master from Germany. He has been teaching and training chess for many years, runs an extremely popular YouTube channel called ChessExplained, and is one of the most popular authors on Chessable. New In Chess has published his books: Keep it Simple 1.e4 and Keep it Simple 1.d4.
“A very good course full of interesting and useful ideas. I was particularly interested by Sielecki’s recommendations in a line of the Queen’s Gambit Declined that was always thought to be clearly good for White in the pre-computer age.”
IM Gary Lane (Australian Chess)
“I do like the way that the author tries to keep the amount of moves needed to reach a decent position to the minimum. A repertoire book that will help Black reach the next level.”
In Mazukevich's Madness, Black stuns White with a piece sacrifice on move 5, completely changing the direction of the game of this otherwise solid and rather predictable opening.
FIDE Master, FIDE Trainer, and opening specialist Carsten Hansen carefully analyzes all options for White after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nxe4!, showing that Black not only is doing fine, but can often start pushing for more if White doesn't play accurately.
In addition to this analysis, in the second half of the book, Hansen presents a complete repertoire for Black against all other lines of the Four Knights, including the main lines 4.Bb5 and 4.g3, the modern 4.h3, 4.a3, and 4.a4, the sharp Belgrade Gambit, a favorite of Naroditsky's 4.Nd5, as well as other minor lines for White.
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence continues to be extremely popular. Advocated by great fighting champions like Garry Kasparov and Bobby Fischer, this flexible, wonderfully rich system offers one of the best ways for Black to play for a win.
Young Armenian grandmaster Zaven Andriasyan has developed and successfully employed his very own attacking repertoire for Black in the Najdorf.
In this book he points out ways to avoid the most dangerous white systems, such as the English Attack, and presents ideas for Black to fight for the initiative right from the start.
Revisiting all major Najdorf battlegrounds, Andriasyan challenges accepted views and sheds new light on this great opening. In his search for new paths he has found a great number of radical improvements, resulting in a complete, surprising and punchy repertoire.
After you have read and studied Winning with the Najdorf Sicilian, you will be ready and happy to take on 1.e4 players at all times!
With a foreword by Levon Aronian.
Zaven Andriasyan (1989) was both European under-18 and World under-20 champion in 2006. He is currently one of the strongest grandmasters in Armenia. Zaven Andriasyan regularly writes for the New In Chess Yearbooks.
Sam Collins, Chess Today:
"Andriasyan has an excellent writing style (..) He often interrupts dry analysis with explanations about which pieces to trade, why he likes certain manoeuvres and dislikes others. This is all entertaining and instructive and makes the material much easier to digest and remember. His line selection is also excellent, frequently giving a choice for Black but always explaining why he prefers the variations he recommends (..) One of the very best opening books I've ever seen."
Dennis Monokroussos, The Chess Mind:
"I learned new things not only for Black, which is what you'd expect, but for White too. He is very even-handed, and quite regularly shows a main line for Black that has troubles, so that he can better motivate and explain his preferred line. That makes this an even more valuable resource - it's a good source of ideas for the first player too."
Adam Hunt, British Chess Magazine:
"Excellently researched with some very interesting ideas and novelties along the way (..) There is also a chapter at the end on Najdorf exercises, which I enjoyed very much (..) It will become my new Najdorf reference and if you are serious about this opening I would recommend you get yourself a copy."
Max Euwe Center, Amsterdam:
"All variations of the Najdorf are being treated and the objective is for Black to be the first to deviate from the main lines (..) Andriasyan concludes that the Najdorf is the best way for Black to play for a win."
Richard Vedder, Schakers.info:
"Andriasyan advocates a sharp but rather narrow repertoire for Black to play for a win (..) Within that repertoire he presents comprehensive analyis with various tips and tricks (..) White players, as well, can pick up a few things as well."
The Original Arkhangelsk anti-Ruy Lopez weapon is reached through the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7. It has been played as Black by many great players, including Carlsen, Anand, Caruana, Svidler, Ivanchuk, Pragg, Vachier-Lagrave, Shirov, Adams, Grischuk, Topalov, Beliavsky, Firouzja, Mamedyarov, and Morozevich. The Original Arkhangelsk can lead to tactical fights and wild positions, where knowledge of theory is important for both sides – perfect for a repertoire where Black wishes to take control of the game and make use of attacking possibilities.
Such attacks at times include the ...d5 or ...f5 pawn breaks, or the ...g5-g4 battering ram. Black’s bishops often target the white king and f2 pawn from b7 and b6 as the centre opens, while the black queen and king’s knight may add to the attack from the f, g or h files. At other times Black may target White’s central d4 or e4 pawns, play on the queenside with ...Na5 (attacking White’s light-squared bishop), sometimes together with ...c5, or play to push the b-pawn. This flexible variation is equally effective in classical, rapid and blitz.
International Master Tibor Karolyi, former Hungarian national champion and previously coach of stars such as Peter Leko and Sofia Polgar, shows the reader how to get a fully playable position as Black with fighting opportunities through 166 games and several hundred fragments, as well as a number of suggested novelties. He demonstrates the key strategic and tactical themes that the sides will encounter, as well as 25 miniatures where Black got a crushing position out of the opening thanks to superior preparation. If you’re an ...e5 player looking for a theoretically sound and ambitious yet fun response to the Ruy Lopez, the Original Arkhangelsk offers a fully playable path to dynamic positions with real winning chances.
SHORTLISTED: English Chess Federation Book of the Year 2013 Award!
Winning starts with planning before the game, teaches legendary chess coach Vladimir Tukmakov. In this ground-breaking book he shows how chess preparation has become a systematic process and how today’s top players make their game plans.
The most important aim of modern preparation, both for professionals and for ambitious amateurs, is to get a playable position that you understand better than your opponent.
The role of the computer in preparation has grown tremendously and Tukmakov explains how top grandmasters use their ‘Metal Friend’. He warns that professionals should not put too much trust in chess engines and should analyse more deeply themselves.
Club players, on the other hand, should reduce their time in front of the machine to a minimum. Tukmakov explains what amateurs should do in order to arrive at the board well-armed: study the classics, analyse your own games without a computer, and know yourself.
A special chapter is devoted to must-win situations: when the outcome of a tournament, a match or even a whole life depends on a single game. With lots of brilliant examples, inside information and amusing anecdotes, Modern Chess Preparation is not only highly instructive, but also a joy to read.
“Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent, and having a sober awareness of your own shortcomings, will pay dividends at any level, from beginners up to World Champions.”
A former Ukrainian champion, Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov (born 1946 in Odessa) won many tournaments and came second in three Soviet championships. After his active career he became an esteemed chess coach. He was non-playing captain of the Ukraine team that won gold at the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvia, 2004.
Martin Rieger, Rochade Europa Magazine:
"Tukmakov has created a unique symbiosis: a training book with stories. Qualifications such as 'brilliant' or 'wonderful' are really far too stale for this work (..) This book will most probably become a classic in chess literature."
IM Jeremy Silman, author of 'How to Reassess Your Chess':
"A fascinating and original (useful!) book about chess prep, but not the kind you've ever been exposed to before (..) Exhilarating reading (..) This chapter [2: 'The Computer Era'] is nothing less than brilliant (..) Overall this book is beautifully written and deeply thought out."
Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe:
"The last chapter, 'Deciding Games', makes for fascinating reading. It is clearly a subject that has not been covered in great detail in any book that I can think of. It discusses how to approach those key games that can be last-round deciders, but even crucial games earlier in the tournament against key opponents."
Jonathan Adams, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"Easy to follow by the avarage club player."
GM Luke McShane:
"I really like this book (..) Tukmakov's discussion of the modern game is highly astute."
Babs Wiilders, Nederlands Dagblad:
"Covers all stages of the game, with both strategic and tactical perspectives (..) Splendid instructional material for every chess player who wants to get ahead."
IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering, ChessVibes:
"There is a lot of thought-provoking stuff in the book."
John D.Warth, Chess Club of Southern Indiana:
"Tukmakov's discussion is a broad one, citing games dating from 1891 up to 2011 (..) Along the way the author peppers his survey with advice, tidbits and common sense, with strong writing and a balanced approach (..) An important book on a much-neglected top ic."
Henk Prins, Reformatorisch Dagblad:
"The book gives important recommendations, also for amateur chess players, about how to use the computer."
Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Federation:
"Tukmanakov's writing style is very interesting, that is why 'Modern Chess Preparation' also entertains."
Elburg Chess Reviews:
"Well known chess coach Grandmaster Vladimir Tukmakov does not only provide the reader with a wealth of readable games, 91 of them, but above all, offers instructive advice that truly helps you to become a better player."
Harry Schaack, KARL Magazine:
"An original mix of chess history and tips for the modern praxis."
"At the end of each chapter the author gives recommendations for amateurs."
"Vladimir Tukmakov puts you on a trail that should lead to better results."
Each chapter includes a selection of highlighted ideas & concepts from White’s and Black’s perspectives.
After that follows a theoretical discussion, where, unsurprisingly, many of the concepts make a second, concrete, appearance.
Most newly analyzed games are much more modern, and most annotations there were typically made from scratch for this book.
If we count the endless online rapid and blitz tournaments, which are becoming increasingly popular, the new games presented in this book, even the fast ones, are of exceptionally high quality and incredibly important if you wish to surprise your opponent.
On top this book cuts through the dense theory that surrounds this opening and establishes a total new repertoire based around consistent strategies, concepts and novelties.
Coach Christof has thoroughly revised and updated his 2018 best-selling chess opening manual. It covers everything you need to know when opening with 1.e4. You will get a complete White chess opening repertoire.
Why is this opening repertoire called simple? For the simple reason that the variations are easy to remember and require little or no maintenance.
International Master Christof Sielecki has created a hit series with his reliable opening lines for chess players of almost all levels. He developed this repertoire by working with students looking for something easy to understand and learn. Sielecki always clearly explains the plans and counter plans and keeps you focused on the position's requirements. Ambitious players rated 1500 or higher will benefit from studying this extremely accessible book.
Christof Sielecki is an International Master from Germany. He has taught and trained chess for many years and runs a popular YouTube channel called ChessExplained. He won numerous awards with his course on Chessable and has created three volumes of the Keep it Simple opening manuals.
"There are a few different approaches to drawing up a complete opening course for White like this. At the extremes, you can pick a single setup or pawn structure (something like the King’s Indian Attack for example) and use it against as many Black systems as you can manage, or you take the grandmaster repertoire approach where you pick the best concrete line for each situation. Both have drawbacks of course. Sielecki manages a good blend of both approaches."
IM John Donaldson (Mechanics Institute)
“Keep it Simple 1.e4 – 2.0 is an invaluable tool for those rated 1800 to 2300 who want to play 1.e4 but don’t have the option of quitting their day job. There is plenty of explanatory prose to make this book accessible to the lower end of this rating group. There are also plenty of well-thought-out opening suggestions to make it interesting for master-level players and above. They will benefit from using the lines in this book as a starting point for further investigations.”
The Dragon Sicilian is the perfect choice for club players searching for chaotic and imbalanced positions. This opening manual shows how Black can turn up the heat against 1.e4, and enjoy dynamic winning chances game after game.
Top-10 player Anish Giri is the best tutor to bring this complicated opening across to 'everyday' club players. Anish serves up his super-GM lines and clearly explains the ideas and strategies behind the moves. So when game time comes, you know exactly which moves to play, at what moment, and how to deliver the knockout blow.
Make no mistake: This repertoire's "take-no-prisoners"-strategy means you will sometimes reach razor-sharp positions, where both sides must play 'only moves'. But that's why you'll love having Anish Giri as your opening coach. Giri delivers just the right mix of cutting-edge analysis and practical guidance for players of all levels with his trademark witty and down-to-earth teaching style.
The Dragon Sicilian also covers all other major systems Black could face, including what to play against Anti-Sicilians such as the Rossolimo, the 2.c3 Alapin, and the Grand-Prix Attack.
Grandmaster and world top-10 player Anish Giri is one of today’s most popular chess players. He has an active Twitter account, a massive YouTube channel, and is a regular contributor to New In Chess magazine. Giri has Russian, Nepalese, and Indian ancestry. He lived in Russia and Japan before his family settled in the Netherlands. His opening preparation is one of his strongest suits, and Giri is often referred to as the most prominent theory expert in the world.
‘This book, which is highly recommended, will interest a wide audience. Club players will find it provides all the detail they need while higher rated players are pushed the right direction for further investigation. Giri’s assessments are clear and to the point.’ – IM John Donaldson, Mechanics Institute Newletter
The world’s top trainer, Mark Dvoretsky, and one of his best-known pupils, grandmaster Artur Yusupov, present a five-volume series based on courses given to talented young players throughout the world. The books contain contributions by other leading trainers and grandmasters, as well as games by pupils who have attended the courses.
The second volume explains the basic principles of the opening, discusses how to build an opening repertoire and produce opening novelties, and explores the connection between the opening and the later stages – the middlegame and the endgame.
The Grand Prix Attack is one of White’s deadliest weapons against the Sicilian Defence. It continues to be highly popular with tournament chess players all over the world. While earlier publications mainly focused on tactics, this book the finally gives the GPA the coverage it deserves.
The Nimzo-Indian Defence continues to be one of the most important chess openings, both at club level and with top players. In recent years it has undergone a number of significant changes and it’s high time for a thorough look at the current state of affairs.
Top grandmaster Ivan Sokolov is the perfect authority to do so.
The Strategic Nimzo-Indian: A Complete Guide to the Rubinstein Variation is the first of a two-part series. In this ground-breaking and clearly structured first volume, Sokolov investigates all lines after the move 4.e3. Volume 2 will be about 4.a3, the Sämisch Variation.
Inspired by great masters like Mikhail Botvinnik, Ivan Sokolov has played the Rubinstein Variation all his life, and he has even beaten World Champion Garry Kasparov with it.
Although play can become very sharp, the Nimzo-Indian requires a profound positional understanding. Ivan Sokolov does not simply give variations, but provides clear explanations of the structures and plans in the various branches, and presents new ideas and resources for both Black and White.
Each chapter ends with a summary containing key strategic and tactical advice.
Ivan Sokolov is a top grandmaster who was born in Bosnia in 1968. He was Yugoslav champion in 1988 and Dutch champion in 1995 and 1998. He rose to the number 12 spot in the FIDE world rankings. In his rich career Sokolov has beaten world chess champions like Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand.
"This book is simply far superior to anything else I have seen written on this opening – my own book included (..) The narrative, the explanatory prose, the analysis, the countless improvements, new ideas and so on, makes this book phenomenally splendid. If you want to understand how to play this opening, then this book is a perfect place to start."
GM Glenn Flear:
"The author is constantly pointing out the positional consequences of the various thematic ideas throughout the lines (..) There are times when his research will almost certainly change the future course of theory (..) Whatever your connection to the Nimzo, make sure that you get hold of a copy. An absolute must."
John Donaldson, Chess Today:
"An outstanding book (..) Sokolov backs up [his] verbal assessments with concrete variations, but the prose is much more valuable for the layman rated below 2400, who will remember the helpful advice long after the analysis has been forgotten."
Joe Petrolito, Australasian Chess Magazine:
"There is a lot of explanatory material to complement the analysis and orientate the reader (..) [Sokolov] is not afraid to challenge previous analysis, even describes some old analysis by Botvinnik as 'wishful thinking'! (..) A dense but readable book on a mainstream opening that can only enhance Sokolov's growing reputation as an author."
Nagesh Havanur, Chess.com:
"I am fascinated. To begin with, this is a repertoire book for d4 players who meet the Nimzo-Indian. But other players reaching d4 d5 positions would also find this useful. There is a serious effort to find an edge for White in every line. The author of course knows that it is not an easy task as the Nimzo-indian is a sound system. Hence, he resists the temptation of finding convenient wins for White."
Gary Lane, Chess Moves Magazine:
"Very readable, with clear, precise comments (..) Sokolov reveals his secrets in the Rubinstein Variation so everyone can be a winner."
"A monumental work with lots of explanations, while paying attention to historical games as well as the current state of affairs."
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