Chess Explained is a new series of books about chess openings. They are not theoretical works in the traditional sense, but more a series of lessons, in the form of 25 annotated games, from a chess expert with extensive over-the-board experience with an opening. You will gain an understanding of the opening and the middlegames to which it leads, enabling you to find the right moves and plans in your own games. It is as if you were sitting at the board with a chess coach answering your questions about the plans for both sides, the ideas behind particular moves, and what specific knowledge you need to have.
The Classical Sicilian (1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,d6; 3.d4,cxd4, 4.Nxd4,Nf6; 5.Nc3,Nc6;) is one of the most popular and respected systems of the Sicilian, and has been used frequently by players such as Anand, Kramnik and Shirov. Black develops his pieces more quickly than in many Sicilian systems, and intricate piece-play often results. White's most popular and critical response is the Richter-Rauzer Attack and recent years have seen a diversification in the plans for both sides in this perennially popular line. Against White's alternatives to the Rauzer, Yermolinsky covers lines that retain the independent significance of the Classical move-order, such as 6 Bc4 Qb6 - a line in which he is a leading specialist. Systems covered include the Boleslavsky System, Fischer Sozin Attack and Richter-Rauzer.
Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky is one of the strongest players in the United States. He was US Champion in 1996, and won the US Open Championship in 1995 and 1997. His credentials as a teacher are no less impressive. He assisted Irina Levitina in her bid for the Women's World Championship in 1982-4, while his former pupils include several top-class grandmasters and a US Junior Champion. His previous book The Road to Chess Improvement, won the USCF Cramer Award for best instructional book. Pub. 2006, softback, 111 pages.
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The Classical Sicilian begins with 1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,d6; 3.d4,cxd4; 4.Nxd4,Nc6; and so includes Richter-Rauzer, Sozin, Dragon and Boleslavsky type of positions. The author, a Finnish GM, has sought to offer at least one sound reply for Black to each of White's set-ups. There are chapters on all the mentioned formations, each with a strategic introduction and theory via illustrative games (23 in all). Yrjola began to play the Classical Sicilian after finding the Dragon too encrusted with 25 move long forced variations and the Najdorf too risky for Black's King! This is a system where positional understanding has more chance to shine through. pub. 2000, softback, 128 pages.
The Scheveningen is a complex opening which requires flexibility of thought from practitioners. Here the author explains the strategic ideas behind each variation before presenting a more detailed analysis. He includes chapters on 6.g3, the Keres Attack, English Attack, 6.f4, the Modern and Classical Scheveningen and 6.Bc4 systems such as the Velimirovic Attack. Steffen Pedersen is a Danish I.M. Pub. 1998, softback, 128 pages.
The Sicilian Scheveningen arises after the moves 1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,e6; 3.d4,cxd4; 4.Nxd4,Nf6; 5.Nc3,d6; and leads to complex middlegame positions with active play for both sides. Craig Pritchett's book aims to offer ideas and explanation together with enough analysis to allow players of the Black pieces to include the Scheveningen in their opening repertoire. He examines White's most popular sixth move 6.Be2 in detail and also gives briefer coverage of White's sixth move alternatives, including the Keres Attack (6.g4), the Sozin (6.Bc4) and lines with 0-0-0 for White. After 6.Be2 he recommends the Modern Scheveningen with 9..Bd7; for Black but also shows how to handle other lines with 9..a6; 9..Qc7 etc. The material is presented through 46 key games, with in-depth annotations. As usual for the Starting Out series there is plenty of verbal explanation and a wealth of hints, tips and warnings throughout the book. Craig Pritchett is an International Master who has represented Scotland in numerous olympiads. Pub. 2006, softback, 192 pages.
Chess Informant published opening monograph with ECO style tables and footnotes covering the line 1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,d6; 3.d4,cxd4; 4.Nxd4,Nf6; 5.Nc3,e6; 6.Bc4. The bulk of material concentrates on lines where Black plays 6..a6; and 7..b5. Also contains 100 illustrative games. Languageless. Pub. 1995, softback, 144 pages.
An authoritative, Chess Informant published opening monograph with ECO style tables and footnotes covering the line 1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,d6; 3.d4,cxd4; 4.Nxd4,Nf6; 5.Nc3,e6; 6.Bc4,Nc6. Also contains 100 illustrative games. Languageless. Pub. 1995, softback, 95 pages.
A Chess Informant published opening monograph with ECO style tables of variations and footnotes covering the line 1.e4,c5; 2.Nf3,d6; 3.d4,cxd4; 4.Nxd4,Nf6; 5.Nc3,e6; 6.Bc4,Nc6; 7.Be3. Also contains 100 illustrative games. Languageless. Pub. 1996, softback, 159 pages.
This book is a detailed examination of variations in which White puts his bishop on c4, often as a prelude to a violent sacrificial attack. The Sozin Attack can be played against the Classical Sicilian, Najdorf or even the Scheveningen. This book examines all these options in four parts: 6.Bc4 Scheveningen, Fischer Attack, Sozin & Velimirovic Attack and Anti-Sozin Lines. All the latest theory is included in these, often wild, attacking systems. Mikhail Golubev is a Ukranian Grandmaster who specialises in sharp systems. His Easy Guide to the Dragon has been praised for it's original analysis. pub. 2001, softback, 272 pages.
